Pros and cons of insulin pump use
and differences by age
Karen Byng, Daniel Palamara, Roslyn Seselja,
Susana Senes, Jeff Flack and Glynis Ross
National Centre for Monitoring Diabetes
Insulin Pump User Survey, 2011
• NDSS registrants: T1D eligible for IPCs,
consent to research
• Analysis based on 5,680 respondents – 59%
• Overall representative sample,
but 15-29 year olds under-represented
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Patient demographics
Diabetes history
Why chose to use pump
Benefits
Problems
Breaks from using pump
Contact with diabetes doctor or educator
Funding of their pump
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Reasons for beginning pump therapy
• Better diabetes control—88%
• Lifestyle, such as flexibility with meal times,
food or being able to sleep in—67%
• Prevention of long-term health
complications—66%
• Recommended by specialist—60%
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Reasons for beginning pump use, by age
Respondents giving
reason (%)
100
0–11 years
90
12–17 years
80
18–24 years
70
25–45 years
60
46–60 years
50
61+ years
40
30
20
10
0
Better
control
Prevent longterm
complications
Improve low
glucose
awareness
Lifestyle
Recommended
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Benefits of pump use
• Fitted in with lifestyle—86%
• Better diabetes control—83%
• Relocating cannula better than
MDI—76%
• Convenient—71%
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Benefits of pump use, by age
Respondents indicating
benefit (%)
0–11 years
12–17 years
18–24 years
25–45 years
46–60 years
61+ years
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Better
control
Eat
different
foods
Lifestyle
Better
than MDIs
Feel
better
Discreet
in public
Conven- Improved
ient
glucose
awareness
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Negatives of pump use
• Expense of insulin pump consumables—
the biggest negative—32%
• Other problems less frequently cited
– Relocating cannula or tubing—16%
– Did not like wearing—15%
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Negatives of pump use, by age
Respondents indicating
problem (%)
45
0–11 years
40
12–17 years
35
18–24 years
30
25–45 years
46–60 years
25
61+ years
20
15
10
5
0
Don't like
wearing
IPCs too
expensive
Pump breaks
down
Problems
relocating
cannula/tubing
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Temporary breaks from pump use
Respondents
indicating problem (%)
40
No break
35
Temporary
break
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Difficult
to use
No
Don’t like
improved wearing
control
No
doctor
support
No
IPCs too
Pump
Air
company expensive breakdown bubbles
support
Relocate
cannula
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In summary
• Pros and cons of pump use identified
are consistent with international
findings
• More benefits than problems
• But age played a role in this,
reflecting lifestyle priorities
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Implications
• Different age groups, different priorities →
tailor conversations with users to age group
• Cost a significant issue for adult pump users
• Perception of pump problems differs by age
• People who experience problems are more
likely to take temporary break
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Acknowledgements
• Insulin Pump User Survey participants
• National Diabetes Data Working Group
Jeff Flack (Chair)
Stephen Colagiuri
Wendy Davis
Robert Guthrie
Glynis Ross
Janelle Babare
Maria Craig
Susan Davidson
Mark Harris
Jonathan Shaw
• Diabetes Australia
• Funded by Australian Government Department
of Health and Ageing
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More information
www.aihw.gov.au
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