One Health System Found a Way to Get More Young People on Insulin Pumps—And Kept Disparities in Check

Automated insulin delivery systems—insulin pumps—are recommended for youth with Type 1 diabetes because they can help with blood sugar management and reduce the burden of multiple daily injections. Yet not all young people who could benefit from a pump have access to one or choose to use one. A pediatric health system wanted to know if they could increase pump adoption while also making sure the benefits reached all youth, regardless of race, ethnicity, or insurance type.

Between February 2024 and August 2025, the health system tested different strategies to make pumps more accessible and easier to start. Using a quality improvement method, they organized local stakeholders, identified barriers to pump adoption, and tested new approaches. One key change was offering group technology classes alongside individual education. They tracked outcomes using statistical charts to see if progress was real and lasting.

The initiative succeeded in its main goal: insulin pump use rose from 56% to 65% among youth who had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes for at least one year. Importantly, adoption increased across different racial and ethnic groups, and among youth with different insurance types.

Group technology classes made a real difference in efficiency. Patients who attended a group class started their pump about 20 days sooner than they would have otherwise. This matters because delays can frustrate families and postpone benefits.

The team also tracked safety and workload. Visits that didn't require a face-to-face meeting actually decreased, suggesting the new processes were more efficient. Rates of diabetic ketoacidosis—a serious complication—stayed stable at about 2% per month, showing the changes did not put young people at risk.

While the results are encouraging, the team found that disparities in pump access did not disappear. Youth from minoritized racial and ethnic groups, and those with certain insurance types, still faced barriers to getting on a pump, even after these improvements. The authors note that closing this gap will require ongoing work both within clinics and in policy—advocating for better insurance coverage and addressing the structural factors that make technology access unequal.

Source: Pediatric quality & safety. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. 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.