For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on RT forgetting their insulin, and what would be the best response. % of respondents chose the best answer. We want to clarify and share this important information, so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues, plus prepare for exam success!
Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer it below: Answer Question
Grace is a 38-year-old female who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 20 years. She is a nurse and works variable shifts. She voices concern today about her hemoglobin A1c being elevated at 8.4% over the past 6 months. She is doing everything she can to manage her diet, daily exercise routine, and reports rarely missing insulin doses. She is currently using a Dexcom G7 CGM.
She has never pursued insulin pump therapy because she was fearful that she would no longer be in control of her diabetes if she used a pump. She is now interested in an automated insulin delivery system and asks you which pump is “best” for controlling blood sugar.
What is the best way to answer this question?
- Discuss the insulin pump options that connect with the Dexcom G7 CGM. This will help simplify her transition to pump therapy by minimizing the learning curve when starting an AID system.
- Acknowledge Grace’s interest in insulin pump technology and recommend that she wait until more advanced insulin pump algorithms are available that are easier to use.
- Recommend that Grace use a tubeless pump as it will suit her better due to her work as a nurse and active lifestyle. This will help to avoid tubing issues or the insertion site becoming dislodged.
- Review with Grace the details of all the available insulin pumps, algorithms, and compatible CGMs so she can make a personalized decision based on her preferences and lifestyle.
Getting to the Best Answer
Answer A is incorrect: % chose this answer, “Discuss the insulin pump options that connect with the Dexcom G7 CGM. This will help simplify her transition to pump therapy by minimizing the learning curve when starting an AID system.” Although some insulin pumps are compatible with the Dexcom CGM, switching to a different CGM supplier should not restrict clients from selecting the insulin pump that best suits their needs.
Answer B is incorrect: % chose this answer, “Acknowledge Grace’s interest in insulin pump technology and recommend that she wait until more advanced insulin pump algorithms are available that are easier to use.” Automated insulin delivery systems offer advanced automation. Waiting for future technology will not help Grace improve glycemic control now.
Answer C is incorrect: % chose this answer, “Recommend that Grace use a tubeless pump as it will suit her better due to her work as a nurse and active lifestyle. This will help to avoid tubing issues or the insertion site becoming dislodged.” The type of pump, with or without tubing, is a personal decision and is not based solely on occupation.
Answer D is correct: % chose this answer, “Review with Grace the details of all the available insulin pumps, algorithms, and compatible CGMs so she can make a personalized decision based on her preferences and lifestyle.” Choosing the right insulin pump is a highly personalized decision. Each insulin pump has different variables and CGM connectivity that must be considered. Grace will need to be educated on the available options so she can determine which insulin pump will work best for her.
We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this fun learning activity!
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