Bilal Haque
Background: Increased glucose variability is associated with an increased rate of diabetic complications such as retinopathy and cognitive dysfunction. In managing diabetes, patients may follow a complex medication regimen as well as change lifestyle factors (e.g. diet and exercise). In coordinating these self-management behaviors and monitoring glucoses, continuous glucose monitors (CGM) offer important benefits.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of CGM use on diabetes self-management in adults with diabetes.
Methods: Data from a larger cross-sectional study was analyzed (n =30; ages 50-70). Glucose data (mean glucose, standard deviation, % <70mg/dL, % >160mg/dL) was collected directly from the patients’ personal CGMs. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews. Interview questions included how participants felt CGM affected their glucose management and how they viewed CGM fitting into their future self-management. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: CGM results indicated high glucose variability. Per participant glucose ranges were 10% to 88% high and 0% to 34% low. The overall mean was 170.27 (SD = 31.52). The overall SD of CGM readings was 38.77 (SD = 16.5). Interview responses reflected 3 themes: using CGM to (1) monitor glucose variability, (2) improve diet; and (3) increase physical activity. No significant difference in glucose readings was found between participants who used the CGM for one goal or another (e.g. used CGM to improve diet vs. to increase physical activity). Further analysis will compare glucose measurements to length of CGM use.
Conclusions: The findings support the idea of using CGM to monitor glucose as well as changes to self-management regimens. Investigating patients’ goals for diabetes technology and how technology influences actual outcomes can provide vital information to health care providers. Future studies shoud investigate adding instruction in recognition of glucose patterns found via CGM into diabetes self-management education.
Comments
These look like very promising outcomes! Are there any reasons a patient would not choose to use a CGM? Financial? Are there any aspects of using the device that patients tend not to like? —Jeanette Herman
Are CGMs a relatively new type of device? It sounds like there’s a lot of research remaining to be done on them; I’m glad you were able to contribute to that literature with this project. —Rob Reichle
Are CGMs a relatively new type of device? It sounds like there’s a lot of research remaining to be done on them; I’m glad you were able to contribute to that literature with this project.CGMs were actually invented in 1999, but they have only recently been used widely in clinics. There is a lot of research remaining to be done on them, specifically long-term health effects (mental health). Thank you so much! —Bilal Haque