Insulin Pump Therapy Provides Better Glycemic Control Among Type 1 Diabetics, According to Kantar Health Research

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NEW YORK, May 21, 2013—Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who are treated with insulin pump therapy have better glycemic control as measured by significantly lower HbA1C levels than patients with T1D who treat their condition with insulin injections, according to new findings from the National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), conducted by Kantar Health. The research was presented at the 18th Annual International Meeting for ISPOR (International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research) in New Orleans.

“Patients with type 1 diabetes who have better access to healthcare are more likely to use insulin pump therapy, but even after adjusting for these differences in multivariable modeling we found that insulin pump therapy is a significant predictor of patients’ clinical outcomes,” said Shaloo Gupta, MS, senior research analyst with Kantar Health. “In particular, patients with type 1 diabetes using insulin pump therapy are more likely to control their diabetes than those who are taking insulin injections.”

Patients with T1D who use insulin pump therapy reported significantly lower levels of HbA1C than patients who take multiple daily insulin injections. Nearly 40 percent of those using insulin pump therapy reported HbA1C levels of less than 7 percent, which is considered to be controlled, versus 24 percent of patients using insulin injections.

“Having consistently high HbA1C levels can increase the risk of developing microvascular and macrovascular complications, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness and neuropathy, among those with diabetes,” Gupta said. “Our research suggests that insulin pump therapy is associated with lower blood sugar levels and therefore may lower the risks of these serious complications.”

Visit Kantar Health’s website to download the full poster, “The Effect of Insulin Pump Therapy on HbA1C among Those with Type 1 Diabetes.”

About the National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS)

The study’s results were drawn from the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 U.S. NHWS, a nationally representative, self-administered survey conducted annually. Topics covered include the health status, attitudes, behaviors and outcomes among adults 18 or older.

Kantar Health conducts the NHWS in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. The survey is the largest self-reported dataset in the healthcare industry.

About Kantar Health

Kantar Health is a leading global healthcare consulting firm and trusted advisor to many of the world’s leading pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device and diagnostic companies. It combines evidence-based research capabilities with deep scientific, therapeutic and clinical knowledge, commercial development know-how, and brand and marketing expertise to help clients evaluate opportunities, launch products and maintain brand and market leadership. Kantar Health deeply understands the influence of patients, payers and physicians, especially as they relate to the performance and payment of medicines and the delivery of healthcare services. Its 700+ healthcare industry specialists work across the product lifecycle, from pre-clinical development to launch, acting as catalysts to successful decision-making in life sciences and helping clients prioritize their product development and portfolio activities, differentiate their brands and drive product success post-launch. For more information, please visit www.kantarhealth.com.

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