Longevity of the novel ConvaTec infusion set with Lantern technology

Current insulin infusion sets are approved for only 2-3 days. The novel ConvaTec infusion set with Lantern technology is designed to extend infusion set wear time. The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate the duration of wear for this set. This was a pilot safety study in adults with type 1 diabetes using tethered insulin pumps. Participants inserted the set and wore it for 10 days or until failure. Among 24 participants, two were excluded. Forty-five per cent of the sets lasted 10 days. Median wear time was 9.1 (7.1, 10.0) days. Among 12 premature failures, six (50%) involved adhesive failures, four (33%) hyperglycaemia unresponsive to correction, one (8%) hyperglycaemia with ketones and one (8%) infection. Average CGM glucose per day of infusion set wear showed a statistically significant increase over time, while total daily insulin over the same period did not change. In this pilot study, the duration of wear for the novel infusion set exceeded previously reported commercial sets (P < .001). This extended wear technology may eventually allow for a combined glucose sensor and infusion set.

Survival assessment of the extended-wear insulin infusion set featuring lantern technology in adults with type 1 diabetes by the glucose clamp technique

Maintaining good glycaemic control with the same infusion set for longer than 3 days may improve the quality of life of insulin pump users. The aim of the current study was to assess the efficacy and safety of the novel, extended-wear infusion set over 7 days of wear in adults with type 1 diabetes. Sixteen participants completed three identical 8-hour euglycaemic clamp experiments on Days 1, 4 and 7 of infusion set wear. Between the experiments, the participants were discharged home for routine diabetes management while wearing the same extended-wear infusion set throughout the study. Time to reach the maximum glucose infusion rate (T_GIRmax ) on Day 7 was reduced by 67% compared with Day 1 (p < .001). The corresponding area under the glucose infusion rate curve (AUC_GIR ) was comparable for the first 2 h of the clamp (p = .891) but decreased by 28% over time (p < .008). While the extent of insulin absorption decreased with prolonged wear, it was accompanied by an increase in insulin absorption rate. The infusion set survival rate was 100% without leakages, occlusion alarms, severe hypoglycaemia or ketoacidosis. The extended-wear infusion set proved safe and effective during prolonged wear in real-life conditions.

Advances in Insulin Pump Infusion Sets Symposium Report

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is becoming increasingly used for achieving target glycemic control as well as providing flexibility in lifestyle. In a widely used version of CSII, the insulin pump itself is attached to one end of an insulin infusion set (IIS), which delivers insulin via a thin flexible plastic tube to the patient's body via a cannula or needle that is inserted under the skin at the other end of the IIS. Despite the increased use of CSII by patients with diabetes, there have been few recent advances in IIS technology, especially when compared to the many recent advances made in insulin pump technology and in insulin pharmacokinetics. To discuss recent developments in, and future plans for IIS development, Diabetes Technology Society virtually hosted the Advances in Insulin Pump Infusion Sets Symposium on December 1, 2020. This symposium featured experts in the field of IISs, including representatives from Medtronic and ConvaTec (which are two manufacturers that are currently developing IISs), Stanford University, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, and Science Consulting in Diabetes. The webinar's six speakers covered (1) patient burden, (2) extended wear technology, and (3) future directions in IIS development.

Insulin Distribution in Human Adipose Tissue via a Novel Insulin Infusion Catheter

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is a widely used treatment for diabetes patients. Insulin infusion sets (CSII-catheters) are continuously optimized regarding size, handling and safety, but recurring dysfunction (kinking or occlusion), due to different user situations, behavior or chain of events, demand new ways to improve the functionality and safety in patients experiencing these issues. A novel CSII-catheter design (Lantern) features additional lateral perforations, which guarantee functionality even in case of kinking or occlusion. This study aimed to compare functionality, insulin distribution, and failure rate of Lantern and standard catheters using excised human adipose tissue samples. Novel Lantern CSII-catheters (open and artificially occluded) and commercially available standard CSII-catheters were inserted into adipose tissue samples. A mixture of insulin and contrast agent was infused as single bolus (7 IU) with an insulin infusion pump at highest flow rate (1 IU/s). Microtomography images and surface-to-volume ratios were used to assess insulin distribution and depot volume indicating the functionality of CSII-catheters. Failure rate was measured by flow-stop alerts of the pump. We found no difference in the volume of insulin depots compared with the nominal volume of 70 μL. Surface-to-volume ratios showed no significant difference among CSII-catheters. None of the catheters triggered any flow-stop alarm. The novel Lantern CSII-catheter design achieved similar insulin distribution as commercially available CSII-catheters. Moreover, functionality of Lantern CSII-catheters was guaranteed during occlusion, which is an improvement compared with standard CSII-catheters. We conclude that the novel CSII-catheter design has the potential to provide a valuable contribution to patient well-being and safety.

Using Insulin Infusion Sets in CSII for Longer Than the Recommended Usage Time Leads to a High Risk for Adverse Events: Results From a Prospective Randomized Crossover Study

BACKGROUND

Infusion sets for use with insulin pumps are recommended for use for 2 to 3 days to avoid local skin reactions, for example, to the insulin formulation and preservatives like meta-cresol. However, many patients use the catheters longer for economic reasons. We performed this study to investigate the tolerability of 2-day use of infusion sets in comparison to 4-day use in a real-world setting.

METHODS

This prospective randomized controlled crossover study with 2 × 3-month observation periods was performed with 24 type 1 patients. At baseline, patients were trained on the use of the infusion system (Medtronic /Mio® or inset™ II) and randomized to any of the 2 treatment sequences. Observation parameters included glycemic control, frequency and nature of device-related, and procedure-related adverse events and patient preference.

RESULTS

The per-protocol analysis was performed with 22 patients (5 men, 17 women, age 39 ± 11 years, BMI 27.0 ± 3.5 kg/m2). The number of catheter related adverse events was 290 with 2-day use versus 495 with 4-day use (P < .05). The overall number of treatment related events was 750 with 2-day use versus 934 with 4-day use (P < .001). There was no difference in glycemic control between the treatment arms. Treatment satisfaction was higher with 2-day use (very high/high satisfaction: 90.4% versus 4 day-use: 77.3%, P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that using the infusion sets for a longer usage period of 2-3 days resulted in a clinically relevant increase in treatment-related tolerability problems. Patients should be trained and encouraged not to use insulin pump infusion sets for a longer than the recommended time period.