medwireNews: Use of the Omnipod 5 closed-loop insulin delivery system reduces diabetes distress and improves quality of life, particularly for the carers of children with type 1 diabetes, research shows.
Presenting the findings at the virtual ADA 81st Scientific Sessions, Korey Hood (Stanford University, California, USA) commented that “parents of children with diabetes are a group in great need.”
The team looked at four psychosocial measurements. All measures improved at least slightly for the 42 teen users, their caregivers, and the caregivers of the 83 child users, but only caregivers of children had significant improvements for measures of hypoglycemia confidence, sleep quality, and general life quality.
All groups had significant improvements in diabetes emotional distress, with medium to large effect sizes on the Problem Areas In Diabetes scale, said the presenter.
Hood, who is a psychologist, stressed that “one of the main reasons for referral [to psychology services] is when people are feeling distressed. So to reduce this with the use of this system is a really significant finding.”
He added that the findings are “complementary” to the previously reported glycemic results.
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