As we move forward to an artificial pancreas (AP), it is important for providers and patients to know about the new terminology being used while starting to use AP system(s). The letter to the editor on this issue by Cohen et al.
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highlights the new nomenclature that relates to automated insulin delivery systems that incorporate use of a continuous glucose sensor and an insulin pump. Their comments relate to the Medtronic 670G hybrid closed-loop system that is the only currently Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved system. However, we hope several new systems become available in the near future, and it is important for regulators, academia, and industry partners to standardize terminologies so that the end users do not need to learn new nomenclature while initiating a different system.
We strongly believe that a consensus on the appropriate and common terminologies and vocabulary that pertain to the functionality of such systems should be implemented before multiple terms for the same concept are routinely used. It is also critically important that this vocabulary be pertinent for providers, but, more importantly, logical and simple for the main end users of these systems, that is, our patients. Quite often, such nomenclature can become lost in translation only to confuse our patients. Hence, it is also incumbent upon us to be inclusive and invite active participation of patient representatives before such a nomenclature is drafted and finalized. Regulators, like the FDA, should support standardizing the vocabulary as well.
