Impact of insulin pump therapy on key parameters of diabetes management and diabetes related emotional distress in the first 12 months.

Aims: To evaluate the effect of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) on glycaemic control, hypoglycaemia and emotional distress in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) during the first 12 months.

Methods: 47 patients were started on CSII as per NICE guidelines. Anthropometric, clinical and biochemical parameters, hypoglycaemia rates and emotional distress measured by Problem Areas in Diabetes questionnaires (PAID) were recorded at baseline and during follow up at 3-6 months and 6-12 months.

Results: Mean HbA1c dropped by 1.1% (11.8 mmol/mol; p < 0.0001) at 3-6 months and by 0.8% (8.6 mmol/mol; p = 0.008) at 6-12 months. Most patients had improved HbA1c between 6.5 and 8.5% (48-69 mmol/mol) during these follow ups (68.3% and 71.5% respectively). Frequency of hypoglycaemia reduced from 338.2 to 187.2 and 155.3 per 100 patient years during follow ups. Severe hypoglycaemia also decreased from 48.9 to 8.5 and 6.3 per 100 patient years respectively. PAID scores improved from 29.8 ± 18.5 to 17.2 ± 14.0 (p = 0.0002) at 3-6 months and to 12.8 ± 11.7 (p < 0.00001) at 6-12 months. Reduction in HbA1c, insulin dose and PAID scores was more significant in group with HbA1c > 8.5% (69 mmol/mol) at baseline whereas improvement in episodes of hypoglycaemia and severe hypoglycaemic was more in patients who had HbA1c ≤ 8.5% before commencement of CSII therapy.

Conclusions: CSII therapy led to early improvement in glycaemic control, rates of hypoglycaemia and diabetes specific emotional distress. As beneficial effects are recorded within the first few months, CSII therapy should be started more proactively in T1D.