The Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit at Osakidetza’s Cruces University Hospital runs a therapeutic education program for type 1 diabetes patients starting treatment with automated insulin delivery systems.
The Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit features a multidisciplinary team composed of four educator nurses and three Endocrinology specialists who jointly carry out training and follow-up activities for the people included in the program.
Automated insulin delivery systems combine an insulin pump, a glucose sensor, and an algorithm that automatically adjusts insulin delivery based on current glucose levels. The initiative helps meet goals set out in the Basque Health Pact regarding patient empowerment, personal autonomy, and person-centered care.
The unit currently monitors about 150 patients using these advanced devices, with approximately 45 individuals joining the program over the past year. Diabetes mellitus affects 7.78% of the population in the Basque Country, where officials detect nearly 13,000 new cases annually.
The program provides structured training and clinical follow-up starting in the weeks before treatment begins and lasting through the first 12 months. Specialized diabetes nurses conduct educational sessions prior to device implantation to cover sensor data interpretation, device operation, and digital tool usage.
Coinciding with World Diabetes Day on November 14, this initiative emphasizes therapeutic education and active patient participation in diabetes management, particularly in cases requiring advanced technological treatments such as automated insulin delivery systems.
Participants subsequently attend practical sessions to learn device placement and configuration. Once therapy starts, patients receive continuous medical and nursing oversight during scheduled clinic visits to review data, resolve questions, and refine settings.
“Estas tecnologías han supuesto un importante avance en el tratamiento de la diabetes, pero requieren un proceso de aprendizaje y adaptación,” Amaya Hidalgo, supervisor of the unit, told euskadi.eus.
“El objetivo es que cada persona adquiera las competencias necesarias para gestionar su enfermedad con autonomía y confianza, comprendiendo cómo funciona la tecnología y cómo utilizarla en situaciones de la vida diaria,” Hidalgo told euskadi.eus.
The Cruces University Hospital program operates alongside broader regional efforts managed by Osakidetza. Patients also access peer-led workshops called “Cuidando mi diabetes” and online resources through Osasun Eskola.
In addition, the hospital leads SCREEND1A, a research initiative designed to detect type 1 diabetes before symptoms manifest. Local pharmacies participate through a joint program aimed at improving medication tracking for type 2 diabetes patients.