Impact Of Insulin Pump Under Study

Some useful study.
Nick

Impact Of Insulin Pump Under Study

ScienceDaily (Nov. 10, 2008) — Using an insulin pump to manage diabetes is more convenient than managing the disease with daily insulin injections. That much, physicians already know.

But the pump’s impact on the lives of diabetics and their primary caregivers is an important question that hasn’t been answered yet, Medical College of Georgia researchers say.

“Insulin pump technology is touted to improve flexibility in patients’ lives,” says Dr. Max Stachura, director of the Medical College of Georgia Center for Telehealth. “Pumps get them away from multiple daily injections and a lot of the restrictions of diabetes. We want to know what the impact of that technology is on the patients and those around them.”

With funding from the InHealth Institute for Technology, Dr. Stachura and an interdisciplinary MCG research team will measure that impact by studying over 300 diabetics and their caregivers over the next two years.

Other team members include Dr. Elena Astapova, associate director of the Center for Telehealth, Dr. Marlene Rosenkoetter, a professor of nursing and graduate studies, and David Brown, a physician assistant in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism in the Department of Medicine in the School of Medicine.

“This is one of a new generation of studies that goes beyond asking the question of whether technology works to asking what the impact is on the person who uses it, ” Dr. Stachura says.

In the first year of the study, Dr. Stachura and his research team will study 80 local people – 40 diabetics (20 on a pump and 20 on insulin injections) and their caregivers – asking them to answer questions about their quality of life, attitudes toward treatment and changes to their lifestyle.

The survey instruments, which use a model developed by Dr. Rosenkoetter, are designed to elicit information from patients and their significant caregiver or family member on how the insulin delivery system that they are using impacts their roles in life, their relationships with other people, the use of their support systems, their personal self-esteem, how they use their time and how they structure their lives now that they are taking insulin in whichever way they are.

"There is virtually no research to date on how the use of insulin via insulin pump and multiple insulin injections impacts the everyday lives of patients and family members,” she says. “We just seem to have assumed that it made a difference, but we do not know this to be the case. It is important to understand these effects so that patients can be better prepared for the changes that will take place when they begin taking insulin."

In the second year, the study population will increase to include 300 diabetics (150 on insulin injections and 150 on pumps) and their caregivers and will open the population up statewide.

The clinical implications of this study could mean more flexibility for more people who suffer from diabetes, Dr. Stachura says.

And perhaps even more importantly, says Dr. Rosenkoetter, it could impact on how insulin pumps are covered by Medicare and other health care insurance providers.

“With increasing coverage, more people could have enhanced and productive lives,” she says.

“Health care is moving more and more into an outpatient setting,” Dr. Stachura adds. “One of the reasons we’re so interested is that an insulin pump is a great example of the use of technology to remotely monitor a chronic disease. Anytime we talk about the management of a chronic disease, remote monitoring is always a better option. If this research proves that being on a pump positively influences the lives of diabetics, it could provide incentives to place more people on them.”

Is anyone here using a pump? I've been asked a couple of times if I would consider it, but to be honest I can't think of anything worse than having a pump attached to me all the time (is it not just a constant reminder of the diabetes?). And what if I wanted to wear something that didn't cover the site of the needle? And what about holidays when I'm on the beach?

I'm sure many would hate 4 injestions a day, but i think, at least they are done in a matter of seconds and than put away.

Would like to know how people find the pump esp compared to injecting. Everything I've read says they are good but I need pursuading otherwise at the moment.

Hello beaniequeen, I am wondering about insulin pumps too. On the ads on the internet they look like the best thing and i guess they give the user the closest thing to normal pancreas doses. I talked to my diabetic nurse and she said closed circute insulin pumps are on the way. Ones that test your blood continuesly while giving u insulin. Like u I am not sure if I dont want to foget I have d inbetween btests and injections during the day. I am not sure how i would feel being pluged into a pump all day and also another canula for blood tests. What I realy want is a blood testing bit of kit that can tell my what I am all day and night, like a watch but one that doesnt cause alergic reactions like the last one on the market! I dont mind needles anymore but would love the get a devise that could tell me bsugars without pricking my finger!

Fingers crossed the closed pump comes quickly, is readily available (OK I can dream can't I?) and works well for everyone........

Nick

Yeah well fingers crossed!
I'm trying to get the three day bg monitor at the moment. I'm either hot or cold when it comes to checking my sugar. Either I do it all day and my fingers look like pin cushions or a just dont care and only do it morning and evening (rather than 4 times like I am meant too). I also think I hypo during the night, but my nurse wont accept that until I prove it. (Well I'm kind of sleeping at night so it's a little hard.) My pancreas isn't quite dead yet so still has enough kick to get me some insulin (although I have been assured that it will die in the next few months, oh joy!).

I wouldn't mind 'trying' a pump, but it's a big expense on the NHS just to try-out. Lots of the things you read about pumps say that your bg control is much better, I wouldn't mind that bit. The rest I can't deal with.

Diabetes: Crazy thing to have.