I-Port Device Reduces Hospitalization, Increases Adherence in Diabetes Patients
Regular use of the i-Port device among patients with insulin-dependent diabetes improved adherence to insulin injections and decreased hypoglycemic episodes and related hospitalizations, according to a recent study.
Findings were presented at the International Conference on Diabetes, Nutrition, Metabolism & Medicare in Vancouver, Canada, on July 26, 2017.
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Existing data has indicated that patients with insulin-dependent diabetes demonstrate low adherence to insulin injections, leading to poor glycemic control. Aimed at improving adherence, the i-Port advance allows patients with diabetes to take multiple subcutaneous injections over 3 days without having to puncture their skin.
In the study, the researcher evaluated 55 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. A total of 92.7% of these patients had type 1 diabetes. Baseline patient characteristics were collected and diabetes treatment satisfaction questionnaires (DTSQs) were administered at baseline and at follow-up.
Demographic information indicated that mean patient age was 14.96 years. Patients who used insulin irregularly had a longer duration of diabetes at baseline, compared with patients who used insulin regularly. Additionally, irregular insulin users were less likely to report insulin non-compliance, more likely to self-inject insulin, and had lower HbA1c levels at baseline, compared with regular insulin users.
At the start of the trial, all patients were trained to properly use the i-Port. Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients who used the i-Port regularly for more than 3 months (n = 27), or patients who used the i-Port irregularly for less than 3 months (n = 28). Local complications associated with i-Port use were recorded.
Results indicated that regular i-Port use improved insulin compliance, reduced hospitalizations, and reduced the frequency of hypoglycemia by the end of follow-up. The researcher observed no statistical differences in mean DTSQs scores or mean glycemic control scores between each group. The most commonly reported complication associated with i-Port use was scarring at the site.
“Regular i-Port usage improved compliance and decreased hospitalization and hypoglycemic episodes with a non-significant 0.73% reduction in HbA1c,” the researcher concluded.
Reference:
Khan AM. The benefits of using the i-port system on insulin-dependent patients. Paper presented at: International Conference on Diabetes, Nutrition, Metabolism & Medicare; July 24-26, 2017. Vancouver, Canada. http://diabetesconference.alliedacademies.com/abstract/2017/benefits.