This study aims to address persistent challenges in achieving recommended control goals for patients with type 1 diabetes through innovative interventions. Specifically, the research focuses on assessing the effectiveness of smart insulin pens combined with glucose monitoring devices as a promising treatment option for individuals on multiple daily insulin injections. The study will analyze electronic health records from adults (≥ 18 years) attending the Diabetes Unit of the University Clinical Hospital of Valencia. Participants who are or have used smart insulin pens will be compared with a control group matched for age, sex, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c value at baseline (1:1). Data will be collected on participant characteristics, smart pen usage, glycemic control parameters, and daily insulin doses. The study also aims to identify adverse events associated with the use of smart pens. Ethical considerations include ensuring the anonymity of participant data, and the study is designed to comply with European (EU) data protection regulations. The retrospective nature ensures no interference with physicians' prescription habits.
Rationale: Despite ongoing advancements in type 1 diabetes management, a significant number of patients continue to struggle in attaining recommended control goals, posing an elevated risk of complications and a diminished quality of life. Hence, there is a need for innovative interventions that genuinely improve diabetes management and associated clinical outcomes. Smart insulin pens, coupled with glucose monitoring devices, emerge as a promising treatment option for individuals on multiple daily insulin injections who may not be suitable candidates for continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy. These easy-to-use devices offer significant advantages, such as automated tracking of administered insulin doses along with information other relevant diabetes-related data, facilitating treatment optimization, and helping overcome barriers to achieve better glucose control where both patients and healthcare professionals can implement treatment plans with agility, adopting a more proactive and personalized approach to diabetes care. While certain recent studies have shown positive outcomes in glycemic control and quality of life linked to the utilization of these devices, there is still a gap in understanding their impact under real-life conditions. Hence, conducting clinical studies within the framework of routine clinical practice becomes imperative to thoroughly assess their application and effects on individuals with type 1 diabetes undergoing multiple daily insulin injections. The purpose of this study is to provide real-world evidence on the effectiveness of smart pens in enhancing glycemic control and identify specific patient subgroups for targeted interventions. Hypothesis: Our hypothesis suggests that the use of smart pens in patients with type 1 diabetes receiving multiple daily insulin doses and utilizing glucose monitoring devices is associated with improved glycemic control. It is expected that the use of these devices is linked to a significant increase in time in range, a reduction in time below the target range, and a decrease in glucose variability during the usage period, compared to a control group. Primary objectives: * To describe the clinical characteristics of individuals with type 1 diabetes using smart pens for multiple daily insulin doses in the Valencia Clínico-Malvarrosa Health Department, comparing it with a control group. * To evaluate changes in glycemic control parameters (HbA1c and continuous glucose monitoring parameters) as well as the incidence of adverse events with the use of smart pens in patients with type 1 diabetes, comparing it with a control group in real-life conditions. Sample size: The sample will include all adults (≥ 18 years) with type 1 diabetes who attend or have attended the Diabetes Unit of the University Clinical Hospital of Valencia, using or having used smart insulin pens, along with a control group matched for age, sex, diabetes duration, and HbA1c value at the study's outset (1:1). Data and study procedure: Data for this study will be sourced from the electronic health records of adults (≥ 18 years) with type 1 diabetes who attend or have attended the Diabetes Unit of the University Clinical Hospital of Valencia. The medical records of all participants using or having used smart insulin pens and glucose monitoring devices, as well as a control group (1:1), will be reviewed. Retrospective data will be collected on participant characteristics, the type of smart insulin pen used, and individual changes in glycemic control (HbA1c and glucose monitoring device parameters), as well as daily insulin doses, starting from the date of smart pen prescription. Additionally, all adverse events occurring during the use of smart pens will be documented, specifying their type and frequency for each individual. All data will be compiled in an anonymous Microsoft Excel database, which will be deleted upon completion of the study. Anonymization will be performed by an individual external to the clinical research team. Ethical aspects: The study database will not contain any information allowing the individual identification of study participants. The data will be used exclusively for the purposes described in this project. The information will be considered confidential and will be stored and processed in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and the Council of April 27, 2016, regarding personal data and the free movement of this data, as per Organic Law 3/2018 of December. Although there are objectives related to medication use, being a retrospective study makes it impossible to alter the prescription habits of any physician in the unit under study.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
Retrospective analysis of electronic health records for individuals with type 1 diabetes receiving multiple daily doses of insulin, combined with glucose monitoring devices and who have used or are currently using insulin smart pens.
INCLIVA
Valencia, Spain
Type of smart pen prescribed
Type of smart pen prescribed (smart pen prescription)
Time frame: up to 24 months
Type of basal insulin prescribed
Type of basal insulin prescribed (basal insulin prescription)
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Daily dose of basal insulin
Daily dose of basal insulin (UI/kg)
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Number of basal insulin injections
Number of basal insulin injections per day
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Omission of basal insulin
Omission of basal insulin doses (Yes/No)
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Type of prandial insulin prescribed
Type of insulin prescribed for prandial use (prandial insulin prescription)
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Daily dose of prandial insulin
Daily dose of prandial insulin (UI/kg)
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Number of prandial insulin injections
Number of prandial insulin injections per day
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Omission of prandial insulin
Omission of prandial insulin doses (Yes/No)
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Total daily insulin dose
Total daily insulin dose (UI/kg)
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Number of total insulin injections
Number of total insulin injections per day
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Self-monitoring of capillary glucose
Self-monitoring of capillary blood glucose (SMBG) (Y/N)
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Glucose monitoring device
Glucose monitoring in real-time or intermittently scanned (Yes/No)
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Time using the glucose monitoring device
Percentage of time using the glucose monitoring device
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
HbA1c concentration
HbA1c concentration: at month -3, 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24.
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Time in Range (%TIR)
Time in Range (%TIR): at month -3, 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24.
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Time Below Range (%TbR)
Time Below Range (%TbR): at month -3, 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24.
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Time Above Range (%TaR)
Time Above Range (%TaR): at month -3, 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24.
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Mean glucose (mg/dL)
Mean glucose (mg/dL): at month -3, 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24.
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Coefficient of variation of continuous glucose sensor values (CV)
Coefficient of variation of continuous glucose sensor values (CV): at month -3, 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24.
Time frame: 3 months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Type of adverse event from the initiation of the prescription of smart insulin pens.
Type of adverse event from the initiation of the prescription of smart insulin pens (if any adverse event occurred): severe hypoglycemia, DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis), ketosis, other
Time frame: up to 24 months (from the time of the first prescription and throughout the study follow-up)
Months post smart pen prescription when the adverse event occurred.
Number of months post smart pen prescription when the adverse event occurred (nº).
Time frame: up to 24 months (from the time of the first prescription and throughout the study follow-up)
Adherence to smart insulin pen usage based on the number of days with data uploads
Adherence to data transfer in the mobile application when using the smart pen: at month 6, 12, 18, 24
Time frame: up to 24 months (from the time of the first prescription and throughout the study follow-up)
Smart pen persistence
Persistence in the use of smart insulin pens after prescription: at month 6, 12, 18, 24 Persistence defined as the percentage of patients continuing treatment since the first smart pen prescription until discontinuation.
Time frame: up to 24 months (from the time of the first prescription and throughout the study follow-up)
Exclusive use of smart pen
Exclusive use of smart insulin pens or mixed use with disposable pens (Yes/No)
Time frame: up to 24 months (from the time of the first prescription and throughout the study follow-up)
Duration of diabetes
Duration of diabetes at the time of the first smart pen prescription (years)
Time frame: up to 12 months
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in the year prior to the initiation of the smart pen (Yes/No)
Time frame: up to 12 months
Severe hypoglycemia
Severe hypoglycemia in the year prior to the initiation of the smart pen (Yes/No)
Time frame: up to 12 months
BMI
BMI (kg/m2): at month -3, 0, 6, 12, 18, 24
Time frame: From three months before the initiation of the first prescription and up to 24 months (throughout the study follow-up)
Age
Age at the time of the first smart pen prescription (years)
Time frame: up to 12 months
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