Implicit Racial-Ethnic and Insurance-Mediated Bias to Recommending Diabetes Technology: Insights from T1D Exchange Multicenter Pediatric and Adult Diabetes Provider Cohort

The impact of socioeconomic factors, social determinants, and ethnicity on the utilization of glucose sensor technology among persons with diabetes mellitus: a narrative review

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) usage has been shown to improve disease outcomes in people living with diabetes by facilitating better glycemic management. However, previous research has suggested that access to these devices can be influenced by nonmedical factors such as socioeconomic status and ethnicity. It is critical that equitable access to CGM devices is ensured as people from those groups experience poorer diabetes-related health outcomes. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of the various healthcare systems worldwide and how socioeconomic status, social context, and ethnicity shape device usage and the associated health outcomes. In general, we found that having a lower socioeconomic status and belonging to an ethnic minority group negatively impact CGM usage. While financial means proved to be an important mediator in this process, it was not the sole driver as disparities persisted even after adjustment for factors such as income and insurance status. Recommendations to increase CGM usage for people of a lower socioeconomic status and ethnic minorities include increasing the availability of financial, administrative, and educational support, for both patients and healthcare providers. However, recommendations will vary due to local country-specific circumstances, such as reimbursement criteria and healthcare ecosystems.

Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

Young adults experience multiple developmental transitions across social, educational, vocational, residential, and financial life domains. These transitions are potential competing priorities to managing a chronic condition such as type 1 diabetes and can contribute to poor psychosocial and medical outcomes. In this narrative review, we describe population outcomes of young adult populations and the unique considerations associated with managing type 1 diabetes in young adulthood. We provide an overview of the current evidence-based strategies to improve care for young adults with type 1 diabetes and recommendations for future directions in the field.

Social Determinants of Health Screening in Type 1 Diabetes Management

Type 1 diabetes management is intricately influenced by social determinants of health. Economic status impacts access to vital resources like insulin and diabetes technology. Racism, social injustice, and implicit biases affect equitable delivery of care. Education levels affect understanding of self-care, leading to disparities in glycemic outcomes. Geographic location can limit access to health care facilities. Stressors from discrimination or financial strain can disrupt disease management. Addressing these social factors is crucial for equitable diabetes care, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies that go beyond medical interventions to ensure optimal health outcomes for all individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Optimizing Glycemic Outcomes for Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Changes in physical growth, neurocognitive development, and pubertal maturation are some of the challenges to achieving blood glucose targets in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. To optimize glycemic outcomes, a comprehensive approach is crucial to address psychosocial needs, expand the use of diabetes technology, and diminish health inequities.

Disparities in Continuous Glucose Monitor Use Between Children With Type 1 Diabetes Living in Urban and Rural Areas

OBJECTIVE

Despite evidence that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use is associated with lower HbA1c among children with type 1 diabetes, uptake of this technology remains lower among those with difficulty accessing health care, including those from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds and racial and ethnic minorities. In this study, we sought to explore the impact of rural location in use of CGM technology to guide patient and provider decision making.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this retrospective study of electronic health record demographic and visits data from a single diabetes program from 1 January 2018 through 31 December 2021, we compared the odds of completing a visit with (+) and without (-) CGM interpretation between rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) designations.

RESULTS

Among the 13,645 visits completed by 2,008 patients with type 1 diabetes younger than age 18 years, we found children living in small rural towns had 31% lower odds (6.3% of CGM+ visits, 8.6% of CGM- visits; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.69, 95% CI 0.51-0.94) and those living in isolated rural towns had 49% lower odds (2.0% of CGM+ visits, 3.4% of CGM- visits; aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28-0.92) of completing a CGM-billed clinic visit compared with those living in urban areas (70.0% of CGM+ visits, 67.2% of CGM- visits). We also found significant differences in CGM-billed visits by neighborhood deprivation as well as race/ethnicity and insurance payor.

CONCLUSIONS

Geographic location presents a meaningful barrier to access to care for patients living with type 1 diabetes. Further work is needed to identify and address the needs of children and families living in rural areas to improve the care of these patients.

Improving Outcomes for People with Type 1 Diabetes Through Collaboration: Summary of Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative Studies

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) management has evolved over the last decade. Innovations and groundbreaking research have paved the way for improved outcomes for people with T1D. One of the major T1D focused research network that has supported real-world research studies in the United States is the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI) Network.T1DX-QI is a large multicenter network of 55 T1D clinics that uses quality improvement, health equity framework, and population health principles to improve outcomes for people with T1D. This article summarizes insights from T1DX-QI clinical and population health improvement studies.

Optimizing Glycemic Outcomes for Minoritized and Medically Underserved Adults Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Individuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from medically underserved communities have poorer health outcomes. Efforts to improve outcomes include a focus on team-based care, activation of behavior change, and enhancing self-management skills and practices. Advanced diabetes technologies are part of the standard of care for adults with T1D. However, health care providers often carry implicit biases and may be uncomfortable with recommending technologies to patients who have traditionally been excluded from efficacy trials or have limited real-world exposure to devices. We review the literature on this topic and provide an approach to address these issues in clinical practice.

Removing Barriers, Bridging the Gap, and the Changing Role of the Health Care Professional with Automated Insulin Delivery Systems

As all people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and some with type 2 diabetes (T2D) require insulin, there is a need to develop management methods that not only achieve glycemic targets but also reduce the burden of living with diabetes. After insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, the next step in the evolution of diabetes technology is automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, which have transformed intensive insulin management over the past decade, as these systems address the shortcomings of previous management options. However, AID use remains fairly limited, and access represents a major barrier to use for many people with diabetes, despite these systems being standard of care. Therefore, the future of AID will necessitate addressing barriers related to social determinants of health, finances, and an expansion of the number and type of health care professionals (HCPs) prescribing AID systems. These crucial steps will be essential to ensure that everyone with intensively managed diabetes can use AID systems. The impact of implementing these changes will create a shift in the future of diabetes care that will result in achievement of more targeted glycemia and psychosocial outcomes for all people with diabetes and an expansion of the role of all HCPs in AID-related diabetes care. Even more importantly, by addressing social determinants of health and clinical inertia related to AID, the field can address disparities in outcomes across countries, race, gender, socioeconomic status, and insurance status. Furthermore, the increased use of AID system will provide more time during appointments for a shift in the discussion away from fine tuning insulin dosing and toward a focus on more topics related to behavior and conversations about general health. This will include psychosocial outcomes, and quality of life. In addition, these changes can hopefully allow for time to discuss more general issues, such as cardiovascular health, obesity prevention, diabetes-related complications, and other health-related concerns.

Technology and health inequities in diabetes care: How do we widen access to underserved populations and utilize technology to improve outcomes for all?

Digital health technologies are being utilized increasingly in the modern management of diabetes. These include tools such as continuous glucose monitoring systems, connected blood glucose monitoring devices, hybrid closed-loop systems, smart insulin pens, telehealth, and smartphone applications (apps). Although many of these technologies have a solid evidence base, from the perspective of a person living with diabetes, there remain multiple barriers preventing their optimal use, creating a digital divide. In this article, we describe many of the origins of these barriers and offer recommendations on widening access to digital health technologies for underserved populations living with diabetes to improve their health outcomes.

Updating Our Understanding of Device Use in Adolescents: Demographic Factors and Preferences in a Group of Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to identify demographic factors associated with continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and automated insulin delivery (AID) use among adolescents with type 1 diabetes and to explore why adolescents may start and stop using CGMs.

METHODS

Adolescents ages 13 to 17 and caregivers completed demographic and device use surveys at baseline for a randomized trial of a behavioral intervention conducted at 2 large medical centers in the United States. This study is a secondary analysis of the demographic and device use data.

RESULTS

The study sample consisted of 198 participants ages 13 to 17, 58% female, 57% non-Hispanic White, 24% non-Hispanic Black, 19% other race and ethnicity. Eighty-one percent of adolescents were using CGM, and 10% reported past use. Forty percent of adolescents reported taking CGM breaks ranging hours to weeks. Higher CGM use was found in higher income families (>$90 000). No difference in CGM use was observed related to race or ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest CGM use is increasing even among adolescents, a group that historically has had the lowest device use. However, adolescents often take CGM breaks, and it is not clear if they adjust their diabetes management during these times. It is important for providers to understand when and why patients may take CGM breaks so education about diabetes management while off CGM can occur. Further investigation into management during CGM breaks, particularly in those using an AID system, is needed.

A scoping review of research on potential impact of implicit bias in healthcare settings for children with acquired brain injuries

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a leading cause of disability in children and adolescents. Implicit biases within pediatric ABI healthcare settings may exert negative effects on clinical interactions and medical decision-making processes. This study aimed to conduct a scoping review of current research that examines the potential impact of implicit biases in such healthcare settings for children with ABI.

RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN

Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a search among five databases (CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed, PsycArticles, and PsycInfo) was conducted, followed by abstract/full-text screening and data extraction. Main characteristics of the included studies, including research design, relevance to implicit biases, and public health impact were synthesized. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed.

RESULTS

Out of the 203 articles returned from the literature search, a total of three studies met the inclusion criteria for the present review. All studies examined the relevance of racial/ethnic biases for evaluating abusive head trauma or nonaccidental trauma. The included studies had an overall unclear to low risk of biases.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS

This scoping review identified scarce but emerging evidence of the presence and detrimental impact of potential implicit biases on the access and quality of care received by children with ABI. More research is needed to examine the causes, process mechanisms, and consequences of implicit biases in pediatric ABI healthcare settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Multimodal digital phenotyping of diet, physical activity, and glycemia in Hispanic/Latino adults with or at risk of type 2 diabetes

Digital phenotyping refers to characterizing human bio-behavior through wearables, personal devices, and digital health technologies. Digital phenotyping in populations facing a disproportionate burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and health disparities continues to lag compared to other populations. Here, we report our study demonstrating the application of multimodal digital phenotyping, i.e., the simultaneous use of CGM, physical activity monitors, and meal tracking in Hispanic/Latino individuals with or at risk of T2D. For 14 days, 36 Hispanic/Latino adults (28 female, 14 with non-insulin treated T2D) wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and a physical activity monitor (Actigraph) while simultaneously logging meals using the MyFitnessPal app. We model meal events and daily digital biomarkers representing diet, physical activity choices, and corresponding glycemic response. We develop a digital biomarker for meal events that differentiates meal events into normal and elevated categories. We examine the contribution of daily digital biomarkers of elevated meal event count and step count on daily time-in-range 54-140 mg/dL (TIR54-140) and average glucose. After adjusting for step count, a change in elevated meal event count from zero to two decreases TIR54-140 by 4.0% (p = 0.003). An increase in 1000 steps in post-meal step count also reduces the meal event glucose response by 641 min mg/dL (p = 0.0006) and reduces the odds of an elevated meal event by 55% (p < 0.0001). The proposed meal event digital biomarkers may provide an opportunity for non-pharmacologic interventions for Hispanic/Latino adults facing a disproportionate burden of T2D.

Racial implicit bias: Perspectives of nursing students

BACKGROUND

Racial implicit bias contributes to healthcare disparities. While research has been conducted on other health professionals, there is a lack of evidence about nursing students' experiences with racial implicit bias.

PURPOSE

This study described the perspectives of pre-licensure nursing students regarding racial implicit bias (RIB) and its impact on patient care.

METHOD

A qualitative descriptive methodology utilizing focus groups was used to describe the students' perspectives.

RESULTS

Data analysis revealed three main themes: RIB may not be on purpose, but wrong is wrong; Bad nurse versus good nurse; and This is not okay.

CONCLUSION

As RIB continues to contribute to health care disparities, this study reveals the need for it to be addressed in nursing education, while students prepare to be front line health care professionals.

Current Practices in Operationalizing and Addressing Racial Equity in the Provision of Type 1 Diabetes Care: Insights from the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative Health Equity Advancement Lab

OBJECTIVE

Medical racism contributes to adverse health outcomes. Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI) is a large population-based cohort engaged in data sharing and quality improvement to drive system changes in T1D care. The annual T1DX-QI survey included questions to evaluate racial equity in diabetes care and practices to promote equity.

METHODS

The annual T1DX-QI survey was administered to participating clinics in fall 2022 and had a 93% response rate. There were 50 responses (pediatric: 66% and adult: 34%). Questions, in part, evaluated clinical resources and racial equity. Response data were aggregated, summarized, and stratified by pediatric/adult institutions.

RESULTS

Only 21% pediatric and 35% adult institutions felt that all their team members can articulate how medical racism contributes to adverse diabetes outcomes. Pediatric institutions reported more strategies to address medical racism than adult (3.6 vs 3.1). Organizational strategies to decrease racial discrimination included employee trainings, equity offices/committees, patient resources, and hiring practices. Patient resources included interpreter services, transportation, insurance navigation, and housing and food assistance. Hiring practices included changing prior protocols, hiring from the community, and diversifying workforces. Most institutions have offered antiracism training in the last year (pediatric: 85% and adult: 72%) and annually (pediatric: 64% and adult: 56%). Pediatric teams felt that their antiracism training was effective more often (pediatric: 60% and adult: 45%) and more commonly, they were provided resources (pediatric: 67% and adult: 47%) to help address inequities.

CONCLUSION

Despite increased antiracism training, insufficient institutional support and perceived subeffective training still represent obstacles, especially in adult institutions. Sharing effective strategies to address medical racism will help institutions take steps to mitigate inequities.

Barriers and Facilitators to Uptake of Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Youth

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to identify factors impacting the acceptability of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

In this single-center study, semistructured interviews were conducted with AYAs with T2DM and their parents to determine attitudes about CGM, including barriers and facilitators. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and evaluated using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty AYAs and 10 parents participated (n = 30 total). AYAs were mean age 16.5 years (SD 2.2, range = 13.7-20.1) and had median diabetes duration of 1.3 years. Most were female (65%) and from minoritized background (40% non-Hispanic Black, 10% Hispanic, 5% Asian). Seven (35%) used CGM. The primary facilitator elicited was convenience over glucose meter use. Important barriers included the impact of physically wearing the device and drawing unwanted attention, desire for AYA privacy, and inadequate education about the device.

CONCLUSIONS

In this diverse sample of AYAs with T2DM and their parents, CGM was generally regarded as convenient, although concerns about worsening stigma and conflict with parents were prevalent. These findings can guide the development of patient-centered approaches to CGM for AYAs with T2DM, a critical step toward reducing inequities in diabetes technology uptake.

Interventions Across the Translational Research Spectrum: Addressing Disparities Among Racial and Ethnic Minoritized Youth with Type 1 Diabetes

Racial and ethnic minoritized youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at elevated risk for health disparities. Few intervention studies have been conducted for these youth and evidence to support best practices to address their needs is lacking. Existing evidence supports the use of brief trials of diabetes technology with structured support from clinic staff, culturally tailored interventions such as language-congruent clinical care, and use of community health workers as promising directions to improve health outcomes. Clinicians and researchers should work collaboratively with community members to improve the quality of T1D intervention science for racial and ethnic minoritized youth.

Roadmap to the Effective Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring by Diabetes Care and Education Specialists as Technology Champions

This article describes the implementation of a diabetes technology educational program targeting continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) adoption that significantly increased utilization of CGM in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Florida. The author proposes that diabetes care and education specialists (DCESs) are uniquely positioned in the health care ecosystem to serve as diabetes technology champions. The article provides a step-by-step roadmap that DCESs and clinicians can use as they lead efforts to expand CGM adoption and durable use.

Roadmap to Achieving Continuous Glucose Monitoring Equity: Insights From the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative

This article describes successful interventions from the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI) to reduce inequities in access to and use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The author proposes a roadmap with recommendations for different stakeholders to achieve CGM equity using insights from the T1DX-QI experience.

Benchmarking Diabetes Technology Use Among 21 U.S. Pediatric Diabetes Centers

The American Diabetes Association's Standards of Care in Diabetes recommends the use of diabetes technology such as continuous glucose monitoring systems and insulin pumps for people living with type 1 diabetes. Unfortunately, there are multiple barriers to uptake of these devices, including local diabetes center practices. This study aimed to examine overall change and center-to-center variation in uptake of diabetes technology across 21 pediatric centers in the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative. It found an overall increase in diabetes technology use for most centers from 2021 to 2022 with significant variation.

Increasing Continuous Glucose Monitoring Use for Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic People With Type 1 Diabetes: Results From the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative Equity Study

Despite the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), there is lower use of this technology among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic people with type 1 diabetes compared with their non-Hispanic White counterparts. The T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative recruited five endocrinology centers to pilot an equity-focused quality improvement (QI) study to reduce racial inequities in CGM use. The centers used rapid QI cycles to test and expand interventions such as provider bias training, translation of CGM materials, provision of CGM education in multiple languages, screening for social determinants of health, and shared decision-making. After implementation of these interventions, median CGM use increased by 7% in non-Hispanic White, 12% in non-Hispanic Black, and 15% in Hispanic people with type 1 diabetes. The gap between non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black patients decreased by 5%, and the gap between non-Hispanic White and Hispanic patients decreased by 8%.

Evaluating Transition Readiness in Older Adolescents and Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

For older adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with type 1 diabetes, successful transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care requires ongoing planning and support. Yet, the transition to adult care is not always smooth. Some AYAs struggle to leave pediatric care or experience significant gaps between pediatric and adult diabetes care. The use of diabetes-specific transition readiness assessments can inform transition planning and support successful preparation for adult care. This study evaluated transition readiness in a diverse sample of AYAs nearing transition to adult diabetes care. Findings suggest that AYAs may benefit from additional preparation and education related to sexual health, tobacco use, and diabetes complications.

Area deprivation and demographic factors associated with diabetes technology use in adults with type 1 diabetes in Germany

Introduction

Diabetes technology improves glycemic control and quality of life for many people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, inequalities in access to diabetes technology exist in many countries. In Germany, disparities in technology use have been described in pediatric T1D, but no data for adults are available so far. We therefore aimed to analyze whether demographic factors and area deprivation are associated with technology use in a representative population of adults with T1D.

Materials and methods

In adults with T1D from the German prospective diabetes follow-up registry (DPV), we analyzed the use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and sensor augmented pump therapy (SAP, with and without automated insulin delivery) in 2019-2021 by age group, gender, migration background, and area deprivation using multiple adjusted regression models. Area deprivation, defined as a relative lack of area-based resources, was measured by quintiles of the German index of Multiple Deprivation (GIMD 2015, from Q1, least deprived, to Q5, most deprived districts).

Results

Among 13,351 adults with T1D, the use of technology decreased significantly with older age: CSII use fell from 56.1% in the 18-<25-year age group to 3.1% in the ≥80-year age group, CGM use from 75.3% to 28.2%, and SAP use from 45.1% to 1.5% (all p for trend <0.001). The use of technology was also significantly higher in women than in men (CSII: 39.2% vs. 27.6%; CGM: 61.9% vs. 58.0%; SAP: 28.7% vs. 19.6%, all p <0.001), and in individuals without migration background than in those with migration background (CSII: 38.8% vs. 27.6%; CGM: 71.1% vs. 61.4%; SAP: 30.5% vs. 21.3%, all p <0.001). Associations with area deprivation were not linear: the use of each technology decreased only from Q2 to Q4.

Discussion

Our real-world data provide evidence that higher age, male gender, and migration background are currently associated with lower use of diabetes technology in adults with T1D in Germany. Associations with area deprivation are more complex, probably due to correlations with other factors, like the higher proportion of migrants in less deprived areas or the federal structure of the German health care system.

Interventions to address global inequity in diabetes: international progress

Diabetes is a serious chronic disease with high associated burden and disproportionate costs to communities based on socioeconomic, gender, racial, and ethnic status. Addressing the complex challenges of global inequity in diabetes will require intentional efforts to focus on broader social contexts and systems that supersede individual-level interventions. We codify and highlight best practice approaches to achieve equity in diabetes care and outcomes on a global scale. We outline action plans to target diabetes equity on the basis of the recommendations established by The Lancet Commission on Diabetes, organising interventions by their effect on changing the ecosystem, building capacity, or improving the clinical practice environment. We present international examples of how to address diabetes inequity in the real world to show that approaches addressing the individual within a larger social context, in addition to addressing structural inequity, hold the greatest promise for creating sustainable and equitable change that curbs the global diabetes crisis.

Beyond A1C: exploring continuous glucose monitoring metrics in managing diabetes

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has long been considered a cornerstone of diabetes mellitus (DM) management, as both an indicator of average glycemia and a predictor of long-term complications among people with DM. However, HbA1c is subject to non-glycemic influences which confound interpretation and as a measure of average glycemia does not provide information regarding glucose trends or about the occurrence of hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia episodes. As such, solitary use of HbA1c, without accompanying glucose data, does not confer actionable information that can be harnessed to guide targeted therapy in many patients with DM. While conventional capillary blood glucose monitoring (BGM) sheds light on momentary glucose levels, in practical use the inherent infrequency of measurement precludes elucidation of glycemic trends or reliable detection of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia episodes. In contrast, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data reveal glucose trends and potentially undetected hypo- and hyperglycemia patterns that can occur between discrete BGM measurements. The use of CGM has grown significantly over the past decades as an ever-expanding body of literature demonstrates a multitude of clinical benefits for people with DM. Continually improving CGM accuracy and ease of use have further fueled the widespread adoption of CGM. Furthermore, percent time in range correlates well with HbA1c, is accepted as a validated indicator of glycemia, and is associated with the risk of several DM complications. We explore the benefits and limitations of CGM use, the use of CGM in clinical practice, and the application of CGM to advanced diabetes technologies.

An Observational Crossover Study of People Using Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitors Versus Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose: Real-World Evidence Using EMR Data From More Than 12,000 People With Type 1 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

We used real-world electronic health record (EHR) data to examine HbA1c levels among children and adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who are classified as continuous glucose monitor (CGM) users after T1D diagnosis and switch to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) during follow-up, versus people who opt for SMBG after T1D diagnosis and switch to CGM during follow-up visits.

METHODS

We conducted an observational, case-crossover study using electronic medical record (EMR) data from the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative. The primary outcome in this study was HbA1c. Baseline HbA1c levels were taken at the index date, corresponding to initial device classification, and compared with HbA1c value recorded at the clinic visit following device switch.

RESULTS

Of all patients classified in the SMBG group, 7,706 switched to CGM use within the 5-year study time frame, and 5,123 of all initial CGM users switched to SMBG within the study time frame and were included in this analysis. At baseline, median (interquartile range [IQR]) HbA1c for SMBG use was 8.1 (2.4), whereas postcrossover to CGM use, there was a decline in median (IQR) levels to 7.7 (1.9) (P < .001). For baseline CGM users, median (IQR) HbA1c levels were 7.9 (2.0), and postcrossover to SMBG, median (IQR) HbA1c levels increased to 8.0 (2.9) (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

We found that people who switched to CGM use had significantly improved HbA1c levels compared to those who switched to glucose monitoring with SMBG.

Disparities in Hemoglobin A1c Levels in the First Year After Diagnosis Among Youths With Type 1 Diabetes Offered Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Importance

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is associated with improvements in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in youths with type 1 diabetes (T1D); however, youths from minoritized racial and ethnic groups and those with public insurance face greater barriers to CGM access. Early initiation of and access to CGM may reduce disparities in CGM uptake and improve diabetes outcomes.

Objective

To determine whether HbA1c decreases differed by ethnicity and insurance status among a cohort of youths newly diagnosed with T1D and provided CGM.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used data from the Teamwork, Targets, Technology, and Tight Control (4T) study, a clinical research program that aims to initiate CGM within 1 month of T1D diagnosis. All youths with new-onset T1D diagnosed between July 25, 2018, and June 15, 2020, at Stanford Children's Hospital, a single-site, freestanding children's hospital in California, were approached to enroll in the Pilot-4T study and were followed for 12 months. Data analysis was performed and completed on June 3, 2022.

Exposures

All eligible participants were offered CGM within 1 month of diabetes diagnosis.

Main Outcomes and Measures

To assess HbA1c change over the study period, analyses were stratified by ethnicity (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic) or insurance status (public vs private) to compare the Pilot-4T cohort with a historical cohort of 272 youths diagnosed with T1D between June 1, 2014, and December 28, 2016.

Results

The Pilot-4T cohort comprised 135 youths, with a median age of 9.7 years (IQR, 6.8-12.7 years) at diagnosis. There were 71 boys (52.6%) and 64 girls (47.4%). Based on self-report, participants' race was categorized as Asian or Pacific Islander (19 [14.1%]), White (62 [45.9%]), or other race (39 [28.9%]); race was missing or not reported for 15 participants (11.1%). Participants also self-reported their ethnicity as Hispanic (29 [21.5%]) or non-Hispanic (92 [68.1%]). A total of 104 participants (77.0%) had private insurance and 31 (23.0%) had public insurance. Compared with the historical cohort, similar reductions in HbA1c at 6, 9, and 12 months postdiagnosis were observed for Hispanic individuals (estimated difference, -0.26% [95% CI, -1.05% to 0.43%], -0.60% [-1.46% to 0.21%], and -0.15% [-1.48% to 0.80%]) and non-Hispanic individuals (estimated difference, -0.27% [95% CI, -0.62% to 0.10%], -0.50% [-0.81% to -0.11%], and -0.47% [-0.91% to 0.06%]) in the Pilot-4T cohort. Similar reductions in HbA1c at 6, 9, and 12 months postdiagnosis were also observed for publicly insured individuals (estimated difference, -0.52% [95% CI, -1.22% to 0.15%], -0.38% [-1.26% to 0.33%], and -0.57% [-2.08% to 0.74%]) and privately insured individuals (estimated difference, -0.34% [95% CI, -0.67% to 0.03%], -0.57% [-0.85% to -0.26%], and -0.43% [-0.85% to 0.01%]) in the Pilot-4T cohort. Hispanic youths in the Pilot-4T cohort had higher HbA1c at 6, 9, and 12 months postdiagnosis than non-Hispanic youths (estimated difference, 0.28% [95% CI, -0.46% to 0.86%], 0.63% [0.02% to 1.20%], and 1.39% [0.37% to 1.96%]), as did publicly insured youths compared with privately insured youths (estimated difference, 0.39% [95% CI, -0.23% to 0.99%], 0.95% [0.28% to 1.45%], and 1.16% [-0.09% to 2.13%]).

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this cohort study suggest that CGM initiation soon after diagnosis is associated with similar improvements in HbA1c for Hispanic and non-Hispanic youths as well as for publicly and privately insured youths. These results further suggest that equitable access to CGM soon after T1D diagnosis may be a first step to improve HbA1c for all youths but is unlikely to eliminate disparities entirely.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04336969.

Use of Continuous Glucose Monitors to Manage Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Progress, Challenges, and Recommendations

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) management has been revolutionized with the development and routine utilization of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). CGM technology has allowed for the ability to track dynamic glycemic fluctuations and trends over time allowing for optimization of medical therapy and the prevention of dangerous hypoglycemic events. This review details currently-available real-time and intermittently-scanned CGM devices, clinical benefits, and challenges of CGM use, and current guidelines supporting its use in the clinical care of patients with T1D. We additionally describe future issues that will need to be addressed as CGM technology continues to evolve.

Continuous glucose monitors and virtual care in high-risk, racial and ethnic minority populations: Toward promoting health equity

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have become an important tool to aid self-management of blood glucose for many patients with diabetes in the U.S., and the benefits of CGM use are well-documented. However, disparities in CGM use exist, with lower use in certain marginalized racial and ethnic groups. CGM may be an important and underutilized tool to help reduce inequities. Evidence supporting the use of CGMs as a part of virtual care is discussed, with an emphasis on designing virtual diabetes care programs to promote health equity. Recommendations for clinical practice and research are presented. In clinical practice, CGM should be an option for all people with diabetes who qualify based on clinical practice guidelines, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other individual characteristics. Future research should characterize the use of, benefit from, and preferences for CGM among individuals from racial and ethnic groups to guide interventions at the health system, clinic, provider, and patient levels to promote equitable, evidence-based, and guideline-directed CGM use in marginalized racial and ethnic groups with diabetes.

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusions: Closing the loop

CONTEXT

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusions (CSIIs) and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have revolutionized the management of diabetes mellitus (DM). Over the last two decades the development of advanced, small, and user-friendly technology has progressed substantially, essentially closing the loop in the fasting and post-absorptive state, nearing the promise of an artificial pancreas. The momentum was mostly driven by the diabetes community itself, to improve its health and quality of life.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Literature regarding CSII and CGM was reviewed.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Management of DM aims to regulate blood glucose to prevent long term micro and macrovascular complications. CSIIs combined with CGMs provide an integrated system to maintain tight glycemic control in a safe and uninterrupted fashion, while minimizing hypoglycemic events. Recent advances have allowed to 'close the loop' by better mimicking endogenous insulin secretion and glucose level regulation. Evidence supports sustained improvement in glycemic control with reduced episodes of hypoglycemia using these systems, while improving quality of life. Ongoing work in delivery algorithms with or without counterregulatory hormones will allow for further layers of regulation of the artificial pancreas.

CONCLUSION

Ongoing efforts to develop an artificial pancreas have created effective tools to improve the management of DM. CSIIs and CGMs are useful in diverse populations ranging from children to the elderly, as well as in various clinical contexts. Individually and more so together, these have had a tremendous impact in the management of DM, while avoiding treatment fatigue. However, cost and accessibility are still a hindrance to its wider application.

Tele-education model for primary care providers to advance diabetes equity: Findings from Project ECHO Diabetes

Introduction

In the US, many individuals with diabetes do not have consistent access to endocrinologists and therefore rely on primary care providers (PCPs) for their diabetes management. Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Diabetes, a tele-education model, was developed to empower PCPs to independently manage diabetes, including education on diabetes technology initiation and use, to bridge disparities in diabetes.

Methods

PCPs (n=116) who participated in Project ECHO Diabetes and completed pre- and post-intervention surveys were included in this analysis. The survey was administered in California and Florida to participating PCPs via REDCap and paper surveys. This survey aimed to evaluate practice demographics, protocols with adult and pediatric T1D management, challenges, resources, and provider knowledge and confidence in diabetes management. Differences and statistical significance in pre- and post-intervention responses were evaluated via McNemar's tests.

Results

PCPs reported improvement in all domains of diabetes education and management. From baseline, PCPs reported improvement in their confidence to serve as the T1D provider for their community (pre vs post: 43.8% vs 68.8%, p=0.005), manage insulin therapy (pre vs post: 62.8% vs 84.3%, p=0.002), and identify symptoms of diabetes distress (pre vs post: 62.8% vs 84.3%, p=0.002) post-intervention. Compared to pre-intervention, providers reported significant improvement in their confidence in all aspects of diabetes technology including prescribing technology (41.2% vs 68.6%, p=0.001), managing insulin pumps (41.2% vs 68.6%, p=0.001) and hybrid closed loop (10.2% vs 26.5%, p=0.033), and interpreting sensor data (41.2% vs 68.6%, p=0.001) post-intervention.

Discussion

PCPs who participated in Project ECHO Diabetes reported increased confidence in diabetes management, with notable improvement in their ability to prescribe, manage, and troubleshoot diabetes technology. These data support the use of tele-education of PCPs to increase confidence in diabetes technology management as a feasible strategy to advance equity in diabetes management and outcomes.