An automated insulin delivery system from pregestational care to postpartum in women with type 1 diabetes. Preliminary experience with telemedicine in 6 patients

Acta Diabetol. 2024 Sep;61(9):1185-1194. doi: 10.1007/s00592-024-02315-z. Epub 2024 Jun 7.

Abstract

Introduction: The use of most commercially available automated insulin delivery (AID) systems is off-label in pregnancy. However, an increasing number of women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) use such devices throughout pregnancy and delivery. We analysed the data of six women with T1D from a single centre (Diabetology Outpatient Clinic of District-63/Asl Salerno, Italy) who were able to start and maintain AID therapy with the MiniMed™ 780G (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) throughout the pregestational care period, pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from six patients with T1D who received training and initiation on use of the MiniMed™ 780G and attended follow-up visits throughout pregnancy (these visits were virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic). All patients maintained their devices in the closed-loop setting throughout pregnancy and during labour and delivery. We analysed data from the pregestational phase to the first 30 days postpartum.

Results: All patients achieved the recommended metabolic goals before conception [median time in range (TIR) of 88% for 70-180 mg/dL; median pregnancy-specific TIR 63-140 mg/dL (ps-TIR) of 66% and maintained the ps-TIR until delivery (median ps-TIR 83%). All patients had slightly better metrics during the night than during the day, with a very low time below range of < 63 mg/dL. Optimal glycaemic values were also maintained on the day of labour and delivery (median ps-TIR 92.5%) and in the first 30 days postpartum, with no severe hypoglycaemia. The only neonatal complications were jaundice in one child and an interatrial defect in another child.

Conclusion: In our well-selected and trained patients, use of the MiniMed™ 780G helped to achieve and maintain ps-metrics from the pregestational period to delivery despite the fact that the algorithm is not set to achieve the ambitious glycaemic values recommended for pregnancy.

Keywords: Insulin pump; Pregnancy; Telemedicine; Type 1 diabetes.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • COVID-19
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Insulin Infusion Systems*
  • Insulin* / administration & dosage
  • Italy
  • Postpartum Period*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Diabetics* / blood
  • Pregnancy in Diabetics* / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy in Diabetics* / therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Telemedicine*

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Blood Glucose