Round table report: Patient experience with the use of loops in diabetes care

The aim of the sociological research was to map patients' experiences with the use of various types of diabetes loops – advanced technologies that use personalized algorithms to automate blood glucose measurement and insulin delivery. The research focused on everyday user practices that are not usually covered in available technical manuals.

The research combined qualitative and quantitative methods. A total of 36 semi-structured interviews (a total of 69 hours of recorded data) were conducted with patients (20), caregivers of loved ones living with diabetes (5), and healthcare professionals (11). A questionnaire survey was completed by 72 people living with diabetes and using diabetes loops. The interim results of the research were discussed at a round table, which brought together patients, doctors, representatives of technology companies, and members of the Android Artificial Pancreas System (AAPS) community in a joint debate.

The Round Table Report presents the interim results of the research in four thematic areas that proved to be crucial for the respondents and were discussed at the Round Table between doctors, patients, developers, and technology manufacturers' representatives.