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Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Use of a decision support tool and quick start onboarding tool in individuals with type 1 diabetes using advanced
Shekhar Sehgal1,2, Martin De Bock3,4, Benyamin Grosman5
1Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, 201 Great King St, Dunedin, Otago, 9016, New Zealand.
Background:
Multiple clinician adjustable parameters impact upon glycemia in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using Medtronic Mini Med 780G (MM780G) AHCL. These include glucose targets, carbohydrate ratios (CR), and active insulin time (AIT). Algorithm-based decision support advising upon potential settings adjustments may enhance clinical decision-making.
Methods:
Single-arm, two-phase exploratory study developing decision support to commence and sustain AHCL. Participants commenced investigational MM780G, then 8 weeks Phase 1-initial optimization tool evaluation, involving algorithm-based decision support with weekly AIT and CR recommendations. Clinicians approved or rejected CR and AIT recommendations based on perceived safety per protocol. Co-design resulted in a refined algorithm evaluated in a further identically configured Phase 2. Phase 2 participants also transitioned to commercial MM780G following "Quick Start" (algorithm-derived tool determining initial AHCL settings using daily insulin dose and weight). We assessed efficacy, safety, and acceptability of decision support using glycemic metrics, and the proportion of accepted CR and AIT settings per phase.
Results:
Fifty three participants commenced Phase 1 (mean age 24.4; Hba1c 61.5mmol/7.7%). The proportion of CR and AIT accepted by clinicians increased between Phases 1 and 2 respectively: CR 89.2% vs. 98.6%, p < 0.01; AIT 95.2% vs. 99.3%, p < 0.01. Between Phases, mean glucose percentage time < 3.9mmol (< 70mg/dl) reduced (2.1% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.04); change in mean TIR 3.9-10mmol/L (70-180mg/dl) was not statistically significant: 72.9% ± 7.8 and 73.5% ± 8.6. Quick start resulted in stable TIR, and glycemic metrics compared to international guidelines.
Conclusion:
The co-designed decision support tools were able to deliver safe and effective therapy. They can potentially reduce the burden of diabetes management related decision making for both health care practitioners and patients.
Trial Registration:
Prospectively registered with Australia/New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry(ANZCTR) on 30th March 2021 as study ACTRN12621000360819.
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