J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2025 Sep 15. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2025-0327. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Medical devices for glycaemic control have revolutionised the lives of people with type 1 diabetes (TD1), yet providing children and adolescents with T1D with suitable automated insulin delivery (AID) systems remains challenging, leading to unmet medical needs.
CONTENT: The conect4children network organised an international multi-stakeholder meeting in conjunction with the Advanced Technologies and Treatment in Diabetes (ATTD) 2023 congress to discuss how to improve access to suitable AID systems for young people with T1D.
SUMMARY: A total of 125 participants attended the 1-day meeting (academics/clinicians, n=50; advocates for children with T1D, n=21; industry, n=26; regulators, n=28). The attendees discussed treatment options, including available medical devices and their limitations. Carers and adolescents described their experiences related to T1D and accessing the latest technologies. The most advanced appropriate technology is often unavailable to children with T1D in Europe. The challenges and potential solutions for providing AID systems to very young children were discussed in the context of understanding the differences in European and United States medical device regulations. The main issues highlighted were a lack of long-term evidence of benefits/clinical effectiveness and safety of AIDs in very young children, lengthy and expensive regulatory approval processes in the European Union, variable market access and reimbursement across countries and even within countries, depending on the proximity of the patient to specialist centres (or their ability to travel).
OUTLOOK: All stakeholders need to take their responsibility and cooperate to ensure that young people with T1D have access to appropriate technology and therapy regardless of their age and place of living.
PMID:40965839 | DOI:10.1515/jpem-2025-0327
