Posted on 07/26/2021 12:15:58 PM PDT by Red Badger
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A 15-center study of 175 patients with poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes in JAMA found that continuous glucose monitoring, compared to blood glucose meter monitoring, or finger pricking, significantly decreased their hemoglobin A1C over eight months (-1.1% versus -0.16%, respectively.)
Although the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring for patients with diabetes has been demonstrated before, the benefits have only been well studied in patients with type 1 diabetes or patients with type 2 treated with multiple daily insulin injections, referred to as prandial insulin.
Study author Rodica Busui, M.D., Ph.D., also the vice chair of clinical research in the Department of Internal Medicine at University of Michigan Health, says this work is one of the first to thoroughly understand the impact of having access to and using a continuous glucose monitor in adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes that are only treated with basal insulin, a long-acting insulin designed to be injected once or twice daily to provide an adequate level of insulin throughout the day and night
"Not only does this trial demonstrate the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring for these patients, a technology that hasn't been covered by many insurers for those with type 2 diabetes, but these benefits were seen across a broad spectrum of socio-economic status and racial backgrounds," said Busui.
She adds that approximately half of the study's participants were of a racial or ethnic minority.
The randomized clinic trial began enrolling patients in mid-2018 to late-2019, with follow up in mid-2020. The participants received one or two daily injections of long-acting basal insulin, with or without non-insulin medications to help lower blood sugar levels.
"This work wouldn't have been possible without the partnership between endocrinologists and primary care physicians, as all the patients were recruited and treated by our primary care teams," said Busui, who is also associate director for clinical research in the Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute.
Aside from testing the efficacy of continuous glucose monitoring paired with basal insulin in the study participants, Busui and her team sought to better understand how the impact of this diabetes treatment approach affected patients' adherence to managing their disease as well as their overall life satisfaction.
To the researchers' delight, the 175 study participants exhibited better adherence to managing their diabetes, and their life satisfaction was higher.
"For me, what's most exciting is that this work demonstrates that using continuous glucose monitoring is effective in substantially improving blood sugars levels and decreasing the risks of hypoglycemia in those that were randomized to use a continuous glucose monitor compared with the usual finger-prick," said Busui.
"This may open the door for broader coverage of this game-changing technology for all patients with diabetes. More patients can manage their diabetes if they have access to this resource and their primary care physicians are educated on the benefits of their patients utilizing it."
This future of more affordable health care already looks a little bit brighter with Medicare recently announcing eliminating the requirement of the four-time-daily finger-prick to qualify for coverage of a continuous glucose monitor.
Explore further
Continuous glucose monitors help manage type 2 diabetes
More information: Thomas Martens et al, Effect of Continuous Glucose Monitoring on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Basal Insulin, JAMA (2021). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.7444
Journal information: Journal of the American Medical Association
Provided by University of Michigan
They’ll be no more “AAAAAAAAAH!”
Coming to the Apple Watch in the future, I predict.
You still have to insert a small needle into your arm for the tester - but it just stays there for a couple of weeks until you switch it out.
“No more finger pricks”? For an exciting few seconds I thought this was about the 25th amendment being invoked.
A friend just showed me his system the other day.
Skin patch monitor gets replaced every 2 weeks (I think) and he wore a receiver on his belt.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is done with a data transmitter with a small sensor that sticks into the skin. Glucose readings are taken evey few minutes and can be transmitted to an insulin pump. The transmitter and sensor need to be changed every 10 days.
However, CGM glucose readings need to be calibrated twice a day using a standard glucose meter and test strip with blood taken from a skin prick.
CGM is the next wave. Products are before the FDA now that will only need to be changed every 90 and then 180 days. Big news for diabetes sufferers.
What happens to the data?
The one I wear is a Dexcom. It has a patch with a Bluetooth transmitter that sends updates every 5 minutes to my phone. No calibration needed. Have to replace the patch every 10 days.
Much better than jabbing myself.
Goes straight to Google...................
My diabetic cat has a Freestyle Libre implanted.
getting a two week glucose curve, he actually looks really good number wise.
Whop knows maybe in a few months he will go into remission.
sloarb,
Throughout each 10-day period, how often do you calibrate using a standard glucose meter and fingerstick, as described in the Dexcom users guide?
But you may feel a little sick.
You guys don’t know what you are talking about. The CGM technology is very good, and it can “talk” to insulin pump. We are experiencing a robot pancreas replacement device.
Not perfect, but i remember the first heart transplants, etc.
How much?
Where did you buy it?
I believe it requires an implanted chip to work . . . if so, NO!
Covered by my insurance. No deductible.
The theory being that if it helps me eat better it will be cheaper in the long run for the insurance company.
It is a Dexcom G6. It self calibrates when you apply the patch and input the sensor code in the app. It takes 2 hours for calibration, then stays calibrated for 10 days.
If you don’t put in the sensor code there is a manual procedure with using the glucose monitor. But I have never used it.
This is a new device. I have only had it for a month.
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