Self-Management Behaviors in Adults on Insulin Pump Therapy: What Are Patients Really Doing?

Danielle Groat, Maria Adela Grando, Hiral Soni, Bithika Thompson, Mary Boyle, Marilyn Bailey, Curtiss B. Cook

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Successful diabetes management requires behavioral changes. Little is known about self-management behaviors (SMB) in adults on insulin pump (IP) therapy. Objective: Analyze and characterize observed common diabetes SMB in adult participants with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using IPs and to correlate behaviors with glycemic outcomes based on participant's individual glucose targets. Materials and Methods: One month of IP data from adults with T1D were downloaded. Computer programs were written to automatically quantify the observed frequency of expected behaviors such as: insulin bolusing, checking blood glucose (BG), and recording carbohydrate intake, and other interactions with the IP. Results: Nineteen participants were recruited and 4,249 IP interactions were analyzed to ascertain behaviors. Intersubject variability of adherence to minimally expected behaviors was observed: daily documentation of carbohydrates and BG checks in 76.6 (31.7)% and 60.0 (32.5)%, respectively, and bolusing without consulting the IPBC in 13.0 (16.9)% of delivered boluses, while daily insulin bolus delivery was consistent 96.8 (5.7)%. Higher frequency of adherence to daily behaviors correlated with a higher number of glucose readings at target. Conclusion: Results indicate variability in SMB and do not always match recommendations. Case-scenarios based on observed real-life SMB could be incorporated into interviews/surveys to elucidate ways to improve SMB.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)233-239
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Diabetes Science and Technology
Volume11
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017

Keywords

  • bolus calculator
  • insulin dosing
  • insulin pump
  • self-management behaviors
  • type 1 diabetes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Bioengineering
  • Biomedical Engineering

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