Automated Insulin Delivery System Initiation Safely Improves Glycemic Outcomes in Older Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

To evaluate real-world glycemic outcomes, safety, treatment satisfaction, cognition, and frailty in older adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using advanced hybrid closed-loop (aHCL), and to compare them with those of matched older adults treated with multiple daily injections (MDIs).

Multicenter observational study including 100 adults with T1D from 19 Spanish hospitals who initiated aHCL at ≥65 years and 100 age- and sex-matched MDI users. Glycemic outcomes before aHCL initiation were compared with the final follow-up. Final glycemic outcomes were also compared between the aHCL and MDI groups. Cognitive function and frailty were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and FRAIL scales.

Mean age was 71.2 ± 4.4 years. In aHCL users, time in range (TIR 70-180 mg/dL) increased from 65.3% ± 15.0% before aHCL initiation to 78.6% ± 10.5% at the final follow-up (P < 0.001), and HbA1c decreased from 7.56% ± 0.97% to 7.01% ± 0.59% (59.1 ± 10.6 mmol/mol to 53.1 ± 6.4 mmol/mol) (P < 0.001). At the final follow-up, aHCL users had a higher TIR than matched MDI users (78.6% ± 10.5% vs. 63.0% ± 18.1%; P < 0.001) and lower HbA1c (7.01% ± 0.59% vs. 7.65% ± 0.98%; 53.1 ± 6.4 mmol/mol to 59.9 ± 10.7 mmol/mol; P < 0.001). Severe hypoglycemia decreased from 28.0 to 1.6 events per 100 patient-years after aHCL initiation. A total of 60% of aHCL users had mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment, yet the final TIR was similar across cognitive strata within the aHCL group.

In older adults with T1D, real-world aHCL initiation was associated with improved glycemic outcomes and better glycemic outcomes than in matched MDI users in a cohort with substantial cognitive vulnerability. These findings support the effectiveness of aHCL therapy in routine geriatric diabetes care.