Through the pandemic, many extra folks with diabetes joined the web group, and it appeared like pump uptake had been rising fairly a bit since then. So, I acquired curious if entry to insulin pumps has improved within the seven years since 2016 and with the assistance of my fabulous native TD in Clare, I used my standard software of parliamentary questions to search out out.
This week’s publish supplies a brief abstract of the data revealed by means of collating the responses. Those that are curious can learn the full doc right here with supporting info.
Why are Insulin Pumps so Necessary as a remedy Alternative?
In response to analysis lately revealed on Finest observe information for hybrid closed-loop remedy, roughly one-third of individuals with sort 1 diabetes obtain an HbA1c of lower than 58 mmol/mol (7%), and the supply of Hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps has proved very efficient in enhancing HbA1c in addition to decreasing the burden and misery of dwelling with the situation (Griffin et al. 2023).
How many individuals use insulin pumps in Eire?
In response to the parliamentary query responses, the complete variety of folks prescribed insulin pumps and at the moment utilizing them in 2022 is 4,438. This represents 15% of the estimated sort 1 diabetes inhabitants and a rise of 5% in seven years.
The PQs requested for particulars on how many individuals are utilizing pumps within the 0-17 years age group and what number of are 18 years and older, however this was not offered for 2 of the 4 manufacturers, and the 2 pump manufacturers who did, offered the age classes of Underneath 21 and Over 21 years. So, we don’t know what number of kids are utilizing pumps or what number of are adults. Nevertheless, the federal government accepted funding in funds 2023 for the Nationwide Workplace of Medical Audit NOCA to launch a paediatric diabetes audit, together with discovering out what number of kids are utilizing pumps. This would offer wonderful knowledge.
Shocking Discoveries
Probably the most stunning discoveries from the data included what pump model was used essentially the most and a number of the regional variations in entry to pumps. One other fascinating reality is that there isn’t a centrally positioned nationwide database that comprises this info; Insulin Pump approval is finished at an area degree.
Completely different Pump Manufacturers
Most individuals (76%) are utilizing the Medtronic pumps (640G and 780G), which isn’t a shock, actually, as it is the pump firm that has been in Eire the longest. The shock was that the second most used pump was the Tandem T:Slim, at 13%, which has solely been accessible in Eire since February 2022 – not even a whole 12 months. The YspoPump was the least used one at 4% of pump customers. This was one other shock, because it’s been accessible since 2018.