An educational programme and patient-reported outcomes using flash glucose monitoring and automated bolus calculation in type 1 diabetes

Introduction: Our primary aim was to describe the educational programme and user's guide for decision support for persons with type 1 diabetes who commence carbohydrate counting with automated bolus calculator (ABC) and flash (intermittently scanned) glucose monitoring (isCGM). The programme was developed for the ABC Flash trial, conducted in The Capital Region of Denmark in 2018-2020. We also aimed to evaluate the impact of the programme and the combined interventions on patient-reported outcome parameters. Methods: The programme and user's guide are described in detail. In total, 35 adults with type 1 diabetes and sub-optimal HbA1c treated with multiple daily insulin injections completed the 26-week educational programme on initiating ABC and isCGM. Patient-reported outcomes were self-evaluated before and after (Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life questionnaire, Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire, Problem Areas in Diabetes and Diabetes Empowerment Scale). Changes over time in the different sub-areas of diabetes-related burden on quality of life, treatment satisfaction, diabetes-related distress and psychosocial self-efficacy were analysed. Results: During participation in the educational programme on initiating ABC and isCGM, diabetes-related burden on work and sex life and several treatment satisfaction and psychosocial self-efficacy sub-areas improved. Conclusion: Implementation of the educational programme and initiating combined intervention with carbohydrate counting with ABC and isCGM improve treatment satisfaction and different psychosocial areas among persons with type 1 diabetes. Copyright (c) 2023 John Wiley & Sons.