Over the last four decades, advancements in both insulin delivery and glucose monitoring technologies have promised to facilitate and improve the management of T1D. The present study investigated whether T1D patients’ use of insulin pumps and glucose sensors was associated with self-reported evaluations of burden of care and glycemic control.
A total of 2,416 T1D patients from research panels in Canada and Europe completed an online survey. Half of all respondents used a pump and glucose sensor, 10% used a pump and no glucose sensor, 26% were on MDI and a glucose sensor, and 15% were on MDI alone.
Overall, the greater one’s use of diabetes technology, the more time spent on management. Those using a pump and glucose sensor were the most likely to spend over 30 minutes a day on their diabetes care (74%), followed by those on just a pump (65%), those on just a glucose sensor (58%), and those on MDI alone (45%). Notably, sensor users were significantly more likely than non-users to report an A1c at or below 7 (46%, 34% respectively). Among sensor users, those on a pump were significantly more likely to report 60-80% time-in-range (33%) than those on MDI (26%).
Our data suggests that adoption of diabetes technologies is associated with greater time spent on management as well as improved glycemic outcomes. Future research should elucidate whether this increase in time is required to achieve greater control, or whether future technologies can minimize burden of care while continuing to offer better results.