Using Simplified Meal Boluses Versus Carbohydrate Counting in Adolescents With Hybrid Closed Loop Systems

This is a prospective randomized crossover trial in adolescents and adults on HCL systems at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes (BDC) with the objective of testing a new simple meal bolus strategy that would not require carbohydrate counting. Given the clear benefit of HCL systems on glycemic control, the ability to use an alternative meal bolus strategy may make HCL systems more accessible. This is a fixed dose of insulin given at meals for small, medium, or large meals that would eliminate the need for precise carbohydrate counting and increase access to patients with low numeracy or difficulty with carbohydrate counting. Although HCL systems cannot yet provide automatic meal bolus insulin, such systems can minimize hyperglycemia through basal modulation and automated correction dosing and should be able to mitigate some of the impact of non-precise carbohydrate coverage. The systems can also help prevent hypoglycemia through basal modulation and pausing insulin delivery. This study will evaluate glycemic control while using the simple meal bolus strategy as compared to traditional precise carbohydrate counting in addition to assessing feasibility, acceptability, and impact on meal-related diabetes burden of each meal bolus strategy.

The proposed study will be a prospective, randomized crossover trial at a single site. Study participants will be randomized via REDCap 1:1 to Group A or Group B with plan for up to a max of 60 total participants to account for drop-out. Neither the participants nor the investigators will be blinded to group assignments due to the nature of the study.

After enrollment, groups will have a 2-week run-in period of usual care. At the first study visit, patients will upload their pump/CGM data, take pre-study surveys, and review carbohydrate counting or simple meal boluses. Pump settings may be adjusted per provider discretion and typical clinical care. Both groups will be instructed to use their systems as they typically would for 4 weeks with the exception of what is entered for carbohydrates for meal boluses. Group B will enter the precise carbohydrate count to the best of their ability, while the Group A will be instructed to enter an assigned number of carbohydrates based on if the meal is small, medium, or large. Participants will have a follow-up visit (in-person, virtual, or by phone) after 4 weeks to provide pump and CGM data, adjust insulin dosing as needed, and review the new strategy. They will have 1 week of usual care as a wash-out period followed by 4 weeks using the opposite strategy. Participants will have a final study visit to upload data and take post-study surveys.

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of T1D of at least 1 year duration
• Using a commercial HCL system
• Willingness to not start any new non-insulin glucose-lowering agent during trial
• Willingness to participate in all study procedures
• Investigator has confidence that participant can successfully operate all study devices and adhere to protocol

Exclusion criteria

• History of >1 severe hypoglycemic event with seizure or loss of consciousness in the last 6 months or >1 DKA event in the last 6 months not related to illness or infusion set failure
• History of chronic renal disease or currently on hemodialysis, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism that is not adequately treated, use of oral or injectable steroids within the last 8 weeks, or known ongoing adhesive intolerance
• A condition, which in the opinion of the investigator or designee, would put the participant or study at risk
• Participation in another interventional trial at the time of enrollment
• Pregnancy