Psychosocial Effects of the Loop Open-Source Automated Insulin Delivery System

• Published in: Journal of diabetes science and technology Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 1440 - 1447
• Main Authors: Wong, Jessie J., Hood, Korey K., Hanes, Sarah J., Lal, Rayhan A., Naranjo, Diana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-11-2023
• Subjects: dosage; drug therapy; automation; type 1; insulin; administration; diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 1932-2968; 1932-2968; 1932-3107
• DOI: 10.1177/19322968221105288

Aims:
This study examined the psychosocial impact of Loop, an open-source automated insulin dosing system that has emerged from the diabetes technology “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) movement.
Methods:
Subsamples of 239 adults, 115 children, and 243 parents completed data collection at the time of Loop initiation and 3 and 6 months later. Surveys collected demographic and clinical information, percent time-in-range, HbA1c, and validated psychosocial measures. Analyses included paired t tests and McNemar’s tests to compare psychosocial functioning at 3 and 6 months and regression models to assess baseline predictors of psychosocial outcomes at 6 months.
Results:
Adults reported significant improvements in diabetes distress (t = −7.20 P < .001; t = −8.01, P < .001), sleep quality (t = 6.81, P < .001; t = 2.98, P = .003), fear of hypoglycemia (t = −4.42, P < .001; t = −4.97, P < .001), and hypoglycemia confidence (t = 8.68, P < .001; t = 7.96 P < .001) from baseline to 3 months and 6 months, respectively. Significant improvements in parents’ and children’s sleep quality and parents’ fear of hypoglycemia were also observed. Several baseline characteristics were associated with psychosocial outcomes at 6 months.
Conclusions:
The current findings support the broad and sustained benefits of Loop across multiple aspects of psychosocial well-being. Advancement and dissemination of such technologies has the potential to improve mental and physiological health among people living with type 1 diabetes.