861-P: Barriers to Technology Use in Pediatric Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects many youth in the United States and the incidence is rising. Diabetes technology such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) have been associated with improved glycemic control and improved quality of life. However, as of 2015 only 60% of children used a pump and only 6% used CGM. The use of diabetes devices is even lower in minorities. Potential barriers to device uptake in the T1D population have been described, but studies were mostly conducted in adults who were predominantly white, of higher socioeconomic status, and privately insured. Youth with T1D (n=143) followed at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles were surveyed to investigate barriers to diabetes technology and explore potential differences between Latinx and non-Latinx populations. Latinx patients reported higher percentage of never having used CGM (64.6% vs. 41.3%, p=0.005) or pump (50.8% vs. 28.6%, p=0.002), and were found to have higher HbA1c levels (9.3% vs. 8.1%, p=0.0002). Latinx patients had less positive attitudes toward general and diabetes technology as seen in Table 1. Less positive attitudes toward technology in general may contribute to the lack of exposure to diabetes devices in the Latinx community. However, physician-perceived barriers might also contribute to the differences. Further investigation into patient and physician-perceived barriers will assist in improving patient adoption of diabetes technology. Disclosure D. Tsai: None. M.W. Reid: None. J.J. Flores Garcia: None. J. Raymond: Other Relationship; Self; Insulet Corporation. Funding The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust