Research shows that insulin pumps don’t contribute to weight gain in diabetics
Research at our Children's Hospital has found that automated insulin pumps don't guarantee weight gain in diabetes patients as common myths suggest.
An automated insulin pump is a wearable device that continuously delivers rapid-acting insulin, automatically adjusting background rates based on readings from a glucose monitor (CGM). It helps to manage blood sugar levels, reducing the need for manual injections and finger pricks.
It’s believed by some that these devices can make the user put on weight. However, researchers within our Diabetes team tracked the data from patients and used weight and height parameters that put them into categories including underweight, healthy-but-lean, mid-range, overweight and obese.
The key finding was the starting Body Mass Index (BMI) score most determines weight change, rather insulin dose, age, therapy type, or blood tests. This also showed that, providing good diet and exercise was followed, the underweight category put on weight to a healthy level, while the other categories didn’t put on weight.
Catarina Leal, Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Dietitian, who led the study said: “We’re really pleased with the findings of this study as we can use this as reassurance for our patients who may be reluctant to use this important piece of equipment.
“We find that particularly teenage patients can be very concerned about the possibility of gaining weight, so to be able to show them this study and calm their fears is crucially important.”
Catarina and co-lead John Pemberton worked to keep the data as accurate as possible. To do this, the team weighted every child’s glucose metrics by their actual sensor wear, so the six-month results reflect their true control, not missing data or patchy sensor use. Also, instead of treating ‘weight change’ as one thing, it was broken down by the weight each child started at.
The study won’t stop there, the next steps for Catarina and the team are to track if diabetes patients take steps to lose weight, for example an improved diet or exercise, the automated insulin pump won’t hinder their progress.