Visual Abstract
With the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) around the world, along with a population that is living longer, there is a need to provide elderly patients with technological advances in the management of diabetes mellitus. The use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) have been seen as a potential challenge for elderly patients with T2DM. We undertook an observational analysis of three elderly male patients with T2DM and a mean age of 70.7 years (range, 66-74 years) who were previously treated with multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin yet had suboptimal glycemic control and transitioned to tubeless CSII systems along with a CGM. By implementing the use of the tubeless CSII (Omnipod® System) and CGM, elderly patients were able to improve overall glycemic control after three months by decreasing hemoglobin A1c, increasing time in range, and decreasing total daily dose of insulin. Outcomes are reported below. Improvements continued after six months of use and all patients reported that they are very satisfied with their current treatment. With proper patient education and consistent follow-up, all patients were able to independently manage their devices at home and have been able to minimize incidences of hypoglycemia.
R. Rida: None. A. J. Manzano: None.
