Improved Glycemic Outcomes With Diabetes Technology Use Independent of Socioeconomic Status in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes
Kate E. Lomax, Craig E. Taplin, Mary B. Abraham, Grant J. Smith, Aveni Haynes, Ella Zomer, Katrina L. Ellis, Helen Clapin, Sophia Zoungas, Alicia J. Jenkins, Jennifer Harrington, Martin I. de Bock, Timothy W. Jones, Elizabeth A. Davis, Kym Anderson, Sof Andrikopoulos, Geoff Ambler, Helen Barrett, Jenny Batch, Philip Bergman, Fergus Cameron, Louise Conwell, Andrew Cotterill, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Couper, Maria Craig, Elizabeth Davis, Martin de Bock, Jan Fairchild, Gerry Fegan, Spiros Fourlanos, Sarah Glastras, Peter Goss, Leonie Gray, Peter Shane Hamblin, Paul Hofman, Dianne Jane Holmes-Walker, Tony Huynh, Sonia Isaacs, Craig Jefferies, Stephanie Johnson, Tim Jones, Jeff Kao, Bruce R. King, Antony Lafferty, Jane Makin, Michelle Martin, Robert McCrossin, Kris Neville, Mark Pascoe, Ryan Paul, Dorota Pawlak, Alexia Peña, Liza Phillips, Darrell Price, Christine Rodda, David Simmons, Richard Sinnott, Carmel Smart, Anthony Stell, Monique Stone, Steve Stranks, Elaine Tham, Barbara Waddell, Glenn Ward, Ben Wheeler, Helen Woodhead, Anthony Zimmermann,- Advanced and Specialized Nursing
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Internal Medicine
OBJECTIVE
Technology use in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is impacted by socioeconomic status (SES). This analysis explored relationships between SES, glycemic outcomes, and technology use.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
A cross-sectional analysis of HbA1c data from 2,822 Australian youth with T1D was undertaken. Residential postcodes were used to assign SES based on the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD). Linear regression models were used to evaluate associations among IRSD quintile, HbA1c, and management regimen.
RESULTS
Insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring, and their concurrent use were associated with lower mean HbA1c across all IRSD quintiles (P < 0.001). There was no interaction between technology use and IRSD quintile on HbA1c (P = 0.624), reflecting a similar association of lower HbA1c with technology use across all IRSD quintiles.
CONCLUSIONS
Technology use was associated with lower HbA1c across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Socioeconomic disadvantage does not preclude glycemic benefits of diabetes technologies, highlighting the need to remove barriers to technology access.