HbA1c improved by good insulin pump self-management, academics say

Lower HbA1c is linked to self-adjusting insulin pump settings, optimal timing and fewer omissions of meal boluses, a new study suggests.

During the experiment, roughly 700 people with type 1 diabetes filled in a virtual survey on insulin pumps.

Backward selected linear regression models were used to analyse the relationship between HbA1c and insulin pump self-management.

The researchers found that self-adjusting pump settings showed the strongest association with lower HbA1c (-6 mmol/mol (-0.6%), p<0.001) relative to health care professionals doing all adjustments.

The authors said: “Timing insulin 10-15 minutes before meal relative to after meal start was also associated with lower HbA1c (-3 mmol/mol (-0.3%), p=0.023).

“Significant associations with HbA1c were found for changing infusion set every zero to four days relative to five to 10 days, and for never/rarely missing a bolus relative to often missing a bolus.”

To read the research, click here.

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels