The Insulin-Only Bionic Pancreas Improves Glycemic Control in Non-Hispanic White and Minority Adults and Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Objective: We evaluated the performance of the iLet® bionic pancreas (BP) in non-Hispanic Whites (‘Whites’) and in Blacks, Hispanics, and others (‘Minorities’).

Research Design and Methods: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial evaluated glycemic management with the BP versus standard-of-care (SC) in 161 adult and 165 pediatric participants with type 1 diabetes over 13 weeks. 

Results: In Whites (N=240), the mean baseline-adjusted difference in 13-week HbA1c between the BP and SC groups was -0.45% (95% CI -0.61% to -0.29% [-4.9, -6.6 to -3.1 mmol/mol]; P<0.001), while this difference among Minorities (N=84) was -0.53% (-0.83% to -0.24% [-6.0, -9.2 to -2.8 mmol/mol]; P<0.001). In Whites, the mean baseline-adjusted difference in TIR between the BP and SC groups was 10% (7 to 12%; P<0.001), while in Minorities it was 14% (10 to 18%; P<0.001). 

Conclusions: The BP improves glycemic control in both Whites and Minorities and offers promise in decreasing health care disparities.