Type 1 Diabetes in Singapore: Self-Care Challenges, Diabetes Technology Awareness, Current Use, and Satisfaction, an Online Survey

Abstract

Introduction: To describe the self-care challenges, diabetes technology awareness, current use, and satisfaction among adults with type 1 diabetes and parents of children with type 1 diabetes in Singapore. Methods: An anonymous online survey was administered between November 2020 and October 2021. Data are presented as mean (standard deviation) or count (percentages). Comparisons between groups were done using the independent samples T-test. Results: 251 people (176 adults, 75 parents) participated. The most challenging self-care burdens were carbohydrate counting (24.4%) among adults and insulin dose calculations (28%) among parents. Nocturnal awakenings for diabetes care of their child were a common event (25.3%). Despite high awareness about continuous glucose monitoring devices (77.8% adults, 78.7% parents) the use (24.9% adults, 55% children) remained low. Both adults and parents of children with type 1 diabetes found continuous glucose monitoring to be liberating and less restrictive. Despite overall low insulin pump use (23.9% adults, 29.3% children); satisfaction scores were higher among insulin pump users than insulin pen users (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Carbohydrate counting and insulin dose calculations were the most challenging self-care tasks among people with type 1 diabetes in Singapore. Diabetes technology use was relatively low in Singapore. Continuous glucose monitoring and Insulin pump users found them to be beneficial.

Keywords

• continuous glucose monitoring
• diabetes self-care
• insulin pumps
• smartphone applications
• type 1 diabetes