Current provision and HCP experiences of remote care delivery and diabetes technology training for people with type 1 diabetes in the UK during the Covid‐19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rapid implementation of remote care delivery in type 1 diabetes. We studied current modes of care delivery, healthcare professional experiences and impact on insulin pump training in type 1 diabetes care in the United Kingdom (UK).MethodsThe UK Diabetes Technology Network designed a 48-question survey aimed at healthcare professionals providing care in type 1 diabetes.ResultsOne hundred and forty-three healthcare professionals (48% diabetes physicians, 52% diabetes educators and 88% working in adult services) from approximately 75 UK centres (52% university hospitals, 46% general and community hospitals), responded to the survey. Telephone consultations were the main modality of care delivery. There was a higher reported time taken for video consultations versus telephone (p ConclusionThis survey highlights UK healthcare professional experiences of remote care delivery. While supportive of virtual care models, a number of factors highlighted, especially patient digital literacy, need to be addressed to improve virtual care delivery and device training.</div

Association of British Clinical Diabetologists, Diabetes Technology Network UK and Association of Children's Diabetes Clinicians Survey of UK Healthcare Professional Attitudes Towards Open-Source Automated Insulin Delivery Systems

Introduction: Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems can enable improved glycaemic outcomes with reduced mental burden. Open-source AID (OS-AID) systems overcome some of the developmental and access barriers enabling a wider use of these systems. Limited data are available on healthcare professional (HCP) opinions and current practice regarding these systems. The aim of this survey was to gain insight into HCP perceptions and practices around OS-AID. Methods: This survey was developed collaboratively with OS-AID users and distributed to adult and children’s teams, using an online survey tool. Results were received between February and April 2019. Responses were assessed using simple descriptive statistics with analyses stratified by respondent characteristics. Results: 317 responses were obtained from a range of HCPs in both adult and paediatric services. Key results include: HCP perception of OS-AID as “risky in the wrong hands” (43%); 91% felt uncomfortable initiating discussions around OS-AID because of lack of regulation (67%) and/or their own lack of knowledge (63%). Half of HCPs (47%) reported that they would choose OS-AID if they themselves had type 1 diabetes. Conclusions: HCPs are generally supportive of OS-AID users but many feel uncomfortable with the technicalities of the systems given the lack of approval. Knowledge around the use of these systems was limited. Re-assessment of HCP perceptions should be performed in the future given the evolving landscape of diabetes technology, recent consensus statements and emerging ethical and legal perspectives

UK's Association of British Clinical Diabetologist's Diabetes Technology Network (ABCD-DTN): Best practice guide for hybrid closed-loop therapy

This best practice guide is written with the aim of providing an overview of current hybrid closed-loop (HCL) systems in use within the United Kingdom's (UK) National Health Service (NHS) and to provide education and advice for their management on both an individual and clinical service level. The environment of diabetes technology, and particularly HCL systems, is rapidly evolving. The past decade has seen unprecedented advances in the development of HCL systems. These systems improve glycaemic outcomes and reduce the burden of treatment for people with type 1 diabetes (pwT1D). It is anticipated that access to these systems will increase in England as a result of updates in National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance providing broader support for the use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for pwT1D. NICE is currently undertaking multiple-technology appraisal into HCL systems. Based on experience from centres involved in supporting advanced technologies as well as from the recent NHS England HCL pilot, this guide is intended to provide healthcare professionals with UK expert consensus on the best practice for initiation, optimisation and ongoing management of HCL therapy.</p

African-Caribbean ethnicity is an independent predictor of significant decline in kidney function in people with type 1 diabetes

   Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the demographic and clinical features in an urban cohort of people with type 1 diabetes who developed ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).  Research design and methods: We evaluated 5261 people with type 1 diabetes (51% female, 13.4% African-Caribbean) with baseline eGFR >45ml/min/1.73m2. Primary endpoint was an eGFR decline ≥50% from baseline with a final eGFR Results: Of the cohort 263 (5%) reached the primary endpoint. People who reached primary endpoint were more likely to be of African-Caribbean ethnicity, older, with a longer duration of diabetes, higher systolic blood pressure and HbA1c, more prevalent retinopathy, and higher albuminuria categories (p Conclusion: We report a novel observation that African-Caribbean ethnicity increased the risk of kidney function loss, an effect which was independent of traditional risk factors. Further studies are needed to examine the associated pathophysiology that may explain this observation. </p

Real-world outcomes of Omnipod DASH system use in people with type 1 diabetes: Evidence from the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) study

AimsTo evaluate real-world outcomes in people with Type 1 Diabetes (PwT1D) initiated on Omnipod DASH® Insulin Management System.MethodsAnonymized clinical data were submitted to a secure web-based tool within the National Health Service network. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), sensor-derived glucometrics, total daily dose of insulin (TDD), and patient-reported outcome changes between baseline and follow-up were assessed. Individuals were classified to "new-to-pump" (switched from multiple daily injections) and "established-on-pump" (switched from a tethered insulin pump) groups.Results276 individuals from 11 centers [66.7 % female; 92 % White British; median age 41 years (IQR 20-50); diabetes duration 20 years (IQR 11-31); 49.3 % within "new-to-pump" group] were included. Baseline HbA1c was 8.0 ± 1.3 % (64 ± 14 mmol/mol). At follow-up [3 years (IQR 1.5-3.2)], HbA1c reduced by 0.3 % [(3 mmol/mol); p = 0.002] across the total population, 0.4 % [(5 mmol/mol); p = 0.001] in those "new-to-pump" and remained unchanged in those "established-on-pump". TDD decreased in the "new-to-pump" cohort (baseline:44.9 ± 21.0units vs follow-up:38.1 ± 15.4units, p = 0.002). Of those asked, 141/143 (98.6 %) stated Omnipod DASH had a positive impact on quality of life.ConclusionsOmnipod DASH was associated with improvements in HbA1c in PwT1D "new-to-pump" and maintained previous HbA1c levels in those "established-on-pump". User satisfaction in all groups and TDD reduction in those "new-to-pump" were reported

Hybrid Closed Loop Therapy in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes and Above-Target HbA1c: A Real-World Observational Study

ObjectiveWe explored longitudinal changes associated with switching to hybrid closed loop (HCL) insulin delivery systems in adults with type 1 diabetes and elevated HbA1c levels despite the use of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) and insulin pump therapy.Research design and methodsWe undertook a pragmatic, preplanned observational study of participants included in the National Health Service England closed loop pilot. Adults using isCGM and insulin pump across 31 diabetes centers in England with an HbA1c ≥8.5% who were willing to commence HCL therapy were included. Outcomes included change in HbA1c, sensor glucometrics, diabetes distress score, Gold score (hypoglycemia awareness), acute event rates, and user opinion of HCL.ResultsIn total, 570 HCL users were included (median age 40 [IQR 29-50] years, 67% female, and 85% White). Mean baseline HbA1c was 9.4 ± 0.9% (78.9 ± 9.1 mmol/mol) with a median follow-up of 5.1 (IQR 3.9-6.6) months. Of 520 users continuing HCL at follow-up, mean adjusted HbA1c reduced by 1.7% (95% CI 1.5, 1.8; P ConclusionsUse of HCL is associated with improvements in HbA1c, time in range, hypoglycemia, and diabetes-related distress and quality of life in people with type 1 diabetes in the real world