Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-30-1905

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether use of the internet-based insulin pump monitoring system, Carelink, improved glycemic control in rural and urban children treated with insulin pump therapy. Research Design: We reviewed records of 94 children treated with insulin pump therapy between the years 2004 and 2007 and compared glycemic control, diabetes self-care measures, frequency of clinic visits, and geographic location associated with Carelink use. Results: Carelink users showed improvement in hemoglobin Alc (HBAlc)levels [8.0 ± 0.1 (SE) vs. 7.7 ± 0.1 (SE), p=0.002]. Carelink users uploaded pump and glucometer data 2.2 ± 1.8 (SD) times per month over 0.8 ± 0.4 (SD) yr. Patients who had no access to Carelink software and were followed in a conventional manner showed no change in HbA1c levels [8.0 ± 0.2 (SE) vs. 8.1 ± 0.2 (SE), p=0.17] during the study period. Carelink non-users, defined as patients who had Carelink access but did not use it, had a higher HbA1c level at the start of the study and did not change over the study period [8.9 ± 0.2 (SE) vs. 9.0 ± 0.3 (SE), p=0.82. Rural Carelink users showed improvement in IIbA1c levels following Carelink use [7.9 ± 0.2 (SE) vs. 7.4 ± 0.2 (SE), p=0.001], yet had significantly fewer clinic visits per year compared with urban patients [2.8 ± 0.2 (SE) vs. 3.5 ± 0.1 (SE), p=0.001]. Conclusion: Use of the Carelink system was associated with improved glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy.

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