Insulin Pump Therapy clinical trials

Impact of Hybrid Closed Loop Systems in People With Type I Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes requires people with type 1 diabetes to constantly monitor their blood glucose and adjust their insulin doses to try and keep glucose levels in range. Hybrid closed loop systems (also called artificial pancreas) consist of a sensor that continuously measures glucose levels, an algorithm that then decides every few minutes how much insulin to deliver and an insulin pump that then delivers the insulin. These systems have been shown in observational and randomized studies to improve glucose levels and have high levels of user satisfaction. The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has launched a pilot for up to 1,000 people with type 1 diabetes to trial these devices for up to 1 year and the results of that pilot will be audited by clinical teams. This study will recruit people from that pilot and use well validated as well as bespoke questionnaires to assess the impact of this technology on various key patient reported outcomes such as depression, diabetes related distress and fear of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). We will invite a small number of participants to take part in semi-structured interviews to gain a more detailed understanding of the benefits and challenges of using these devices, and the impact they have on people living with type 1 diabetes. We know that living with a partner with type 1 diabetes can also have a negative impact on quality of life, and so we will invite partners of people using the hybrid closed loops systems to complete some validated and bespoke questionnaires. A small sample will also be invited to participate in interviews. The data from this real-world study of the impact of hybrid closed loop systems on patient reported outcomes will be of value to clinicians, people with type 1 diabetes and policy makers in understanding the value of these systems to people with type 1 diabetes and their families.