By Kathleen Blanchard RN for EmaxHealth.com

Despite higher cost, people with type 1 diabetes who use insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring devices are happier and spend less time with high blood sugars than patients who monitor their blood sugar and inject insulin, finds a new study.

Quality of life better with continuous monitors, insulin pumps
The study, conducted by Johns Hopkins researchers and published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that patients who use the an insulin pump that automatically monitors glucose levels and delivers insulin felt more satisfied with the treatment and experience better quality of life.

“Our study was designed to help patients and physicians better understand the effectiveness of insulin pumps and blood sugar sensors that provide constant glucose monitoring compared to conventional approaches,” says the study’s senior author, Sherita Hill Golden, M.D., M.H.S. in a press release. We found that certain devices confer real benefits.”