Long-term retention of diabetes management skills in type 1 diabetic patients trained with advanced technologies

Michele R. Modestino; Rita Verdoliva; Umberto De Fortuna; Laura Ferrentino; Olimpia Iacono; Giuseppe Memoli; Francesca Nappi; Domenico La Sala; Ilaria Ciullo; Angelo Foglia; Vincenzo Guardasole

doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2025-0115

Article

Long-term retention of diabetes management skills in type 1 diabetic patients trained with advanced technologies

Michele R. Modestino , Rita Verdoliva , Umberto De Fortuna , Laura Ferrentino , Olimpia Iacono , Giuseppe Memoli , Francesca Nappi , Domenico La Sala , Ilaria Ciullo , Angelo Foglia and Vincenzo Guardasole

Published/Copyright: July 17, 2025

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From the journal Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology Volume 36 Issue 5

Abstract

Objectives

The effectiveness of diabetes management depends significantly on patients’ knowledge of key concepts such as carbohydrate counting, bolus timing, duration of insulin action, and the interpretation of trend arrows. This study aims to evaluate the understanding of these concepts among patients with type 1 diabetes who are using advanced technologies.

Methods

From January 2024 to July 2024, consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes who met inclusion criteria were enrolled. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess their retention of key concepts for T1D management. Each patient completed the questionnaire independently in a private room before their medical appointment.

Results

This study evaluated therapeutic education in adult T1D patients in Campania, Italy, who use advanced diabetes technologies. Despite most patients having long-term diabetes, significant knowledge gaps were found in diabetes management. Only 40 % of CGM users correctly correlated sensor data with capillary glucose, and 19 % erroneously believed they were identical. Just 25 % patients knew their insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio, and only 56 % accurately calculated carbohydrates. Even among users of advanced hybrid closed-loop systems, similar deficiencies existed.

Conclusions

Understanding of key concepts necessary for effective management of diabetes using advanced technologies remains insufficient in a cohort of Italian patients.

Keywords: type 1 diabetes; diabetes education; AHCL; CGM

Corresponding author: Michele R. Modestino, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University Hospital, Napoli, Italy, E-mail: michelemodestino@gmail.com

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study, or their legal guardians or wards.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: No.
Conflict of interest: No.
Research funding: No.
Data availability: The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Supplementary Material

This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2025-0115).

Received: 2025-06-26

Accepted: 2025-07-01

Published Online: 2025-07-17

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Supplementary Material

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2025-0115

Keywords for this article

type 1 diabetes; diabetes education; AHCL; CGM