New Insulin delivery technology improves quality of life and offers better glucose control in young people living with type 1 diabetes.
New research led by the Children’s Diabetes Centre at the Telethon Kids Institute has found the hybrid closed-loop (HCL) system, a device that is a step towards an artificial pancreas, gives better glucose control and improves quality of life in young people living with type 1 diabetes.
In a study published in JAMA Pediatrics last month, a research team led by Dr Mary Abraham, Head of Technology Research at Children’s Diabetes Centre
and Professor Tim Jones, Co-Director of the Children’s Diabetes Centre, found the HCL insulin delivery system resulted in an improvement in the overall glucose levels compared to their current therapy. Participants spent more time in healthy glucose range and reported better treatment satisfaction and quality of life.
This was a Perth-led study with five tertiary paediatric diabetes centres participating in Australia. The study is the longest and largest at-home paediatric trial of a hybrid closed loop system with 135 participants aged between 12 and 25 years.
Dr Abraham said the HCL system consisted of an insulin pump, sensor with transmitter attached and a maths program (an algorithm) within the pump that automatically works out how much insulin is needed. This system is now available for people with type 1 diabetes to help manage their glucose
levels.
“This landmark study is the first to provide robust scientific evidence that using this system is better than current therapy: either insulin injections or standard insulin pump therapy at keeping glucose levels within the normal range,“ Dr Abraham said.
“Findings showed participants gained an additional 1.6 hours a day in the target glucose range compared to their current therapy.”
15-year-old Perth girl Lucia Wright, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 11, said the research study gave her the perfect opportunity to transition from injections to a closed-loop system in a supported environment.
“The frequent injections and finger-pricks I had to do every day were really tiring and were always on my mind. The hybrid closed-loop is like a support system; it takes a lot of the stress of diabetes off my shoulders and I don’t have to be thinking about it 24/7. It’s given me some control back in my
life,” Lucia said.
Children’s Diabetes Centre co-director Professor Jones said the study findings showed the HCL system helped to make diabetes management easier and reduce the burden of the disease for both individuals and their families. A unique component to this study were the participant-reported
outcomes which highlighted better treatment satisfaction and quality of life with HCL system.
“The integration of real-time continuous glucose monitoring systems and pump therapy has been an important milestone in the management of Type 1 Diabetes and the incorporation of control algorithms has offered potential to further improve outcomes,” Professor Jones said.
More refined iterations of the HCL system with increasing automation and minimal input from the person with Type 1 diabetes are in various stages of research and development. They have the potential to further tighten glucose control.
Ths study was published in Jama Pediatrics
The article was pulished in The West Australian
First published Tuesday 23 November 2021.