CGM Improves Outcomes for Patients Using Only Basal Insulin

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) significantly decreased glycated hemoglobin HbA1C levels for patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared with blood glucose meter monitoring, according to the results of a study published in JAMA.

Although the benefits of CGM for patients with diabetes have been previously demonstrated, the investigators said these benefits have been well established only for patients with type 1 diabetes or T2D treated with multiple daily insulin injections.

However, the study is among the first to demonstrate the benefits of CGM for patients with T2D treated only with basal insulin, a long-acting insulin designed to be injected once or twice daily.

Each participant received 1 or 2 daily injections of long-acting basal insulin with or without non-insulin medications to help lower blood sugar levels. In addition to testing the efficacy of CGM paired with basal insulin, the investigators intended to study how the impact of this diabetes treatment approach affected patients’ disease management adherence and overall life satisfaction.

On average, HbA1c decreased by 1.1% for patients using CGM to manage their diabetes compared with 0.16% for patients using blood glucose meter monitoring.

Further, across all 175 participants, adherence to diabetes management improved, and life satisfaction was higher.

REFERENCE

No more finger pricks: a continuous glucose monitor benefits patients with diabetes in more ways than one. News release. ScienceDaily. July 26, 2021. Accessed July 29, 2021. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210726170357.htm