Abstract
Aim: The study aim was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of automated insulin delivery (AID) assisted by home health care (HHC) services in people with type 2 diabetes unable to manage multiple daily insulin injections (MDI) at home on their own.Patients and methods: This was an open label, multicentre, randomized, parallel group trial. In total, 30 adults with type 2 diabetes using MDI and requiring nursing support were randomly allocated to AID or kept their usual therapy over a 12-week period. Both treatments were managed with the support of HHC services. The primary outcome was the percentage time in the target glucose range of 70-180 mg/dl (TIR). Secondary outcomes included other continuous glucose monitoring metrics, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, daily insulin doses, body weight, and of quality of life scores, fear of hypoglycaemia and satisfaction questionnaires.Results: Age (69.7 vs. 69.3 years) and HbA1c (9.25 vs. 9.0) did not differ in MDI and AID at baseline. Compared with MDI, AID resulted in a significant increase in TIR by 27.4% [95% CI (15.0-39.8); p < .001], a decrease in time above range by 27.7% and an unchanged time below range of <1%. A between-group difference in HbA1c was 1.3% favouring AID. Neither severe hypoglycaemia nor ketoacidosis occurred in either group. Patient and caregiver satisfaction with AID was high.Conclusions: AID combined with tailored HHC services significantly improved glycaemic control with no safety issues in people with type 2 diabetes previously under an MDI regimen with HHC. AID should be considered a safe option in these people when lacking acceptable glucose control.