Factors correlating with improved A1C in children using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion

Multiple basal infusion rates in open-loop insulin delivery systems: is there a metabolic benefit?

Objective

To evaluate glycemic control according to the number of daily basal rates (BRs) in type 1 diabetes patients using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII).

Subjects and methods

Cross-sectional study of patients treated with an open-loop CSII for at least 6 months and using a flash glucose monitoring system. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (G1) and group 2 (G2), with ≤4 and >4 BRs/24h, respectively. The groups were compared regarding HbA1c, time in range (TIR), time above range (TAR), time below range (TBR), glucose management indicator (GMI), glucose variability and data related to hypoglycemia. Regression models were performed.

Results

The study included 99 patients (n = 55 in G1; n = 44 in G2). Median (Interquartile range) overall age was 30 (17) years, with 19.5 (48) and 51 (77) months of CSII use, respectively. The median number of different BRs was 3 (2) for G1 and 6 (2) for G2. There were no differences concerning age, sex, educational stage, weight, and insulin analog used. G2 had longer disease duration, longer CSII use, and higher total basal daily dose/kg. No significant differences regarding HbA1c, median glucose, GMI, TIR, TAR, and CV were found. G2 patients had more hypoglycemia, more asymptomatic hypoglycemia, and higher TBR. After adjusting for potential confounders, G1 maintained a lower risk of asymptomatic hypoglycemia.

Conclusion

Programming open-loop CSII devices with more than 4 BRs does not improve metabolic control. Additionally, it seems to be a risk factor for hypoglycemia and was an independent predictor for asymptomatic hypoglycemia.

Insulin pump therapy, pre-pump hemoglobin A1c and metabolic improvement in children with type 1 diabetes at a tertiary Canadian children's hospital

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Indications for insulin pump therapy (IPT) in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are relatively non-specific and therefore subject to provider discretion. Health professionals' perceptions of which people will have difficulty with IPT, for example, those with higher hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c ), may not be correct. This study examined the effect of IPT on HbA_1c , and the role of pre-pump HbA_1c on this effect.

METHODS

All children with T1D started on IPT at British Columbia Children's Hospital from January 2011 through June 2016 were included if they had HbA_1c values available both before and after IPT (n = 125). Generalized estimating equations was used to estimate the effects of IPT on HbA_1c , stratified by pre-pump HbA_1c levels (good: <7.5% [<58 mmol/mol], moderate: 7.5%-9.0% [58-75 mmol/mol], poor: >9.0% [>75 mmol/mol]).

RESULTS

After adjusting for potential confounders, mean HbA_1c decreased by 0.48% [5.2 mmol/mol] (95% confidence interval: -0.64, -0.33% [-7.0, -3.6 mmol/mol]; P < 0.0001) after IPT initiation. The adjusted mean HbA_1c decreased by 0.14% [1.5 mmol/mol] (-0.35, 0.07% [-3.8, 0.8 mmol/mol]; P = 0.188), 0.54% [5.9 mmol/mol] (-0.74, -0.34% [-8.1, -3.7 mmol/mol]; P < 0.0001), and 1.08% [11.8 mmol/mol] (-1.69, -0.46% [-18.5, -5.0 mmol/mol]; P = 0.0006) after pump initiation in the good, moderate, and poor pre-pump metabolic control groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-pump HbA_1c appears to play a significant role in the effects of IPT on HbA_1c , with the largest decrease in HbA_1c seen in the poor pre-pump HbA_1c group. Eligibility and consideration for IPT should be expanded to routinely include these children.

A novel tool to predict youth who will show recommended usage of diabetes technologies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Controversy exists regarding which individuals will benefit most from commencement of diabetes technologies such as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) or continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS), such as 'real-time' sensor-augmented pumping (SAP). Because higher usage correlates with haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) achieved, we aimed to predict future usage of technologies using a questionnaire-based tool.

SUBJECTS

The tool was distributed to two groups of youth with type 1 diabetes; group A (n = 50; mean age 12 ± 2.5 yr) which subsequently commenced 'real-time' CGMS and group B (n = 47; mean age 13 ± 3 yr) which commenced CSII utilisation.

METHODS

For the CGMS group, recommended usage was ≥5 days (70%) per week [≥70% = high usage (HU); <70% = low usage (LU)], assessed at 3 months. In the CSII group, HU was quantified as entering ≥5 blood sugars per day to the pump and LU as <5 blood sugars per day, at 6 months from initiation. Binary logistic regression with forward stepwise conditional was used to utilise tool scales and calculate an applied formula.

RESULTS

Of the CGMS group, using gender, baseline HbA1c, and two subscales of the tool generated a formula which predicted both high and low usage with 92% accuracy. Twelve (24%) showed HU vs. 38 who exhibited LU at 3 months. Of the CSII group, 32 (68%) exhibited HU vs. 15 who exhibited LU at 6 months. Four tool items plus gender predicted HU/LU with 95% accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study resulted in successful prediction of individuals who will and those who will not go on to show recommended usage of CSII and CGMS.

Demographic and personal factors associated with metabolic control and self-care in youth with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review

Optimal use of recent technological advances in insulin delivery and glucose monitoring remain limited by the impact of behaviour on self-care. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in psychosocial methods of optimizing care in youth with type 1 diabetes. We therefore sought to examine the literature for demographic, interpersonal and intrapersonal correlates of self-care and/or metabolic control. Studies for this systematic review were obtained via an electronic search of Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and PsycINFO databases. Seventy studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. These studies have indicated that identifiable individual characteristics in each domain are robustly associated with metabolic control and/or self-care in children and adolescents. We present these characteristics and propose a theoretical model of their interactions and effect on diabetes outcomes. There is currently no consensus regarding patient selection for insulin pump therapy. In this era of scarce healthcare resources, it may be prudent to identify youth requiring increased psychosocial support prior to regimen intensification. The importance of this review lies in its potential to create a framework for rationally utilizing resources by stratifying costly therapeutic options to those who, in the first instance, will be most likely to benefit from them.

Long-term insulin pump treatment in girls with type 1 diabetes and eating disorders--is it feasible?

AIM

This study evaluated the feasibility of insulin pump treatment in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and eating disorders (ED).

METHODS

Sixty-three girls >10 years old were included in the study. Forty-eight were treated with pump (no-ED-pump group); 15 had ED, of whom eight were treated with pump (ED-pump group), and seven were treated with multiple daily injections (MDI) (ED-MDI group).

RESULTS

Girls in the ED-pump group had higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) compared to those in the no-ED-pump group both before and after pump initiation (P = 0.007). In the ED-pump group, levels 0-6 months after pump initiation were slightly but not significantly lower compared to baseline reference values (8.48% vs. 8.84%, respectively; P = 0.42). In the no-ED-pump group there was a significant decrease in HbA1c level 0-6 months after pump initiation (8.03% vs. 7.67%, respectively; P = 0.004). Thereafter HbA1c levels were not different from baseline reference on both groups. The rate of hypoglycemic episodes was similar in the ED pump and no-ED-pump groups (0.9 vs. 1.0 episodes per 100 patient-years, respectively). Prior to diagnosis of ED, mean HbA1c levels in the ED-pump group and the ED-MDI group were similar: 9.24 ± 1.25% versus 8.47 ± 1.30% (P = 0.51). In the time intervals after the diagnosis of ED, mean HbA1c level of all measurements in the eight girls in the ED-pump group was significantly lower compared with the seven patients in the ED-MDI group: 9.07 ± 1.33% versus 10.40 ± 2.01% (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with an insulin pump was feasible in girls with T1DM and ED and resulted in significantly lower HbA1c levels compared to the ED-MDI group.

The impact of baseline hemoglobin A1c levels prior to initiation of pump therapy on long-term metabolic control

OBJECTIVE

This study was done to identify factors influencing long-term metabolic control in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) treated with an insulin pump.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Data were obtained from retrospective chart review of 113 patients (52 males) with T1DM treated with an insulin pump for up to 7 years. Their mean +/- SD age at diagnosis of T1DM was 9.7 +/- 5.1 years, and that at pump therapy initiation was 13.8 +/- 6.1 years. Linear trends and changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels following pump insertion were evaluated according to gender, metabolic control prior to initiation of pump therapy, time from diagnosis of diabetes until pump therapy, age at initiation, and the duration of pump treatment.

RESULTS

Mean HbA1c levels of patients with good baseline metabolic control (HbA1c level 9%) control groups (8.1 +/- 0.9% and 8.2 +/- 1.1%, respectively; P < 0.001). However, with time a significant trend for increasing HbA1c level was demonstrated in the group with good metabolic control (P value for trend = 0.004). HbA1c levels of patients with poor baseline metabolic control decreased significantly immediately after pump initiation (9.4 +/- 1.6% vs. 8.0 +/- 1.2%, P = 0.0001) and thereafter remained stable (P value for trend = 0.54). In the multivariable analyses, baseline HbA1c level

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term response to pump treatment was dependent on baseline metabolic control. Early pump treatment had a significant long-term impact on metabolic control.

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MESH Headings

• Adolescent
• Child
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/metabolism
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Glycated Hemoglobin/analysis
• Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism
• Humans
• Insulin/administration & dosage
• Insulin Infusion Systems
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Retrospective Studies

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Affiliation(s)

Orit Pinhas-Hamiel Maccabi Juvenile Diabetes Center, Raanana, Israel.
Michal Tzadok
Galit Hirsh
Valentina Boyko
Chana Graph-Barel
Liat Lerner-Geva
Brian Reichman

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Evaluation of an algorithm to guide patients with type 1 diabetes treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion on how to respond to real-time continuous glucose levels: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate an algorithm guiding responses of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII)-treated type 1 diabetic patients using real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Sixty CSII-treated type 1 diabetic participants (aged 13-70 years, including adult and adolescent subgroups, with A1C <or=9.5%) were randomized in age-, sex-, and A1C-matched pairs. Phase 1 was an open 16-week multicenter randomized controlled trial. Group A was treated with CSII/RT-CGM with the algorithm, and group B was treated with CSII/RT-CGM without the algorithm. The primary outcome was the difference in time in target (4-10 mmol/l) glucose range on 6-day masked CGM. Secondary outcomes were differences in A1C, low (<or=3.9 mmol/l) glucose CGM time, and glycemic variability. Phase 2 was the week 16-32 follow-up. Group A was returned to usual care, and group B was provided with the algorithm. Glycemia parameters were as above. Comparisons were made between baseline and 16 weeks and 32 weeks.

RESULTS

In phase 1, after withdrawals 29 of 30 subjects were left in group A and 28 of 30 subjects were left in group B. The change in target glucose time did not differ between groups. A1C fell (mean 7.9% [95% CI 7.7-8.2to 7.6% [7.2-8.0]; P < 0.03) in group A but not in group B (7.8% [7.5-8.1] to 7.7 [7.3-8.0]; NS) with no difference between groups. More subjects in group A achieved A1C <or=7% than those in group B (2 of 29 to 14 of 29 vs. 4 of 28 to 7 of 28; P = 0.015). In phase 2, one participant was lost from each group. In group A, A1C returned to baseline with RT-CGM discontinuation but did not change in group B, who continued RT-CGM with addition of the algorithm.

CONCLUSIONS

Early but not late algorithm provision to type 1 diabetic patients using CSII/RT-CGM did not increase the target glucose time but increased achievement of A1C <or=7%. Upon RT-CGM cessation, A1C returned to baseline.

Therapeutics of diabetes mellitus: focus on insulin analogues and insulin pumps

Aim. Inadequately controlled diabetes accounts for chronic complications and increases mortality. Its therapeutic management aims in normal HbA1C, prandial and postprandial glucose levels. This review discusses diabetes management focusing on the latest insulin analogues, alternative insulin delivery systems and the artificial pancreas. Results. Intensive insulin therapy with multiple daily injections (MDI) allows better imitation of the physiological rhythm of insulin secretion. Longer-acting, basal insulin analogues provide concomitant improvements in safety, efficacy and variability of glycaemic control, followed by low risks of hypoglycaemia. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) provides long-term glycaemic control especially in type 1 diabetic patients, while reducing hypoglycaemic episodes and glycaemic variability. Continuous subcutaneous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems provide information on postprandial glucose excursions and nocturnal hypo- and/or hyperglycemias. This information enhances treatment options, provides a useful tool for self-monitoring and allows safer achievement of treatment targets. In the absence of a cure-like pancreas or islets transplants, artificial “closed-loop” systems mimicking the pancreatic activity have been also developed. Conclusions. Individualized treatment plans for insulin initiation and administration mode are critical in achieving target glycaemic levels. Progress in these fields is expected to facilitate and improve the quality of life of diabetic patients.

Improving glycaemic control in children and adolescents: which aspects of therapy really matter?

In paediatric diabetes, the concept of intensive therapy in the post-Diabetes Control and Complications Trial period has become subverted by a pharmaco-technological paradigm at the expense of other aspects of care such as goal-setting and psychosocial support. This review examines which patients benefit most from intensive therapy in terms of glycaemic control (HbA1c). It also reviews published controlled trial and observational data relating to the impact of various insulin types and delivery systems on glycaemic control and canvasses the literature dealing with the impact of patient support, philosophy of care, goal setting and treating team dynamic on HbA1c. Taking into account the characteristics of those patients who benefit most from intensive therapy, the quantum of HbA1c change and the persistence of changes that have been reported in selected and non-selected patient groups, it appears that there is a clear hierarchy in aspects of therapy that improve glycaemic control for children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Prime issues appear to be patient support, team cohesion and goal setting. The reported glycaemic benefits achieved by an isolated emphasis upon a pharmaco-technological paradigm are limited in children and adolescents. It appears that only after the prime issues have been first considered will the potential benefits of the insulin types and regimens then be realized.

Predictors of glycaemic control in patients with Type 1 diabetes commencing continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy

AIMS

To identify variables that predict glycaemic control in Type 1 diabetic patients switched to a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) regimen, in order to improve patient selection for this treatment.

METHODS

The notes of 421 Type 1 diabetic patients aged 2.6-39.8 years (median 19.4) who initiated CSII treatment in 1998-2007 and used it for > or = 1 year were reviewed. Details about their background and disease-related and treatment-related variables were recorded. At pump initiation, the mean age was 15.9 +/- 7.2 years, mean diabetes duration 6.4 +/- 5.8 years. Mean time of CSII use was 4.1 +/- 2.1 years. Good glycaemic control was defined by glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) stratified by age (American Diabetes Association target levels). Improvement in glycaemic control was defined as a reduction of > or = 0.5% in HbA(1c) from baseline. The change in the rate of severe hypoglycaemic or diabetic ketoacidosis events was also determined.

RESULTS

There was a significant sustained decrease in HbA(1c) with CSII for an average of 6 years, without increased rates of hypoglycaemia. Achievement of target HbA(1c) was significantly associated with the following parameters at pump initiation: lower HbA(1c) (P < 0.001), younger age (< 12 years), shorter diabetes duration (P < 0.001) and more frequent daily self blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) (P < 0.01). Improved glycaemic control was associated with longer CSII use (P = 0.032) and higher HbA(1c) at CSII initiation (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Switching patients to CSII resulted in sustained decrease in HbA(1c) and improved glycaemic control in patients with high HbA(1c). Young age, frequent SBGM and lower HbA(1c) at pump initiation were identified as predictors of achieving glycaemic targets with CSII.