- βHighlights real-world barriers faced by minority and low-income families managing T1D in children
- βConducted interviews in both English and Spanish, giving Spanish-speaking families an equal voice
- βIdentifies actionable changes for doctors, insurers, and device makers to improve equitable access to diabetes technology
| Journal | Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association |
| Year | 2026 |
| PMID | 41373082 |
What This Study Is About
Researchers at Stanford talked with 21 parents and guardians of young children (ages 3β11) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who had public insurance. Most families were Hispanic, nearly half spoke Spanish at home, and most earned under $50,000 per year.
What They Found
A clear pattern emerged: families saw continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as a must-have tool, but insulin pumps were seen as optional or even less desirable. This is important because combining both devices into an automated insulin delivery (AID) system can significantly improve diabetes control.
Key Reasons Families Were Hesitant About Pumps
- Child comfort: Kids didn't want two devices attached to their bodies at once.
- Parental mistrust: Some parents worried about the pump making errors or being too complicated.
- Doctor influence: Providers often prioritized getting families on CGM first, sometimes without fully discussing pumps.
Other Barriers Identified
- Insurance challenges: Coverage for pumps was harder to navigate than for CGMs.
- Language barriers: Pump instruction manuals were only available in English, leaving Spanish-speaking families at a disadvantage.
Why This Matters
Medical evidence strongly supports that using CGM and an insulin pump together (as an AID system) leads to better blood sugar control and quality of life. When families only use CGM without a pump, they may be missing out on the full benefit of modern diabetes technology.
What Should Change
Doctors, insurance companies, and device makers need to work together to ensure all families β regardless of income, language, or background β have equal access to the best diabetes tools available. Providers should proactively discuss insulin pumps with families early, not treat them as a second step.