Barriers and benefits of insulin pump use in minority children with type 1 diabetes.
Academic Article
Overview
abstract
BACKGROUND: There are significant racial disparities in glycemic control and device uptake among Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Research on the barriers and benefits of insulin pump use in this population remains limited. This study explores patients' and parents' perspectives on insulin pumps. METHODS: A survey was administered to adolescents ages 12-21 years or parents of patients <12 years old with T1D, and demographics and diabetes history were collected. RESULTS: Surveys from 41 patients with 30 (73.2%) completed by adolescents and 11 (26.8%) by parents were collected. The majority (92.6%) of participants identified as Black; 31.7% were insulin pump users, 43.9% were non-users, and 24.4% were former users. Barriers reported included body image (56.1%), pump failure (34.2%) and concerns about practicality of use (31.7%). Parents more frequently reported financial and educational barriers (36.4% vs. 10%, p = 0.047, 27.3% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.022). Benefits reported included convenience (78.1%) and improved glycemic control (61%). Participants with positive attitudes toward insulin pumps were more likely to report 0 barriers, while former pump users were less likely to report 0 barriers. CONCLUSION: Understanding the patient-perceived barriers and benefits of pumps in minority children with T1D may support targeted strategies to increase device uptake. IMPACT: Understanding the barriers to insulin pump use, as perceived by Black children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes and their families, is critically important for improving device adoption and glycemic control. This study contributes valuable insights to the literature by centering the patients and family perspective. Our findings have the potential to significantly enhance diabetes outcomes in this population by equipping pediatric endocrinologists with actionable information to address these barriers.
