Comparative analysis of treatment modalities and health-related quality of life in pediatric type 1 diabetes in a predominantly Hispanic population

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic illness that requires near-constant management. Caregiver and patient self-reported quality of life (QoL) may be impacted negatively. Technological advancements in diabetes care have aimed at improving the burden associated with diabetes management. Objective: Our study aimed to compare the QoL in pediatric patients with T1D who use multiple daily injections (MDI) versus those using automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted from December 2023 to March 2024 at a free-standing children’s hospital. Participants aged 2–21 years were selected based on diagnosis and treatment modality ( n = 190). To assess the impact of diabetes on QoL from both the patients and their parents’ perspectives, we utilized the pediatric QoL inventory 3.2 diabetes module. Statistical analysis involved correlation methods for continuous data and t -tests for group comparisons, including parent-child analyses. Results: AID users demonstrated improved glycemic control, which may be partially attributed to the statistically significant difference in time since diagnosis between the two groups ( P = 0.005). Participants using MDI were more likely to be recently diagnosed, with a higher proportion within the past year. However, most patients in both groups had been diagnosed for more than 5 years. There was no significant difference in QoL between the two groups. Male patients reported better scores in symptoms, diabetes management, and overall QoL compared to females. No significant difference in symptom scores was found between MDI and AID users. There was an association between QoL scores and patient age. AID users reported higher diabetes management and overall QoL scores. Parent-reported QoL for insulin pump users showed a trend approaching significance. Conclusion: Results revealed that males experienced higher QoL than females. Although there were no statistically significant differences in symptom severity between users of MDI and AID; there was a trend between better diabetes management and overall better QoL scores. The key demographic determinants of health-related QoL appeared to be related to gender and age.