Long-term retention of diabetes management skills in type 1 diabetic patients trained with advanced technologies

The effectiveness of diabetes management depends significantly on patients' knowledge of key concepts such as carbohydrate counting, bolus timing, duration of insulin action, and the interpretation of trend arrows. This study aims to evaluate the understanding of these concepts among patients with type 1 diabetes who are using advanced technologies.

From January 2024 to July 2024, consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes who met inclusion criteria were enrolled. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess their retention of key concepts for T1D management. Each patient completed the questionnaire independently in a private room before their medical appointment.

This study evaluated therapeutic education in adult T1D patients in Campania, Italy, who use advanced diabetes technologies. Despite most patients having long-term diabetes, significant knowledge gaps were found in diabetes management. Only 40 % of CGM users correctly correlated sensor data with capillary glucose, and 19 % erroneously believed they were identical. Just 25 % patients knew their insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio, and only 56 % accurately calculated carbohydrates. Even among users of advanced hybrid closed-loop systems, similar deficiencies existed.

Understanding of key concepts necessary for effective management of diabetes using advanced technologies remains insufficient in a cohort of Italian patients.