INJECTION PAIN AND ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES: CAN AN INDWELLING CATHETER (I-PORT ADVANCE®) IMPROVE METABOLIC CONTROL AND QUALITY OF LIFE? in 9th International Conference on Advanced Technologies

Background and Aims: Preventing the development of diabetes complications is primary goal in patients with type 1 diabetes, but not the only one. Achieving good quality of life is another central goal. When diabetes is diagnosed, multiple injections become a part of daily life. It is estimated that 22% of general population has needle phobia, often shared by several family members. So, injection therapy may be daunting, severely impacting the ability to self manage diabetes. After all, also in no phobic patients multiple-injections therapy can induce discomfort and pain. We evaluated the effects of an indwelling catheter on metabolic control and quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and in their mothers. Method: We enrolled 100 patients with type 1 diabetes aged from 15 months to 16 years. We analyzed metabolic control (HbA1c), parental burden and treatment satisfaction (PAID, WE-CARE) and parents' and patients' quality of life (PedsQL) every 3 months for one year after study's starting. Results: HbA1c significantly improved 3 months after the application of the device (p = 0.002). This improvement was preserved up to 1 year. The percentage of mothers with distress when giving injections was high (43.5%). Most improved over time (at 1 year only 8%). Before the starting of the study, 53% of children did not cooperate during insulin injections. At 1 year only 3% of children showed stress for injections. Conclusion: We can conclude that the use of i-Port Advance improves the quality of life of caregivers and children, as well as the metabolic control