Increasing Use of Diabetes Devices: What Do Health Care Professionals Need?

Despite evidence of improved diabetes outcomes with diabetes technology such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, insulin pumps, and hybrid closed-loop (HCL) insulin delivery systems, these devices are underutilized in clinical practice for the management of insulin-requiring diabetes. This low uptake may be the result of health care providers' (HCPs') lack of confidence or time to prescribe and manage devices for people with diabetes. We administered a survey to HCPs in primary care, pediatric endocrinology, and adult endocrinology practices in the United States. Responding HCPs expressed a need for device-related insurance coverage tools and online data platforms with integration to electronic health record systems to improve diabetes technology uptake in these practice settings across the United States.

Friend or Foe: a Narrative Review of the Impact of Diabetes Technology on Sleep.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to present a review of sleep science, the relationship between sleep and type 1 diabetes, and highlight the current literature on sleep outcomes in adult and pediatric diabetes technology research. RECENT FINDINGS: Sleep quality is associated with glycemic outcomes, diabetes self-management, and mental health in people with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes technologies, including insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and hybrid closed-loop systems improve glycemic outcomes. However, many people find this technology challenging for a variety of reasons, including increased burden and frequent alarms, especially during the night. The impact of different devices on sleep quality and quantity has been mixed. The newest technology, the hybrid closed-loop systems, offers the best opportunity for nocturnal glycemic regulation and has improved patient and family perspectives on sleep quality. However, objective sleep assessment has not shown significant improvement on sleep duration. Sleep quality and quantity in people with type 1 diabetes are widely recognized as an important component of health care, and the literature regarding the impact of diabetes devices on sleep is increasing. However, sleep disruptions are common and a barrier to device use. Despite finding minimal changes to sleep duration with device use, subjective accounts of sleep quality are overall positive, especially in those using hybrid closed-loop systems. Sleep quantity and quality are important outcomes to consider as diabetes technology continues to evolve.

Accuracy of a Continuous Glucose Monitor During Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Inpatient Admissions.

Objective: Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) used for type 1 diabetes management are associated with lower hemoglobin A1c. CGMs are not approved for inpatient use, when close glucose monitoring and intensive insulin management are essential for optimal health. Accuracy data from adult hospitalizations have been published, but pediatric data are limited. Design and Methods: This retrospective review of Dexcom G6 data from youth with type 1 diabetes during hospitalization assessed CGMs and matched (within 5 min) point-of-care (POC) and laboratory glucose values. Glucose values >400 and <40 mg/dL were excluded due to sensor reporting capabilities. Standard methods for CGM accuracy were used including mean absolute relative difference (MARD), Clarke Error Grids, and percentage of CGM values within 15%/20%/30% if glucose value is >100 mg/dL and 15/20/30 mg/dL if value is ≤100 mg/dL. Results: A total of 1120 POC and 288 laboratory-matched pairs were collected from 83 unique patients (median age 12.0 years, 68.7% non-Hispanic white, 54.2% male) during 100 admissions. For POC values, overall, MARD was 11.8%, that on the medical floor was 13.5%, and that in the intensive care unit was 7.9%. The MARD for all laboratory values was 6.5%. In total, 98% of matched pairs were within Clarke Error Grid A and B zones. Conclusions: Findings from our pediatric population were similar to accuracy reported in hospitalized adults, indicating the potential role for CGM use during pediatric hospitalizations. Additional research is needed to assess accuracy under various conditions, including medication use, as well as development of safe hospital protocols for successful CGM implementation for routine inpatient care.

Accuracy of a Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitor in Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis Admissions.

Objective: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are integral in the outpatient care of people with type 1 diabetes, although they lack inpatient labeling. Food and Drug Administration began allowing inpatient use during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with some accuracy data now available, primarily from adult hospitals. Pediatric inpatient data remain limited, particularly during diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) admissions and for patients receiving intravenous (IV) insulin. Design and Methods: This retrospective chart review compared point-of-care glucose values to personal Dexcom G6 sensor data during pediatric hospitalizations. Accuracy was assessed using mean absolute relative difference (MARD), Clarke Error Grids, and the percentage of values within 15/20/30% if glucose value >100 mg/dL and 15/20/30 mg/dL if glucose value ≤100 mg/dL. Results: Matched paired glucose values (N = 612) from 36 patients (median age 14 years, 58.3% non-Hispanic White, 47.2% male) and 42 inpatient encounters were included in this subanalysis of DKA admissions. The MARDs for DKA and non-DKA admissions (N = 503) were 11.8% and 11.7%, with 97.6% and 98.6% of pairs falling within A and B zones of the Clarke Error Grid, respectively. Severe DKA admissions (pH <7.15 and/or bicarbonate <5 mmol/L) had a MARD of 8.9% compared to 14.3% for nonsevere DKA admissions. The MARD during administration of IV insulin (N = 266) was 13.4%. Conclusions: CGM accuracy is similar between DKA and non-DKA admissions and is maintained in severe DKA and during IV insulin administration, suggesting potential usability in pediatric hospitalizations. Further study on the feasibility of implementation of CGM in the hospital is needed.

Impact of 6-months of an advanced hybrid closed-loop system on sleep and psychosocial outcomes in youth with type 1 diabetes and their parents.

INTRODUCTION: Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and parents experience reduced quality of life and sleep quality due to nocturnal monitoring, hypoglycemia fear, and diabetes-related disruptions. This study examined the sleep and quality of life impact of advanced technology. METHODS: Thirty-nine youth with T1D, aged 2-17 years, starting an advanced hybrid closed-loop (HCL) system and a parent participated in an observational study. Surveys, actigraphy, sleep diaries, and glycemic data (youth) were captured prior to HCL, at one week, 3 months, and 6 months. Outcomes were modeled using linear mixed effects models with random intercepts to account for within-subject correlation, with least-squares means at each timepoint compared to baseline. RESULTS: Parents and youth reported improvements in health-related quality of life and fear of hypoglycemia after HCL initiation. Concurrently, nocturnal glycemia improved. Actigraphy-derived sleep outcomes showed improved 6 month adolescent efficiency and 3 and 6 month parent wake after sleep onset. Additionally, parents reported improved subjective sleep quality and child sleep-related impairment at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: With nocturnal glycemic improvements in youth using HCL technology, some aspects of parent and youth sleep and quality of life improved. This may reflect decreased parental monitoring and worry and highlights benefits for youth beyond glycemia.