Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A Review of Recent Studies Demonstrating Improved Glycemic Outcomes

ISFET and Dex-AgNPs based portable sensor for reusable and real-time determinations of concanavalin A and glucose on smartphone

In this paper, a portable real-time sensing device was built for Concanavalin A (Con A) and glucose detection using a smartphone. The ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) functioning at a low working point was selected as a small-size, low-power transducer, and dextran-capped silver nanoparticles (Dex-AgNPs) served as sensitive nanoprobes on the ISFET gate. Using the affinity between Con A and carbohydrates, Con A can be captured, and thus directly detected by the ISFET/Dex-AgNPs unit; then glucose can be determined indirectly by removing Con A from the ISFET/Dex-AgNPs/Con A unit via competition with dextran. The mechanism of this competition does less harm to the sensor, allows the reusability of the sensing device, and overcomes the Debye screening of the FET device in saline solutions. Powered by a button cell, the handheld device attains excellent Con A (0.16 ng mL^-1) and glucose (10 nM) detection limit, and can practically be used for at least 20 days.

Automated Insulin Delivery in Adults

Hybrid closed-loop (artificial pancreas) systems have recently been introduced into clinical practice for adults with type 1 diabetes. This reflects successful translation from research studies in highly supervised settings to evaluation of the technology in free-living home settings. We review the different closed-loop approaches and the key clinical evidence supporting adoption of hybrid closed-loop systems for adults with type 1 diabetes. We also discuss the growing evidence for automated insulin delivery in pregnant women and in hospitalized patients with hyperglycemia. We consider the psychosocial impact of closed-loop systems and the challenges and potential future advancements for automated insulin delivery.

Diabetes Technology Use in Adults with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

In the last 2 decades, diabetes technology has emerged as a branch of diabetes management thanks to the advent of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and increased availability of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion systems, or insulin pumps. These tools have progressed from rudimentary instruments to sophisticated therapeutic options for advanced diabetes management. This article discusses the available CGM and insulin pump systems and the clinical benefits of their use in adults with type 1 diabetes, intensively insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, and pregnant patients with preexisting diabetes.

Positioning time in range in diabetes management

Recent upswings in the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technologies have given people with diabetes and healthcare professionals unprecedented access to a range of new indicators of glucose control. Some of these metrics are useful research tools and others have been welcomed by patient groups for providing insights into the quality of glucose control not captured by conventional laboratory testing. Among the latter, time in range (TIR) is an intuitive metric that denotes the proportion of time that a person's glucose level is within a desired target range (usually 3.9-10.0 mmol/l [3.5-7.8 mmol/l in pregnancy]). For individuals choosing to use CGM technology, TIR is now often part of the expected conversation between patient and healthcare professional, and consensus recommendations have recently been produced to facilitate the adoption of standardised TIR targets. At a regulatory level, emerging evidence linking TIR to risk of complications may see TIR being more widely accepted as a valid endpoint in future clinical trials. However, given the skewed distribution of possible glucose values outside of the target range, TIR (on its own) is a poor indicator of the frequency or severity of hypoglycaemia. Here, the state-of-the-art linking TIR with complications risk in diabetes and the inverse association between TIR and HbA_1c are reviewed. Moreover, the importance of including the amount and severity of time below range (TBR) in any discussions around TIR and, by inference, time above range (TAR) is discussed. This review also summarises recent guidance in setting 'time in ranges' goals for individuals with diabetes who wish to make use of these metrics. For most people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, a TIR >70%, a TBR <3.9 mmol/l of <4%, and a TBR <3.0 mmol/l of <1% are recommended targets, with less stringent targets for older or high-risk individuals and for those under 25 years of age. As always though, glycaemic targets should be individualised and rarely is that more applicable than in the personal use of CGM and the data it provides.

Time in range: a new parameter to evaluate blood glucose control in patients with diabetes

The International Consensus in Time in Range (TIR) was recently released and defined the concept of the time spent in the target range between 70 and 180 mg/dL while reducing time in hypoglycemia, for patients using Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM). TIR was validated as an outcome measures for clinical Trials complementing other components of glycemic control like Blood glucose and HbA1c. The challenge is to implement this practice more widely in countries with a limited health public and private budget as it occurs in Brazil. Could CGM be used intermittently? Could self-monitoring blood glucose obtained at different times of the day, with the amount of data high enough be used? More studies should be done, especially cost-effective studies to help understand the possibility of having sensors and include TIR evaluation in clinical practice nationwide.

Evidence Supporting a Phased Immuno-physiological Approach to COVID-19 From Prevention Through Recovery

This paper presents an evidence-based strategy for improving clinical outcomes in COVID-19. Recommendations are based on the phases of the disease, because optimal interventions for one phase may not be appropriate for a different phase. The four phases addressed are: Prevention, Infection, Inflammation and Recovery. Underlying this phased approach is recognition of emerging evidence for two different components of pathophysiology, early infection and late stage severe complications. These two aspects of the disease suggest two different patterns of clinical emphasis that seem on the surface to be not entirely concordant. We describe the application of therapeutic strategies and appropriate tactics that address four main stages of disease progression for COVID-19. Emerging evidence in COVID-19 suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may both evade the innate immune response and kill macrophages. Delayed innate immune response and a depleted population of macrophages can theoretically result in a blunted antigen presentation, delaying and diminishing activation of the adaptive immune response. Thus, one clinical strategy involves supporting patient innate and adaptive immune responses early in the time course of illness, with the goal of improving the timeliness, readiness, and robustness of both the innate and adaptive immune responses. At the other end of the disease pathology spectrum, risk of fatality in COVID-19 is driven by excessive and persistent upregulation of inflammatory mechanisms associated with cytokine storm. Thus, the second clinical strategy is to prevent or mitigate excessive inflammatory response to prevent the cytokine storm associated with high mortality risk. Clinical support for immune system pathogen clearance mechanisms involves obligate activation of immune response components that are inherently inflammatory. This puts the goals of the first clinical strategy (immune activation) potentially at odds with the goals of the second strategy(mitigation of proinflammatory effects). This creates a need for discernment about the time course of the illness and with that, understanding of which components of an overall strategy to apply at each phase of the time course of the illness. We review evidence from early observational studies and the existing literature on both outcomes and mechanisms of disease, to inform a phased approach to support the patient at risk for infection, with infection, with escalating inflammation during infection, and at risk of negative sequelae as they move into recovery.

Portable Gentle Jogger Improves Glycemic Indices in Type 2 Diabetic and Healthy Subjects Living at Home: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity is a high-risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Increased physical activity improves indices of glycemic control. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) allows the investigation of glycemic control during activities of daily living. A pilot study was undertaken to determine the effects of the portable Gentle Jogger (passive simulated jogging device (JD)) that decreases physical inactivity by effortlessly producing body movements on glycemic indices of healthy and type 2 diabetes subjects using CGM during activities of daily living.

METHODS

A single-arm, nonblinded study was carried out in 22 volunteers (11 type 2 diabetics and 11 healthy subjects), using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for 14 days. On day 4, subjects were provided with JD and instructed to use it a minimum of 3 times per day for 30 min for 7 days. CGM data was analyzed at baseline (BL) and during 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days of JD (JD 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and 1-2-day post JD (Post JD1 and 2) and the following 24 hr indices computed mean glucose (mGLu), SUM of all glucose values, % coefficient of variation (%CV), area under the 24-hour curve (AUC), time spent above range (TAR, glucose 180-250 mg/dl), and time in range (TIR).

RESULTS

In healthy subjects, there were significantly lower values of mGlu and SUM compared to BL for all days of JD usage. In type 2 diabetics, mGlu, SUM, and AUC were significantly lower compared to BL, for all days of JD usage and Post JD1. TAR was significantly lower and TIR significantly improved during JD, in type 2 diabetics without change in %CV.

CONCLUSION

Gentle Jogger is a portable, passive movement technology that reduces physical inactivity while improving 24 hr glycemic control. It can be self-administered as a standalone device or as an adjunct to diabetic medications. This trial is registered with NCT03550105.

Use of flash glucose-sensing technology in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with liraglutide combined with CSII: a pilot study

Glycemic variability (GV) may be linked to the development of diabetic complications by inducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Flash glucose monitoring (FGM) provides a novel method of continuously monitoring interstitial glucose levels for up to 14 days. This study randomly assigned poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with metformin and multiple daily injections of insulin (n=60) to either continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) treatment or CSII in combination with liraglutide (CSII+Lira) treatment for 14 days during hospitalization. GV was assessed using a FGM system; weight and cardiometabolic biomarkers were also evaluated. The coefficient of variation was significantly reduced in the CSII+Lira group (P<0.001), while no significant change was observed in the CSII group. The changes differed significantly between the two groups in mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (P=0.004), standard deviation (P=0.006), and the percentage of time in the target range (4–10 mmol/L, P=0.005 and >10 mmol/L, P=0.028). The changes in mean of daily differences, interquartile range, and percentage of time in hypoglycemia (<3.3 mmol/L) and hyperglycemia (>13.9 mmol/L) identified by FGM showed no difference. Treatment with liraglutide increased serum adiponectin [33.5 (3.5, 47.7) pg/mL, P=0.003] and heme oxygenase-1 levels [0.4 (–0.0, 1.8) ng/mL, P=0.001] and reduced serum leptin levels [–2.8 (3.9) pg/mL, P<0.001]. Adding the glucagon-like peptide-1 analog liraglutide improved GV, weight, and some cardiometabolic risk markers. The FGM system is, therefore, shown to be a novel and useful method for glucose monitoring.

Patient Perception and Satisfaction With Insulin Pump System: Pilot User Experience Survey

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to assess patient perspectives and satisfaction with the MiniMed 670G insulin pump. Those participants who used the pump as part of a hybrid closed loop were also asked to provide their views on the automatic feature (auto mode).

METHODS

Adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus using the Medtronic™ 670G pump were asked about their experience with the device using a semi-structured survey developed by the research team. Responses were quantified to identify emergent themes.

RESULTS

Seventeen participants used the pump as part of a hybrid closed loop system, while four participants used the pump in combination with a nonintegrated continuous glucose monitoring system. Overall, participants indicated a high level of satisfaction with the pump (14/21) mostly because of improvements in blood glucose (BG) control (15/21). Least liked features were physical design and structure (6/21), frequency of user input (5/21), alert frequency (4/21), and difficulty of use (3/21). Those using the hybrid closed loop were satisfied with the auto mode feature (11/17), mostly because of improvements in BG control (9/17). The least liked features of the auto mode technology were that blood glucose levels remained elevated (5/17) and the frequency of alerts (4/17).

CONCLUSION

Participants indicated a high level of satisfaction with the pump and its auto mode featured mostly because of improvements in BG control. They also pointed out some key aspects of the device that are of potential clinical or commercial relevance. Additional research is needed to further evaluate users' perspectives on this new device.

Effectiveness of Insulin Degludec in Thai Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Real-World Evidence From a Specialized Diabetes Center

Background Insulin degludec, an ultra-long-acting insulin analogue, has been available in Thailand since October 2016. Although clinical trial results revealed less hypoglycemia, data from real-world settings is limited especially in Asian patients. This study aimed to evaluate prospectively the real-world effectiveness, safety, quality of life (QOL) and patient satisfaction with insulin degludec among Thai patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods From October 2016 to September 2017, all patients who had started insulin degludec for at least 3 months were observed and evaluated at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. QOL was assessed using WHOQOL-BREF-THAI and level of satisfaction was measured by 7-point Likert scale. Glycemic fluctuation from paired iPro2 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) obtained 4–6 weeks apart were also evaluated from a subset of patients with T1DM who switched from insulin glargine to insulin degludec.

Results A total of 55 patients (T2DM 76.4%, females 54.5%, mean age 57.1±16.1 years, duration of diabetes 16.7±8.8 years, BMI 27.3±5.5 kg/m ² , baseline A1C 9.3±2.3%, median duration of treatment 8 months) were included in the study. In T1DM patients (n=13), the overall mean A1C reduction at 12 months was 0.5% with minimal weight gain of 0.9 kgs at 12 months. In T2DM patients (n=42), the overall mean A1C reduction at 12 months was 0.8% with minimal weight loss of 0.4 kgs at 12 months. The proportion of T1DM patients who could achieve optimal glycemic control increased slightly from 14.3 to 18.2% but the proportion of T2DM patients who could achieve optimal glycemic control increased from 30.8 to 53.8%. Patient satisfaction showed a sustained improvement throughout the duration of study. In four T1DM patients who had paired CGM data, insulin degludec provided greater reductions in glycemic variability endpoints with increased time-in-range when compared with previous insulin glargine.

Discussion Our data suggested that the effectiveness of insulin degludec was consistent with the results seen in clinical trials with lower risk of patients-reported hypoglycemia, and a significant improvement in glycemic control. Patients also reported higher treatment satisfaction. More long-term and cost-effectiveness data are needed to establish the role of this ultra-long-acting insulin in real-world settings.

Advances in technology for management of type 1 diabetes

Technological advances have had a major effect on the management of type 1 diabetes. In addition to blood glucose meters, devices used by people with type 1 diabetes include insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and, most recently, systems that combine both a pump and a monitor for algorithm-driven automation of insulin delivery. In the next 5 years, as many advances are expected in technology for the management of diabetes as there have been in the past 5 years, with improvements in continuous glucose monitoring and more available choices of systems that automate insulin delivery. Expansion of the use of technology will be needed beyond endocrinology practices to primary-care settings and broader populations of patients. Tools to support decision making will also need to be developed to help patients and health-care providers to use the output of these devices to optimise diabetes management.

Acceptability of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Elderly Diabetes Patients Using Multiple Daily Insulin Injections

Background: Integrative diabetes care is lifelong and encompasses patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Understanding older adults' perceptions of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) benefits and potential annoyances is important to assist with introducing it in this population. The aim of this study was to investigate PROMs and effectiveness of CGM introduction in elderly multiple daily injection (MDI) users with well-controlled diabetes. Methods: MDI-treated elderly (n = 25, mean age 67.6 ± 1.2 years, HbA1c = 7.1% ± 0.2%, 56% type 1 diabetes) were instructed to use a CGM device. PROMs were measured by questionnaires. CGM-recorded glycemic control metrics (time in range [TIR], time in hypoglycemia, coefficient of variation [CV]) were compared during blinded CGM and real-time CGM. Results: Satisfaction with CGM use was high; with perceived advantages as "very common" (4.22 out of 5) and annoyances as "modest" (1.82 out of 5). In total 95% of participants expressed improved sense of security with CGM use, 68% reported of improved sleep quality, and 82% were willing to use a CGM device after finishing the study protocol. CGM introduction did not impose additional diabetes-related distress (measured by the Problem Areas in Diabetes questionnaire). Significant improvements in TIR (3.9-10.0 mmol/L) (66.3% ± 2.6% vs. 76.9% ± 3.0%; P < 0.001), time in hypoglycemia (9.6% ± 2.1% vs. 5.2% ± 1.1%; P = 0.041), as well as reduced glycemic variability (%CV) (37.3 ± 11.1 vs. 32.9 ± 6.3; P < 0.001) were observed. Conclusion: Introduction of CGM in elderly patients with well-controlled diabetes resulted in high satisfaction without imposing additional diabetes distress. Furthermore, an added benefit in glucose control with stabilizing glycemia in target range was proven.

Benefits and Barriers of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has potential to address challenges of type 1 diabetes (T1D) management for young children. CGM use is increasing, yet remains underutilized. Characterizing parents' experiences with CGM can inform clinical strategies to help parents make decisions about diabetes management, overcome obstacles to initiating and sustaining CGM use, and maximize benefits of CGM use in their children's diabetes care. Methods: Transcripts from semistructured qualitative interviews with 55 parents of children aged 1 to <8 years, with T1D duration ≥6 months, and whose child currently or previously used CGM were coded and analyzed to derive themes about their experiences with CGM. Results: Participants were 88% mothers and the mean child age was 5.0 ± 1.5 years. Parents described benefits of CGM use: decreased worry about glucose excursions, improved sleep, increased sense of safety with children who cannot recognize or express symptoms of hypo- or hyperglycemia, and greater comfort with other caregivers, especially using remote monitoring functionality when away from children. Challenges included painful insertions, wearing multiple devices on small bodies, disruptive alerts, data gaps due to lost signals, skin/adhesive problems, and difficulty interpreting the amount of information generated by CGM. For some, the challenges outweighed potential benefits and they stopped CGM use. Conclusions: CGM may address unique challenges of T1D in young children and increase parental comfort with diabetes management, yet there are multiple barriers to initiating or maintaining CGM use. Education and behavioral support to address these benefits and barriers may equip caregivers with skills to address challenges of CGM use.

Performance and Usability of Three Systems for Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Direct Comparison

BACKGROUND

To be able to compare continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, they have to be worn in parallel by the same subjects. This study evaluated the performance and usability of three different CGM systems in direct comparison.

METHOD

In this open, prospective study at two sites, 54 patients with diabetes wore three CGM systems each (Dexcom G5™ Mobile CGM system [DG5], Guardian™ Connect system [GC], and a Roche CGM system [RCGM]) in parallel for 6 or 7 days in a mixed inpatient and outpatient setting. Capillary comparison measurements were performed using a self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) system. During study site visits, glucose excursions were induced. Performance of the systems was evaluated by calculating mean absolute relative differences (MARD, calculated as absolute differences for glucose concentrations <100 mg/dL and as relative differences for glucose concentrations ≥100 mg/dL), and mean relative differences (MRD, bias) between CGM and SMBG results. In addition, usability of the systems was assessed.

RESULTS

Overall MARD was 10.1 ± 2.1 for DG5, 11.5 ± 4.2 for GC, and 11.9 ± 5.6 for RCGM. Performance improved in all systems after the first day of use. All systems showed >99% of values within zones A and B of the consensus error grid. Overall, all CGM systems showed a small negative bias compared to SMBG. Usability of the systems differed regarding patch adhesion rate, failure rate, and patient rating. Most patients preferred GC, but in general all systems were rated positively.

CONCLUSION

All three CGM systems showed similar overall accuracy in this direct comparison, but small differences were observed with regard to specific glucose ranges and usability aspects.

Fluoroscopic-assisted laparoscopic retrieval of retained glucose sensor wire from the omentum

We describe a case in which retained wires from a continuous glucose monitor were removed from the abdominal wall and peritoneum of a 6-year-old boy. We highlight a concern for continuous glucose monitor use in children and discuss surgical techniques used to retrieve tiny, mobile objects from complex body cavities.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Sensors for Diabetes Management: A Review of Technologies and Applications

By providing blood glucose (BG) concentration measurements in an almost continuous-time fashion for several consecutive days, wearable minimally-invasive continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors are revolutionizing diabetes management, and are becoming an increasingly adopted technology especially for diabetic individuals requiring insulin administrations. Indeed, by providing glucose real-time insights of BG dynamics and trend, and being equipped with visual and acoustic alarms for hypo- and hyperglycemia, CGM devices have been proved to improve safety and effectiveness of diabetes therapy, reduce hypoglycemia incidence and duration, and decrease glycemic variability. Furthermore, the real-time availability of BG values has been stimulating the realization of new tools to provide patients with decision support to improve insulin dosage tuning and infusion. The aim of this paper is to offer an overview of current literature and future possible developments regarding CGM technologies and applications. In particular, first, we outline the technological evolution of CGM devices through the last 20 years. Then, we discuss about the current use of CGM sensors from patients affected by diabetes, and, we report some works proving the beneficial impact provided by the adoption of CGM. Finally, we review some recent advanced applications for diabetes treatment based on CGM sensors.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Integration in Clinical Practice: A Stepped Guide to Data Review and Interpretation

BACKGROUND

The advent of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology has transformed the approach to diabetes care. Multiple CGM systems are commercially available and increased accuracy has allowed development of hybrid and automated insulin delivery systems. Evidence of CGM clinical benefits has also increased exponentially in the last decade.

METHODS

Literature search, review of professional guidelines, and consensus statements were used to guide the preparation of this article. The clinical benefits of both professional and personal CGM in clinical practice as well as barriers to wider adotpion were explored. A stepped approach to review and interpretation of CGM data is suggested for use in the clinician's office regardless of the software used.

RESULTS

Although increasing, the use of CGM in patients with diabetes is still not widespread; multiple barriers are still in place, despite the approval of CGM systems for patients above the age of 2 years old, the extension of coverage for Medicare beneficiaries and the integration of CGM with multiple insulin pump systems. Integration of CGM technology in clinical practice presents various challenges, from concerns relative to time constraints during office visits to lack of systematic approach to interpretation of the data.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the usefulness of personal and professional CGM, appropriate patient selection as well as patient and provider training are crucial for the expansion of CGM therapy use in clinical practice. Utilizing the proposed stepped approach to CGM review and interpretation may allow wider adoption of CGM with more effective and efficient office visits.

Reduction in HbA1c using professional flash glucose monitoring in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients managed in primary and secondary care settings: A pilot, multicentre, randomised controlled trial

AIM

Analyse the effects of professional flash glucose monitoring system (FreeStyle Libre Pro™) on glycaemic control in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Primary (n = 17) and secondary care centres (n = 5) randomised 148 type 2 diabetes patients into three groups: (A) self-monitoring of blood glucose (n = 52), (B) self-monitoring of blood glucose and two Libre Pro sensor wears (n = 46) or (C) self-monitoring of blood glucose and four sensor wears (n = 50). Primary endpoint was time in range (glucose 3.9-10 mmol/L) within group C comparing baseline with days 172-187. Predefined secondary endpoints included HbA1c, hypoglycaemia and quality of life measures analysed within and between groups (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02434315).

RESULTS

In group C, time in range in the first 14 days (baseline) and days 172-187 was similar at 15.0 ± 5.0 and 14.1 ± 4.7 h/day (mean ± SD), respectively, (p = 0.1589). In contrast, HbA1c reduced from baseline to study end within group C by 4.9 ± 8.8 mmol/mol (0.44% ± 0.81%; p = 0.0003). HbA1c was also lower in group C compared with A at study end by 5.4 ± 1.79 mmol/mol (0.48% ± 0.16%; p = 0.0041, adjusted mean ± SE), without increased time in hypoglycaemia (p = 0.1795). Treatment satisfaction scores improved in group C compared with A (p = 0.0225) and no device-related serious adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Libre Pro can improve HbA1c and treatment satisfaction without increasing hypoglycaemic exposure in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes individuals managed in primary/secondary care centres.

Advancing the Use of CGM Devices in a Non-ICU Setting

Improvements in glycemic control using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have been demonstrated in the outpatient setting. Among hospitalized patients the use of CGM is largely investigational, particularly in the non-ICU setting. Although there is no commercially available closed-loop system, it has recently been evaluated in the non-critical care setting. Both CGMs and closed-loop systems may lead to improved glycemic control, decreased length of stay, reduced risk of adverse events related to severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Limitations of inpatient use of CGM and closed-loop systems include lack of FDA approvals, inexperience with this technology, and costs related to supplies. Significant investment may be necessary for hospital staff training and for development of infrastructure to support inpatient use. Additional limitations for CGM systems includes potential inaccuracy of interstitial glucose measurements due to medication interferences, sensor lag, or sensor drift. Limitations for closed-loop systems also includes need for routine monitoring to detect infusion site issues as well as monitoring to ensure adequate insulin supply in reservoir to avoid abrupt cessation of insulin infusion leading to severe hyperglycemia. Hospital staff must be familiar with trouble-shooting and conversion to alternative mode of insulin delivery in the event of insulin pump malfunction. Given these complexities, implementation of closed-loop systems may require involvement of an endocrinology team, limiting widespread adoption. This article reviews current state of CGM and closed-loop system use in the non-ICU setting, available literature, advantages and limitations, as well as suggestions for future CGM design, specifically for the inpatient setting.

Diabetes and Ramadan: Utility of flash-glucose monitoring derived markers of glycaemic control and comparison with glycosylated haemoglobin

AIMS

Flash glucose monitoring (FGM)-derived markers of glucose control and variability and laboratory measured HbA1c among patients with diabetes on insulin in context of Ramadan fasting (RF) were examined and compared.

METHODS

FGM data on insulin-treated patients (n = 20, age 42.3 ± 11.4 years; 18 male, 2 female; 13 with type 1 and 7 with type 2 diabetes) who fasted during Ramadan were used to calculate Q-score as an indicator of glycaemia before, during and after RF. Post-hoc analysis in a group of patients (n = 12) who had HbA1c available and appropriate for these periods was performed. Other relevant data were extracted from patient records.

RESULTS

Mean glucose (9.6 ± 1.32 v 10.78 ± 1.64 mmol/l; P < 0.0001) and Q-score increased significantly with Ramadan fasting and reduced after Ramadan. Post-hoc subgroup analysis showed a significant rise in eA1c (7.2 ± 0.4%; 55.0 ± 4.4 mmol/mol v 7.7 ± 0.5%; 61.0 ± 5.5 mmol/mol) but not in laboratory HbA1c with Ramadan fasting; eA1c reduced after Ramadan (P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Ramadan fasting was associated with a deterioration in overall glucose control and time in hyperglycaemia in insulin-treated patients. FGM-derived markers are useful and a preferable alternative to HbA1c in Ramadan studies.

A Review of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data Interpretation in the Age of Automated Insulin Delivery

Using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) improves glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes. The ambulatory glucose profile (AGP) has been recommended as a standard method for reporting CGM data. However, in recently developed automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, a standard format for reporting data has not yet been developed. Instead, reports are specific to each system being used. Currently, the only FDA approved AID system is a hybrid closed-loop insulin pump. In these systems, the patient is still required to announce a meal, respond to alerts, and keep the system in automated insulin delivery. The integrated pump and sensor information provides insights into how the system is performing, and how to make changes to tunable parameters, such as carbohydrate to insulin ratios. The reports also offer a window into human behavior related to performing diabetes tasks, responding to alarms, reasons for exiting HCL, and how glycemic goals are being met. This article reviews the pump and CGM data provided by several of the current closed-loop systems with a focus on systems that are currently approved in the United States (MiniMed™ 670G, Tandem Basal:IQ) and those used by patients using do-it-yourself systems. A step-wise approach to reviewing the nuances of these systems is provided. The comparison may reinforce the importance of the continued need for streamlining a standard report for providers to be able to interpret the CGM data of these systems.

New Paradigm of Personalized Glycemic Control Using Glucose Temporal Density Histograms

BACKGROUND

Current methods used to assess glycemic control use averaged measures and provide little information on the glycemic pathology of the patients. In this article we propose visual tools and their related mathematical formulas that allow for improved characterization of the glycemic behavior and achieve better glycemic control.

METHODS

We present a reanalysis of published data, based on SMBG measurements from clinical trials of both men and women older than 18 years who were either healthy volunteers, prediabetes, or type 1 or type 2 diabetes. New graphic visualizations of glycemia as well as mathematical formulas that describe the glycemic behavior are presented and described, as well as suggested methods for their use to improve glycemic control.

RESULTS

Patients with different problems in their glycemic control had different histogram shapes. In addition, patients who had the same HbA1c level at the time of the trial revealed significantly different glucose histograms with different shapes, variability and glycemic burden. The derived graphic visualizations provided information about the temporal evolution of the glycemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

A paradigm change of the existing model of diabetes control is proposed, shifting from standardized treatment algorithms based on HbA1c follow-up to a new controlling approach that is based on the personal glucose density histogram. The histogram is an informative, detailed tool for the current patient glycemic behavior, and a future histogram can be targeted for a successful treatment. In addition, the glucose burden and the glucose severity index are proposed as informative markers for successful treatment. This is applicable to any glycemic data, by means of invasive and noninvasive glucometers.

Management of Glucose Control in Noncritically Ill, Hospitalized Patients Receiving Parenteral and/or Enteral Nutrition: A Systematic Review

Hyperglycemia is a common occurrence in hospitalized patients receiving parenteral and/or enteral nutrition. Although there are several approaches to manage hyperglycemia, there is no consensus on the best practice. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify records (published or registered between April 1999 and April 2019) investigating strategies to manage glucose control in adults receiving parenteral and/or enteral nutrition whilst hospitalized in noncritical care units. A total of 15 completed studies comprising 1170 patients were identified, of which 11 were clinical trials and four observational studies. Diabetes management strategies entailed adaptations of nutritional regimens in four studies, while the remainder assessed different insulin regimens and administration routes. Diabetes-specific nutritional regimens that reduced glycemic excursions, as well as algorithm-driven insulin delivery approaches that allowed for flexible glucose-responsive insulin dosing, were both effective in improving glycemic control. However, the assessed studies were, in general, of limited quality, and we see a clear need for future rigorous studies to establish standards of care for patients with hyperglycemia receiving nutrition support.

A brief interactive training with medical students improves their diabetes knowledge about hypoglycemia

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycemia is a severe clinical problem with physical and psychosocial implications for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Medical students would benefit from formal education on how to treat hypoglycemia as well as how to administer glucagon in case of a severe hypoglycemic emergency. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a brief training to improve medical students' knowledge and attitudes about diabetes, hypoglycemia, and glucagon administration.

METHODS

We conducted a feasibility study to assess the effectiveness of an interactive training session on diabetes education with an emphasis on hypoglycemia. We measured medical students' knowledge and attitudes toward diabetes, hypoglycemia, and glucagon before and after the training. We performed Chi-Square tests, paired t-tests, determined effect sizes using Cohen's d, and analyzed short answer responses via content and thematic analyses.

RESULTS

Two hundred and seventeen participants (age = 25.1 ± 2.3 years, 45.2% female, 78.3% white, 36.4% planned to pursue primary care, response rate of 94.3%) completed surveys. Following the training, participants' total knowledge scores improved by five percentage points to 82.6 ± 11.0% (t-value = 7.119, p < 0.001). We also observed positive improvements in the General Test scores to 82.3 ± 12.6% (t-value = 5.844, p < 0.001) and Insulin Use Test scores to 82.4 ± 17.4% (t-value = 4.103, p < 0.001). For the hypoglycemia test, participants averaged 55.7 ± 24.8% pre-training and 83.0 ± 22.4% post-training (t-value = 14.258, p < 0.001). Lastly, participants scored 87.6 ± 18.5% on the glucagon test after the training session. In addition, we observed positive improvements in all five diabetes attitudes subscales after the training, with the largest magnitude of change in the "Psychosocial impact of diabetes" subscale (t-value = 9.249, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.60). Qualitatively, more participants recognized the severity of hypoglycemia after the training. They also learned how to approach diabetes from the patient's perspective and valued the clinically relevant and practical information provided during the training session, such as the "15-15 Rule."

CONCLUSIONS

Medical students need to learn about patients' everyday experiences of diabetes in order to have an understanding of and confidence to assess and treat hypoglycemia. These findings underscore the importance of training medical students on how to actively assess and manage the risk of hypoglycemia in people with diabetes.

Toward Long-Term Implantable Glucose Biosensors for Clinical Use

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors have led a paradigm shift to painless, continuous, zero-finger pricking measurement in blood glucose monitoring. Recent electrochemical CGM sensors have reached two-week lifespans and no calibration with clinically acceptable accuracy. The system with the recent CGM sensors is identified as an “integrated glucose monitoring system,” which can replace finger-pricking glucose-testing for diabetes treatment decisions. Although such innovation has brought CGM technology closer to realizing the artificial pancreas, discomfort and infection problems have arisen from short lifespans and open wounds. A fully implantable sensor with a longer-term lifespan (90 days) is considered as an alternative CGM sensor with high comfort and low running cost. However, it still has barriers, including surgery for applying and replacing and frequent calibration. If technical refinement is conducted (e.g., stability and reproducibility of sensor fabrication), fully implantable, long-term CGM sensors can open the new era of continuous glucose monitoring.

CHANGING TO BASAL-BOLUS INSULIN THERAPY FOR THE INPATIENT MANAGEMENT OF HYPERGLYCEMIA-A NATURAL EXPERIMENT

Objective: Most acute-care hospitals have transitioned from sliding-scale to basal-bolus insulin therapy to manage hyperglycemia during hospitalization, but there is limited scientific evidence demonstrating better short-term clinical outcomes using the latter approach. The present study sought to determine if using basal-bolus insulin therapy favorably affects these outcomes in noncritical care settings and, if so, whether the magnitude of benefit differs in patients with known versus newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Methods: This natural experiment compared outcomes in 10,120 non-critically ill adults with type 2 diabetes admitted to an academic teaching hospital before and after hospital-wide implementation of a basal-bolus insulin therapy protocol. A group of 30,271 inpatients without diabetes (type 1 or 2) served as controls. Binomial models were used to compare percentages of patients with type 2 diabetes who were transferred to intensive care, experienced complications, or died in the hospital before and after implementation of the protocol, controlling for changes in the control group. The analysis also evaluated before-after changes in length of stay and glucometric indicators. Results: Implementation of basal-bolus therapy did not reduce intensive care use (the primary outcome), complications, mortality, or median length of stay, except in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes (n = 234), who experienced a statistically significant decline in the incidence of complications (P<.01). The absence of effect in previously diagnosed patients was observed in spite of a 32% decline (from 3.7% to 2.5%) in the proportion of inpatient days with hypoglycemia <70 mg/dL (P<.01) and a 16% decline (from 13.5% to 11.3%) in the proportion of days with hyperglycemia >300 mg/dL (P<.01). Conclusion: Despite achieving significant reductions in both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, use of basal-bolus insulin therapy to manage hyperglycemia in non-critically ill hospitalized patients did not improve short-term clinical outcomes, except in the small minority of patients with newly diagnosed diabetes. The optimal management of hyperglycemia for improving these outcomes has yet to be determined. Abbreviation: ICD-9 = International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision.

Design and development of the Hypoglycaemia Symptom Rating Questionnaire (HypoSRQ)

AIMS

To evaluate the Hypoglycaemia Symptom Rating Questionnaire (HypoSRQ©) and relationships between self-reported hypoglycaemia and hypoglycaemia measured using blinded continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

METHODS

Diabetes outpatients (n = 113) recruited from Ashford and St. Peter's Hospital completed the HypoSRQ (recent weeks version) and provided clinical information. Thirty participants used blinded CGM for six days and completed the HypoSRQ (24-hour version) for seven days, at the end of each week (7-day version), and after four weeks (recent weeks version).

RESULTS

The HypoSRQ had a single-factor structure and excellent internal consistency (α = 0.90). There was high correspondence in recalled symptoms, bother ratings and hypoglycaemic episodes across one week and four weeks (r = 0.84-0.98, p < 0.001). HypoSRQ-reported hypoglycaemia correlated significantly with CGM-measured hypoglycaemia (interstitial glucose ≤ 3.9 mmol/l) frequency (r = 0.72, p < 0.001) across six days. The magnitude of the correlation increased when the person's own threshold for detecting hypoglycaemia was used (r = 0.78, p < 0.001). The number of days (out of six) a person reported symptoms of hypoglycaemia was associated with the number of days CGM detected hypoglycaemia (interstitial glucose ≤ 3.9 mmol/l) (r = 0.83, p < 0.001) and remained significant after controlling for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychometric properties of the HypoSRQ make it attractive for use in people with insulin-treated diabetes. The HypoSRQ may be a less-invasive and more-economical alternative to CGM.

Clinical Practice Recommendations on the Routine Use of Eversense, the First Long-Term Implantable Continuous Glucose Monitoring System

Background: The use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) systems has proved to positively impact the management of type 1 diabetes with the potential to lower HbA1c, reduce frequency and time spent in hypoglycemia, and lower glycemic variability. Nevertheless, the acceptance of rtCGM remains below expectations and the dropout rate within the first year has been reported to be 27%. Besides financial reasons due to limited reimbursement, reasons include the need for frequent sensor replacement, the discomfort of wearing a sensor, the presence of adverse skin reactions, or privacy. Thus, novel approaches to rtCGM are desired to overcome these barriers. The first long-term implantable rtCGM system diversifies the field of glucose monitoring further. However, due to its novelty, there are no published clinical practice guidelines available. Aims: The aim of this article is to set the foundation for a best clinical practice for the everyday clinical care using a long-term implantable CGM system. Methods: An international expert panel for the long-term implantable CGM system developed this best practice guidance. All participants were certified and experienced in the use of the Eversense® long-term implantable CGM system. The workflows from the respective clinics were presented, discussed and are summarized in an ideal care workflow outlined in these practice recommendations. Results: The participants agreed on the following aspects: definition of the patient population that will benefit from a long-term implantable CGM device; real-world experience on safety and accuracy of a long-term CGM; definition of the ideal sensor position; description of the optimal process for sensor insertion, removal, and replacement.

Efficacy of Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Improve Effects of a Prescriptive Lifestyle Intervention in Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION

Optimising patient adherence to prescribed lifestyle interventions to achieve improved blood glucose control remains a challenge. Combined use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring systems (RT-CGM) may promote improved glycaemic control. This pilot study examines the effects of a prescriptive lifestyle modification programme when combined with RT-CGM on blood glucose control and cardiovascular disease risk markers.

METHODS

Twenty adults (10 men, 10 women) with obesity and type-2 diabetes (T2D) (age 60.55 ± 8.38 years, BMI 34.22 ± 4.67 kg/m²) were randomised to a prescriptive low-carbohydrate diet and lifestyle plan whilst continuously wearing either an RT-CGM or an 'offline-blinded' monitor (control) for 12 weeks. Outcomes were glycaemic control (HbA1c, fasting glucose, glycaemic variability [GV]), diabetes medication (MeS), weight, blood pressure and lipids assessed pre- and post-intervention.

RESULTS

Both groups experienced reductions in body weight (RT-CGM - 7.4 ± 4.5 kg vs. control - 5.5 ± 4.0 kg), HbA1c (- 0.67 ± 0.82% vs. - 0.68 ± 0.74%), fasting blood glucose (- 1.2 ± 1.9 mmol/L vs. - 1.0 ± 2.2 mmol/L), LDL-C (- 0.07 ± 0.34 mmol/L vs. - 0.26 ± 0.42 mmol/L) and triglycerides (- 0.32 ± 0.46 mmol/L vs. - 0.36 ± 0.53 mmol/L); with no differential effect between groups (P ≥ 0.10). At week 12, GV indices were consistently lower by at least sixfold in RT-CGM compared to control (CONGA-1 - 0.27 ± 0.36 mmol/L vs. 0.06 ± 0.19 mmol/L; CONGA-2 - 0.36 ± 0.54 mmol/L vs. 0.05 ± 2.88 mmol/L; CONGA-4 - 0.44 ± 0.67 mmol/L vs. - 0.02 ± 0.42 mmol/L; CONGA-8 - 0.36 ± 0.61 vs. 0.02 ± 0.52 mmol/L; MAGE - 0.69 ± 1.14 vs. - 0.09 ± 0.08 mmol/L, although there was insufficient power to achieve statistical significance (P ≥ 0.11). Overall, there was an approximately 40% greater reduction in blood glucose-lowering medication (MeS) in RT-CGM (- 0.30 ± 0.59) compared to control (0.02 ± 0.23).

CONCLUSION

This study provides preliminary evidence that RT-CGM may be an effective strategy to optimise glucose control whilst following a low-carbohydrate lifestyle programme that targets improved glycaemic control, with minimal professional support.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry identifier, ANZTR: 372898.

FUNDING

Grant funding was received for the delivery of the clinical trial only, by the Diabetes Australia Research Trust (DART).

A Review of Emerging Technologies in Diabetes Management for Multiple-Dose Insulin-Injecting Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Who Self-monitor Blood Glucose

Objective: The management of diabetes mellitus requires a precise interpretation of blood glucose (BG) data by patients and providers and is increasingly associated with a need for medical technologies that aid in achieving patient-specific outcomes while making the process convenient. This review aims to summarize the current landscape in diabetes management technology, focusing specifically on devices that assist with pattern management in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who are on multiple-dose insulin regimens. Data Sources: The authors searched MEDLINE to identify articles from 2007 to 2018 that evaluated technologies for BG pattern management and diabetes monitoring. Additional references were generated through review of identified literature citations. Article selection was based on mutual agreement for inclusion. Data Selection and Data Extraction: Relevant articles were defined as English-language articles, describing technologies that assist with diabetes management in insulin-injecting patients with T2DM. Articles that focused exclusively on type 1 diabetes were excluded. Data Synthesis: The literature search yielded 334 articles, of which 21 were included for synthesis. The current BG monitoring practices emphasize the benefit of the structured self-monitoring of BG approach. Several randomized controlled trials conclude that the available technology aids in comprehensive data collection and facilitates communication between patients and providers. Digitally enabled “smart” devices are valuable tools that may help improve outcomes while providing a flexible, personalized approach. Conclusions: Integration of digital technology with diabetes management allows for accurate collection and analysis of data. Emergence of digital tools promotes a comprehensive, precise, and objective approach to glucose monitoring and encourages patient-provider collaborations.

The impact of a structured education and treatment programme (FLASH) for people with diabetes using a flash sensor-based glucose monitoring system: Results of a randomized controlled trial

AIMS

Flash sensor-based glucose monitoring (FSGM) provides people with diabetes considerably more information on their glycaemic control. We have developed and evaluated a structured education and treatment programme, termed FLASH, to assist FSGM users to understand and use the available glycaemic information for optimization of their diabetes treatment.

METHODS

We report on a multi-centre, randomized, parallel trial with a six-month follow-up involving 216 eligible participants (16-75 years old) on intensive insulin therapy. The primary outcome was HbA1c change from baseline to six months. Secondary outcomes were measures of glucose control as assessed by FSGM, as well as changes in behavioural and psychosocial measures.

RESULTS

At six months, the between-group difference in HbA1c reduction was significant, favouring FLASH education compared to the control group receiving no FLASH education (-0.28%, 95% CI -0.16% to -0.40% vs.-0.11%, 95% CI 0.00% to -0.22%; with a between-group difference of -0.17%, 95% CI -0.01% to -0.33%; p = 0.033). Participation in FLASH education also resulted in significant improvements in time spent in the target glucose range, in diabetes-related distress scores and in satisfaction with the glucose monitoring method. FLASH education also resulted in significant improvements in the use of glycaemic information provided by FSGM and in reduced self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) fingerstick testing.

CONCLUSION

FLASH is an effective programme to improve glycaemic control and lower diabetes-related distress in users of FSGM. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials: NCT03175315.

Skin Problems Due to Treatment with Technology Are Associated with Increased Disease Burden Among Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

In a 4-month follow-up survey, we examined whether treatment with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and/or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in adults with type 1 diabetes was associated with sustained skin problems and whether skin problems were associated with diabetes-related emotional distress.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 111 adult patients completed a follow-up questionnaire concerning skin problems as a result of CSII and/or CGM use. The questionnaire included a patient-reported outcome measure, the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale.

RESULTS

Current visible skin problems caused by CSII or CGM use were reported by 51 (46.0%) participants, in 34 (66.7%) of whom skin problems had been reported more than 4 months earlier. Seventy-two (64.9%) participants reported skin problems as a result of CSII use, whereas 38 (74.5%) reported skin problems owing to CGM use at some time. Itching was the most prevalent complaint. CSII-related itching was associated with a mean PAID score >20 (P = 0.01), and patients with more than one skin problem had an increased PAID score compared with those with one or no skin problems (P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

More than half patients treated with CSII, CGM, or both had experienced skin problems during 4 months of follow-up that were associated with increased diabetes burden. Skin problems represent a persistent health issue affecting diabetes-specific emotional distress.

Combining continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps to automatically tune the basal insulin infusion in diabetes therapy: a review

For individuals affected by Type 1 diabetes (T1D), a chronic disease in which the pancreas does not produce any insulin, maintaining the blood glucose (BG) concentration as much as possible within the safety range (70–180 mg/dl) allows avoiding short- and long-term complications. The tuning of exogenous insulin infusion can be difficult, especially because of the inter- and intra-day variability of physiological and behavioral factors. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors, which monitor glucose concentration in the subcutaneous tissue almost continuously, allowed improving the detection of critical hypo- and hyper-glycemic episodes. Moreover, their integration with insulin pumps for continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion allowed developing algorithms that automatically tune insulin dosing based on CGM measurements in order to mitigate the incidence of critical episodes. In this work, we aim at reviewing the literature on methods for CGM-based automatic attenuation or suspension of basal insulin with a focus on algorithms, their implementation in commercial devices and clinical evidence of their effectiveness and safety.

IMPAIRED AWARENESS OF HYPOGLYCEMIA CONTINUES TO BE A RISK FACTOR FOR SEVERE HYPOGLYCEMIA DESPITE THE USE OF CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING SYSTEM IN TYPE 1 DIABETES

Objective: Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) is a risk factor for severe hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) not using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system. The current study investigated the prevalence of IAH and its relationship with severe hypoglycemia in T1D patients using CGM systems. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 135 patients with T1D and ongoing real-time CGM use. A survey was conducted to assess hypoglycemia awareness with the Gold, Clarke, and Pedersen-Bjergaard questionnaires and the 6-month history of severe hypoglycemia. Other diabetes histories and the CGM glucose data were collected. Results: The Gold, Clarke, and Pedersen-Bjergaard questionnaires demonstrated the overall prevalence of IAH/abnormal awareness to be 33.3%, 43.7%, and 77.0%, respectively. Participant age and duration of T1D were consistently related to IAH or hypoglycemia unawareness with all three questionnaires (P<.05). Amongst the patients using CGM for >6 months, 24.5% were found to have at least one episode of severe hypoglycemia in the preceding 6 months. IAH identified by the Gold and Clarke questionnaires and hypoglycemia unawareness identified by the Pedersen-Bjergaard questionnaire were related to 6-, 4.63-, and 5.83-fold increased risk of severe hypoglycemia (P = .001, .004, and .013), respectively. IAH identified by the Gold/Clarke questionnaires was associated with a longer duration of CGM glucose <54 mg/dL and higher glucose coefficients of variation (P<.05). Conclusion: IAH is highly prevalent and related to a higher risk for severe hypoglycemia in T1D patients using CGM. Abbreviations: CGM = continuous glucose monitoring; CI = confidence interval; HAAF = hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure; HbA1c = hemoglobin A1C; IAH = impaired awareness of hypoglycemia; T1D = type 1 diabetes.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A Brief Review for Primary Care Practitioners

Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is routinely used as a marker of average glycemic control, but it fails to provide data on hypoglycemia and glycemic variability, both of which are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), particularly in insulin-treated patients, is a cornerstone in the management of patients with diabetes. SMBG helps with treatment decisions that aim to reduce high glucose levels while avoiding hypoglycemia and limiting glucose variability. However, repeated SMBG can be inconvenient to patients and difficult to maintain in the long term. By contrast, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides a convenient, comprehensive assessment of blood glucose levels, allowing the identification of high and low glucose levels, in addition to evaluating glycemic variability. CGM using newer detection and visualization systems can overcome many of the limitations of an HbA1c-based approach while addressing the inconvenience and fragmented glucose data associated with SMBG. When used together with HbA1c monitoring, CGM provides complementary information on glucose levels, thus facilitating the optimization of diabetes therapy while reducing the fear and risk of hypoglycemia. Here we review the capabilities and benefits of CGM, including cost-effectiveness data, and discuss the potential limitations of this glucose-monitoring strategy for the management of patients with diabetes. FUNDING: Sanofi US, Inc.

Glycaemic variability in diabetes: clinical and therapeutic implications

Glycaemic variability is an integral component of glucose homoeostasis. Although it has not yet been definitively confirmed as an independent risk factor for diabetes complications, glycaemic variability can represent the presence of excess glycaemic excursions and, consequently, the risk of hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia. Glycaemic variability is currently defined by a large and increasing number of metrics, representing either short-term (within-day and between-day variability) or long-term glycaemic variability, which is usually based on serial measurements of HbA_1c or other measures of glycaemia over a longer period of time. In this Review, we discuss recent evidence examining the association between glycaemic variability and diabetes-related complications, as well as non-pharmacological and pharmacological strategies currently available to address this challenging aspect of diabetes management.

Toward a new age of patient centricity? The application of eye-tracking to the development of connected self-injection systems

BACKGROUND

Increasing interest in digitally enhanced drug delivery tools urges both industry and academia to rethink current approaches to product usability testing. This article introduces mobile eye-tracking, generating detailed contextual data about user engagement with connected self-injection systems as a new methodological approach to formative usability assessment.

METHODS

A longitudinal case study with a total of 35 injection-naïve participants was conducted. In three consecutive experiments, eye-tracking was applied to formative usability testing of a novel connected self-injection device. Three eye-tracking derived usability indicators were established to assess product effectiveness, efficiency, and ease of use.

RESULTS

Analysis of the data revealed events of user hesitation, process interruption and unintended action, and these occurrences could either be completely eliminated or significantly reduced throughout the process (product effectiveness). At the same time, the overall use duration decreased from 86.1 to 58.7 sec (product efficiency). Analysis revealed that product modifications successfully guided user attention to those interface elements most relevant during each task, thereby improving product ease-of-use.

CONCLUSIONS

The step-wise improvement in the usability indicators demonstrates that iteratively applying eye-tracking methods effectively supports the user-centered design of connected self-injection systems. The results highlight how eye-tracking can be employed to gain an in-depth understanding of patient engagement with novel healthcare technologies.

Application and Utility of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Background: In the past decade, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been proven to have similar accuracy to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and yet provides better therapy optimization and detects trends in glucose values due to higher frequency of testing. Even though the feasibility and utility of CGM has been proven successfully in Type 1 and 2 diabetes, there is a lack of knowledge of its application and effectiveness in pregnancy, especially in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In this review, we aimed to summarize and evaluate the updated scientific evidence on the application of CGM in pregnancies complicated with GDM. Methods: A search using keywords related to CGM and GDM on PubMed was conducted and articles were filtered based on full text, year of publication (Jan 1998-Dec 2018), human subject studies, and written in English. Reviews and duplicate articles were removed. A final total of 29 articles were included in this review. Results: In terms of maternal and fetal outcomes, inconsistent evidence was reported. Among GDM patients using CGM and SMBG, two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found no significant differences in macrosomia, birth weight (BW), and gestational age (GA) at delivery between these two groups, while one prospective cohort found a lower incidence of cesarean section and macrosomia in CGM use subjects. Furthermore, CGM use was consistently found to have increased detection in dysglycemia and glycemic variability compared to SMBG. In terms of clinical utility, CGM use led to more treatment adjustments and lower gestational weight gain (GWG). Lastly, CGM use showed higher postprandial glucose levels in GDM-complicated pregnancies than in normal pregnancies. Conclusion: Current updated evidence suggests that CGM is superior to SMBG among GDM pregnancies in terms of detecting hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes, which might result in an improvement of maternal and fetal outcomes. In addition, CGM detects a wider glycemic variability in GDM mothers than non-GDM controls. Further research with larger sample sizes and complete pregnancy coverage is needed to explore the clinical utility such as screening and predictive values of CGM for GDM.

Patient and disease characteristics of adult patients with type 1 diabetes in Germany: an analysis of the DPV and DIVE databases

BACKGROUND

An understanding of the current status of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can help to provide appropriate treatment.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of the DIabetes Versorgungs-Evaluation (DIVE) and the Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation (DPV) databases for Germany.

RESULTS

The analysis included 56,250 people with T1DM (54.2% male), a median age of 36.8 years, and a median diabetes duration of 12.4 years. 15.3% were obese (body mass index ≥ 30kg/m²). Long-acting insulin analogs were used by 53.3%, short-acting analogs by 72.1%, and oral antidiabetic drugs by 4.7%. Patients had a median glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7.8%. There was a drop in HbA1c and an increase in the rate of hypertension, oral antidiabetic drug use, and in the rate of severe hypoglycemia (all p < 0.01) with age. Flash glucose monitoring (FGM) showed the best glucose values with fewer complications compared to other monitoring systems. HbA1c and FBG were lower in patients using a pump versus multiple daily injections (MDIs; 7.7 versus 7.9% and 7.8 versus 8.7 mmol/l; all adjusted p < 0.01). Patients had a lower risk of at least one severe hypoglycemic or DKA episode during the most recent treatment year with pump treatment compared to MDI (9.4% versus 10.5% and 4.7% versus 6.1%, both adjusted p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The data demonstrated less-than-optimal glycemic control in the young, an increasing metabolic pattern in T1DM with increasing age, a benefit of FGM to improve HbA1c control and adverse effects, as well as benefits of pump treatment over MDIs.

A steady decline in pancreas transplantation rates

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

After years of growth in many pancreas transplant programs, UNOS has reported declining transplant numbers in the USA. This precipitating trend urges for an evaluation of the transplant numbers and scientific productivity in the Eurotransplant region and the UK.

METHODS

We performed a trend analysis of pancreas transplantation rates, between 1997 and 2016, adjusting for changes in population size, and an analysis of scientific publications in this field. We used information from the UNOS, Eurotransplant, and UK transplant registry and bibliometric information from the Web of Science database.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2016 there was an average annual decline in pancreas transplantation rates per million inhabitants of 3.3% in the USA and 2.5% in the Eurotransplant region. In the UK, transplant numbers showed an average annual decline of 1.0% from 2009 to 2016. Publications in Q1 journals showed an annual change of -2.1% and +20.1%, before 2004, and a change of -3.8% and -5.5%, between 2004 and 2016, for USA and Eurotransplant publications, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjusting pancreas transplantation rates for changes in population size showed a clear decline in transplant numbers in both the USA and Eurotransplant region, with first signs of decline in the UK. Following this trend, the number of scientific publications in this field have declined worldwide.

Bioimpedance and NIR for Non-invasive Assessment of Blood Glucose

Sixteen volunteers each drank 700 ml sugar-containing soft drink during two successive periods and the blood sugar was measured at 10 min intervals together with electrical impedance spectroscopy and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). A maximum correlation of 0.46 was found for the electrical measurements but no clear separation between low and high blood glucose levels were found in the NIR measurements. The latter was attributed to the experimental design where the NIR probe was removed from the skin between each measurement.

Continuous glucose monitoring use and glucose variability in pre-school children with type 1 diabetes

AIMS

The objective of this nationwide population-based cohort study was to evaluate the correlation between continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use and glucose variability in pre-schoolers with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

We analysed data from the Slovenian National Registry. The primary endpoint was the difference in glucose variability between periods, during which participants were using CGM and periods, during which CGM was not used, over 5 years.

RESULTS

A total of 40 children <8 years old were followed for an estimated observational period of 116 patient/years. Mean age at CGM initiation was 3.5 (±1.7) years. Both standard deviation of mean glucose [3.6 mmol/L (3.2-3.9) with CGM and 4.3 mmol/L (3.8-4.7) without CGM, p < 0.001] and coefficient of variation [44.0% (40.4-47.0) with CGM and 46.1% (42.3-49.4) without CGM, p = 0.021] were lower during the periods, when CGM was used. Frequent CGM use (>5 days/week) was associated with a 0.4% [4.4 mmol/mol] reduction in glycated haemoglobin level (7.6% compared to 7.2%, p = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the use of CGM was associated with reduced glucose variability during a 5 year follow-up period among pre-schoolers with type 1 diabetes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT-03293082.