Effect of switching from conventional continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion to sensor augmented pump therapy on glycemic profile in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes

Advantages of sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

To evaluate the efficacy of sensor-augmented pump (SAP) for improving obstetric and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus by comparing it with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion plus self-monitoring of blood glucose (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion [CSII]/SMBG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 40 cases of pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes mellitus treated with SAP (SAP group), and 29 cases of pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes mellitus treated with CSII/SMBG (CSII/SMBG group). The obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The median of the glycoalbumin levels in the first (18.8% vs 20.9%; P < 0.05) and second (15.4% vs 18.0%; P < 0.05) trimesters, the hemoglobin A1c levels in the peripartum period (6.1% vs 6.5%; P < 0.05) and the standard deviation score of birthweights (0.36 vs 1.52; P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the SAP group than in the CSII/SMBG group. The incidence rate of large for gestational age newborns was significantly lower in the SAP group than in the CSII/SMBG group (27.5% vs 65.5%; P < 0.05). No significant differences in the incidence rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, small for gestational age, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal hypoglycemia, hypervolemia and hyperbilirubinemia were observed between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that SAP therapy is more effective in preventing large for gestational age newborns in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus than CSII/SMBG.

A sensor augmented pump may improve awareness of hypoglycemia and quality of life in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy reportedly improves glycemic control and quality of life. However, there is limited information on changes in awareness of hypoglycemia and quality of life (QOL) after starting SAP therapy in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate glycemic control, awareness of hypoglycemia, and QOL after initiation of SAP therapy in these patients.

METHODS

The study included 20 patients with type 1 diabetes who started SAP therapy. HbA1c levels, values derived from continuous glucose monitoring [including percentages of time in target range (70-180 mg/dL), time below range (< 70 mg/dL), and time above range (> 180 mg/dL)], the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire score, and the Clarke score were compared between baseline and after 3 and 6 months of SAP therapy.

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease in HbA1c at 3 and 6 months after starting on the SAP (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant decrease in time above range (> 180 mg/dL) at the two time points (p = 0.0069 and p = 0.0042, respectively). There was no significant change in time below range (< 70 mg/dL). There was a significant reduction in the Clarke score (p = 0.0347 and p = 0.0003, respectively) and a significant increase in the treatment satisfaction score (both p < 0.0001). There was no significant change in any of the three MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey v2 component summary scores.

CONCLUSION

SAP therapy was associated with improvement of glycemic control, mainly by reducing hyperglycemia, and patients' satisfaction with treatment.

Type 1 diabetes woman with repeated miscarriages successfully gave birth after introducing an insulin pump with a predictive low glucose suspend feature

Sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy with a predictive low glucose suspend (SAP-PLGS) feature is a remarkably progressed modality for the glycemic management of patients with type 1 diabetes. This technology avoids nocturnal hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia. A Brazilian woman developed type 1 diabetes at age 11 and was treated with multiple daily insulin injections. At age 20, she was admitted to our internal medicine department for her first pregnancy. Her HbA1c was 7.9% in the 6 weeks of gestation. Although the combination of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and a sensor-augmented pump was introduced, she had a miscarriage in the next week. After 6 months, she became pregnant again. Despite an HbA1c of 7.2%, she had another miscarriage. Thereafter, she returned to multiple daily insulin injections and began using intermittently scanned continuous glycemic monitoring. At age 22, she had her third pregnancy. Her HbA1c was 7.3%. SAP-PLGS was then introduced, which reduced her frequent hypoglycemic events and blood glucose fluctuations. She gave birth to a 4137 g boy at 39 weeks without significant complications. Successful delivery can be obtained in women with type 1 diabetes following repeated miscarriages after introducing SAP-PLGS. We hypothesize that the modality might contributed to our patient's miscarriage avoidance by reducing her glycemic fluctuations.

Evolution of Insulin Delivery Devices: From Syringes, Pens, and Pumps to DIY Artificial Pancreas

The year 2021 will mark 100 years since the discovery of insulin. Insulin, the first medication to be discovered for diabetes, is still the safest and most potent glucose-lowering therapy. The major challenge of insulin despite its efficacy has been the occurrence of hypoglycemia, which has resulted in sub-optimal dosages being prescribed in the vast majority of patients. Popular devices used for insulin administration are syringes, pens, and pumps. An artificial pancreas (AP) with a closed-loop delivery system with > 95% time in range is believed to soon become a reality. The development of closed-loop delivery systems has gained momentum with recent advances in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and computer algorithms. This review discusses the evolution of syringes, disposable, durable pens and connected pens, needles, tethered and patch insulin pumps, bionic pancreas, alternate controller-enabled infusion (ACE) pumps, and do-it-yourself artificial pancreas systems (DIY-APS).

The hypoglycemia-prevention effect of sensor-augmented pump therapy with predictive low glucose management in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a short-term study

Aims/introduction

The predictive low glucose management (PLGM) system was introduced in March 2018 in Japan. Although there are some reports demonstrating the benefit of PLGM in preventing hypoglycemia, no data are currently available in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of PLGM with sensor-augmented pump therapy in the prevention of hypoglycemia in Japanese patients.

Materials and methods

We included 16 patients with T1DM who used the MiniMed^®640G system after switching from the MiniMed^®620G system. We retrospectively analysed the data of the continuous glucose monitoring system in 1 month after switching to MiniMed^®640G.

Results

The area under the curve (AUC) of hypoglycemia of < 70 mg/dL was lowered from 0.42 ± 0.43 mg/dL day to 0.18 ± 0.18 mg/dL day (P = 0.012). Correspondingly, the duration of severe hypoglycemia (< 54 mg/dL) was reduced significantly from 15.3 ± 21.7 min/day to 4.8 ± 6.9 min/day (P = 0.019). The duration of hypoglycemia was reduced, but the reduction was not significant. Regarding the AUC for hyperglycemia > 180 mg/dL and the duration of hyperglycemia did not change. With the PLGM function, 79.3% of the predicted hypoglycemic events were avoided.

Conclusions

The hypoglycemia avoidance rate was comparable to those in previous reports. In addition, we demonstrated that PLGM can markedly suppress severe hypoglycemia without deteriorating glycemic control in Japanese T1DM patients. It is necessary to further investigate the effective use of the PLGM feature such as establishing a lower limit and the timing of resumption.

Glycated Hemoglobin Differences Among Blog-Reading Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Compared With Those Who Do Not Read Blogs: Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Of the estimated 23.1 million individuals diagnosed with diabetes, approximately 5% have type 1 diabetes (T1D). It has been proposed that this number will triple by 2050. With increases in technology use and resources available, many individuals are using insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to help manage their T1D. They are also using online resources such as social media to find more information and advice based on real-life experiences from peers. Blogs are a particular social media modality often used by people with T1D but have not been widely investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) differences between blog readers and blog nonusers in a population of adults with T1D. This study also looked at differences in technology use in these two groups, as well as HbA_1c differences in blog use and technology subgroups.

METHODS

Participants were recruited both by mail and by online T1D-themed blog postings. Respondents completed a secure online eligibility assessment and were asked questions related to their T1D, blog and internet use, and insulin pump and CGM use. Demographics were also collected. Differences between blog readers and blog nonusers were tested via chi-square and t tests. Mann-Whitney U tests, Fisher exact tests, and analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to test for differences in self-reported HbA_1c between groups and subgroups.

RESULTS

A total of 282 eligible participants completed the survey (214 blog readers, 68 blog nonusers). Average duration of diabetes was 21.2 years, 77.7% (219/282) were female, 81.2% (229/282) used an insulin pump, 66.3% (187/282) used a CGM, and 95.7% (270/282) were white. HbA_1c was lower for blog readers (7.0%) than blog nonusers (7.5%), P=.006; for insulin pump users (7.0%) than multiple daily injections (7.7%), P=.001; and for CGM users (7.0%) than CGM nonusers (7.5%), P=.001. After adjusting for significant covariates, the association between blog use and HbA_1c remained significant (P=.04). ANOVA modeling also demonstrated significant differences in HbA_1c between blog users and nonusers among subgroups by pump use and CGM use (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that reading blogs is associated with lower HbA_1c values. While association does not prove causation, blog readers have the benefit of learning information from peers and having 24/7 access to a community of individuals with similar daily life struggles, where they are able to ask questions and seek advice.