The diabEAT Study: Insulin dElivery Technologies And eaTing Behaviours in People With Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune health condition that requires daily injections of insulin. Insulin allows the body to use energy from carbohydrates in food. Disordered eating behaviours, like restricting food intake to lose body weight, are more common in women and people with type 1 diabetes, compared to those without because they must practice carbohydrate counting. Carbohydrate counting means identifying, measuring, and planning carbohydrate intake to match insulin dosage. New technologies, such as automated insulin delivery (AID) systems adjust insulin delivery in a blood sugar responsive manner. AID is rapidly replacing conventional insulin delivery like injections or non-automated insulin pumps since it reduces management burden and improves blood sugar levels. It is not known if AID reduces food management and disordered eating behaviours. This study aims to: 1. investigate the relationship between AID and eating behaviours according to gender for youth (12 to 17 years), and adults (18 years and older). 2. Determine the limit of carbohydrate counting inaccuracy to maintain stable blood sugar levels according to insulin delivery method (AID, injections, or pumps). It is hypothesized that those who use AID will have lower disordered eating behaviours and will maintain stable blood sugar levels while allowing for higher carbohydrate counting inaccuracy. This will be a cross-sectional cohort study of people with type 1 diabetes who are 12 years of age or over. Participants will be recruited through the BETTER registry and social medias across Canada. This research is needed to improve nutrition guidelines for type 1 diabetes in the context of new technologies like AID. Evidence from this study may reduce food management burden, lower the risk of disordered eating behaviours, and prevent eating disorders and medical complications.