Dataset Information

Adolescents' Experiences of Using a Smartphone Application Hosting a Closed-loop Algorithm to Manage Type 1 Diabetes in Everyday Life: Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Closed-loop technology may help address health disparities experienced by adolescents, who are more likely to have suboptimal glycemic control than other age groups and, because of their age, find diabetes self-management particularly challenging. The CamAPS FX closed-loop has sought to address accessibility and usability issues reported by users of previous prototype systems. It comprises small components and a smartphone app used to: announce meal-time boluses, adjust ("boost" or "ease-off") closed-loop insulin delivery, customize alarms, and review/share data. We explored how using the CamAPS FX platform influences adolescents' self-management practices and everyday lives.

Methods

Eighteen adolescents were interviewed after having ≥6 months experience using the closed-loop platform. Data were analyzed thematically.

Results

Participants reported feeling less burdened and shackled by diabetes because closed-loop components were easier to carry/wear, finger-pricks were not required, the smartphone app provided a discreet and less stigmatizing way of managing diabetes in public, and they were able to customize alarms. Participants also reported checking and reviewing data more regularly, because they did so when using the smartphone for other reasons. Some reported challenges in school settings where use of personal phones was restricted. Participants highlighted how self-management practices were improved because they could easily review glucose data and adjust closed-loop insulin delivery using the "boost" and "ease-off" functions. Some described how using the system resulted in them forgetting about diabetes and neglecting certain tasks.

Conclusions

A closed-loop system with small components and control algorithm on a smartphone app can enhance usability and acceptability for adolescents and may help address the health-related disparities experienced by this age group. However, challenges can arise from using a medical app on a device which doubles as a smartphone.

Trial registration

Closed Loop From Onset in Type 1 Diabetes (CLOuD); NCT02871089; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02871089.

SUBMITTER: Rankin D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8411472 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Objective: Evaluating the feasibility of closed-loop insulin delivery with a zone model predictive control (zone-MPC) algorithm designed for pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes (T1D). Research Design and Methods: Pregnant women with T1D from 14 to 32 weeks gestation already using continuous glucose monitor (CGM) augmented pump therapy were enrolled in a 2-day multicenter supervised outpatient study evaluating pregnancy-specific zone-MPC based closed-loop control (CLC) with the interoperable artificial pancreas system (iAPS) running on an unlocked smartphone. Meals and activities were unrestricted. The primary outcome was the CGM percentage of time between 63 and 140 mg/dL compared with participants' 1-week run-in period. Early (2-h) postprandial glucose control was also evaluated. Results: Eleven participants completed the study (age: 30.6 ± 4.1 years; gestational age: 20.7 ± 3.5 weeks; weight: 76.5 ± 15.3 kg; hemoglobin A1c: 5.6% ± 0.5% at enrollment). No serious adverse events occurred. Compared with the 1-week run-in, there was an increased percentage of time in 63-140 mg/dL during supervised CLC (CLC: 81.5%, run-in: 64%, P = 0.007) with less time >140 mg/dL (CLC: 16.5%, run-in: 30.8%, P = 0.029) and time <63 mg/dL (CLC: 2.0%, run-in:5.2%, P = 0.039). There was also less time <54 mg/dL (CLC: 0.7%, run-in:1.6%, P = 0.030) and >180 mg/dL (CLC: 4.9%, run-in: 13.1%, P = 0.032). Overnight glucose control was comparable, except for less time >250 mg/dL (CLC: 0%, run-in:3.9%, P = 0.030) and lower glucose standard deviation (CLC: 23.8 mg/dL, run-in:42.8 mg/dL, P = 0.007) during CLC. Conclusion: In this pilot study, use of the pregnancy-specific zone-MPC was feasible in pregnant women with T1D. Although the duration of our study was short and the number of participants was small, our findings add to the limited data available on the use of CLC systems during pregnancy (NCT04492566).