Allen Nancy A, Litchman Michelle L, Neller Sarah, Tracy Eunjin L, de Grey Robert G Kent, Grigorian Ernest, Helgeson Vicki S, Berg Cynthia A
University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT.
Utah Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, Salt Lake City, UT.
Diabetes Spectr. 2021 Nov;34(4):378-387. doi: 10.2337/ds20-0045. Epub 2021 Jun 3.
Diabetes technology has improved the lives of people with diabetes (PWD), but there is little research on how insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) affect couples' relationships. The purpose of this study was to examine how the use of diabetes technology affects couple interactions.
In a secondary data analysis, we used a multiple-method qualitative analysis, including a constant-comparison approach, to examine similarities and differences in couple interactions related to diabetes technology. PWD and their spouses were interviewed separately, using a semi-structured interview guide; the interviews primarily focused on how couples coped with type 1 diabetes.
Participants ( = 134 couples) were using an insulin pump or CGM system. Average age was 44 ± 12.05 years for PWD and 44 ± 12.62 years for spouses. Couples' average length of relationship was 18 ± 12.50 years. Among the PWD, 54 used a pump only, 12 used CGM only, and 68 used both. Four main themes emerged: ) diabetes technology facilitates shared diabetes management for couples, ) diabetes technology facilitates spousal involvement in diabetes care, ) diabetes technology is a source of relationship tension, and ) diabetes technology causes positive/negative responses to sleep and alarms.
Overall, couples perceived diabetes technology as having a positive effect on their relationship by increasing collaboration, promoting communication, and reducing diabetes burden and vigilance. Technology also was perceived to increase relationship tension, lifestyle inconveniences, and positive/negative responses regarding sleep and alarms. Involvement of spouses in diabetes technology education should be considered.
糖尿病技术改善了糖尿病患者（PWD）的生活，但关于胰岛素泵和持续葡萄糖监测（CGM）如何影响夫妻关系的研究很少。本研究的目的是探讨糖尿病技术的使用如何影响夫妻互动。
在二次数据分析中，我们采用多种方法进行定性分析，包括持续比较法，以研究与糖尿病技术相关的夫妻互动中的异同。使用半结构化访谈指南分别对糖尿病患者及其配偶进行访谈；访谈主要关注夫妻如何应对1型糖尿病。
参与者（n = 134对夫妻）正在使用胰岛素泵或CGM系统。糖尿病患者的平均年龄为44±12.05岁，配偶的平均年龄为44±12.62岁。夫妻的平均关系长度为18±12.50年。在糖尿病患者中，54人仅使用泵，12人仅使用CGM，68人两者都使用。出现了四个主要主题：1）糖尿病技术促进了夫妻共同进行糖尿病管理；2）糖尿病技术促进了配偶参与糖尿病护理；3）糖尿病技术是关系紧张的一个来源；4）糖尿病技术对睡眠和警报产生积极/消极反应。
总体而言，夫妻认为糖尿病技术通过增加协作、促进沟通以及减轻糖尿病负担和警惕性，对他们的关系产生了积极影响。技术也被认为会增加关系紧张、生活方式不便以及对睡眠和警报的积极/消极反应。应考虑让配偶参与糖尿病技术教育。
