New Study to Examine Insulin Pump Use During Labor for Pregnant Women with Type 1 Diabetes

Researchers are launching a pilot study to explore whether pregnant people with type 1 diabetes can safely continue using their insulin pumps during labor, rather than switching to IV insulin as is currently standard practice.

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Key takeaways

A new pilot study will test whether insulin pumps can be safely used during labor for pregnant people with type 1 diabetes
Currently, most hospitals ask pregnant people to stop using their insulin pump and switch to IV insulin when they arrive to give birth
The study aims to learn if continuing pump use during labor is safe, practical, and acceptable to patients
About 30 pregnant people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who already use insulin pumps will participate in this small pilot study

Why This Research Matters

Insulin pumps are widely used by pregnant people with type 1 diabetes to help keep blood sugar in a healthy range during pregnancy. However, when patients arrive at the hospital to give birth, standard practice typically requires them to stop using their pump and switch to insulin delivered through an IV line instead.

This transition can be stressful for patients and may make blood sugar control more difficult during labor—a time when stable glucose levels are important. Despite the common use of insulin pumps during pregnancy, there is limited research on whether it is safe and practical for people to continue using them during active labor.

What the Study Will Examine

The pilot study, which is not yet recruiting participants, will enroll approximately 30 pregnant people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who already use insulin pumps for their routine care. All participants will receive care through MedStar, a healthcare system that will support the research.

The research team will evaluate three key questions: Is it safe for patients to use their insulin pump during labor? Is it practical to implement in a hospital setting? And do patients find it acceptable? The study will also compare how blood sugar control and other outcomes differ between people who continue using their pump versus those who receive standard IV insulin during labor.

What Comes Next

As a pilot study, this research is designed to be small and exploratory. Its primary purpose is to gather initial evidence and real-world data that could inform larger studies or changes to hospital practices in the future.

If you are interested in learning more about this study or whether you might be eligible to participate, you can find additional information on ClinicalTrials.gov, which maintains a registry of clinical research studies.

Evidence label

Origin: Drug Delivery Business (News report). Evidence: News report, corroborated with 1 indexed study. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

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