Effectiveness of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Basal Insulin

Narrative Review: Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) in Older Adults with Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has revolutionised diabetes care, with proven effect on glycaemic control, adverse diabetic events (such as hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis) and hospitalisations in the general population. However, the evidence for CGM in older people is less robust.

METHOD

We conducted a narrative review of trials reporting data comparing standard blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) and CGM in adults over 65 with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who were treated with insulin published between 1999 and 2024.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were identified, including eight retrospective cohort studies and five randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Sixteen of the 17 papers were based in Europe or North America. The studies were highly heterogeneous; however, they provided clear evidence supporting the use of CGM in reducing hypoglycemia in older adults, with potential benefits for overall wellbeing and quality of life..

CONCLUSIONS

Current approaches to diabetes care in older adults may over-rely on HbA1c (haemoglobin A1c) as a measurement of control given accuracy may be reduced in older adults and propensity for hypoglycaemia. Although goals should be personalised, avoidance of hypoglycaemia is a key goal for many older people with diabetes. There is good evidence that CGM can improve time-in-range and reduce hypoglycaemia and glucose variability in older adults. CGM should be considered for older adults as a means of reducing hypoglycaemia and associated potential harm.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Management of Medication in Care Home Residents with Type 2 Diabetes (eDMED): A Protocol for a Feasibility Study

AIMS

Overprescribing is common in older adults with diabetes, potentially leading to hospitalisation and reduced quality of life. Additionally, diabetes care in older adults is often complicated by multiple interacting conditions and cognitive impairment, resulting in challenging self-management. Although evidence suggests that de-intensification of medications is safe in older adults, there are no data evaluating glucose ranges during this process.

METHODS

eDMED is a 12-week feasibility study including 49 adults, aged ≥ 65 years with type 2 diabetes and residing in care homes. All eligible participants will receive medication de-intensification and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Primary healthcare professionals (HCPs) will undergo structured training on a de-intensification algorithm and CGM, while care home staff will receive tailored education on diabetes management and CGM application to ensure safe and effective implementation.

PLANNED OUTCOMES

The primary outcome is the percentage of participants achieving a composite of > 50% time in range and < 1% time below range at 12 weeks, measured via CGM. Secondary outcomes include trends in time above and below range (quantified by level of hyper- or hypoglycaemia), change in quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), percentage of data captured to indicate adherence to the CGM and the acceptability of the intervention to participants, their consultees and carers (Theoretical Framework of Acceptability questionnaire).

TRIAL REGISTRATION

International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ID: ISRCTN 69024008).

Extended use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring in adults with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes: Results from the first 26 weeks of the 2GO-CGM trial

AIMS

The first 26 weeks of the 2GO-CGM trial assessed the efficacy and safety of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) use within a supported specialist model of care in a cohort of community-based adults with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes in New Zealand.

METHODS

A 26-week randomised one-way crossover 'waitlist-controlled' trial comparing rtCGM (Dexcom G6) with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). All participants completed 2 weeks of SMBG before being randomised to 12 weeks (phase 1) use of SMBG followed by 12 weeks (phase 2) use of rtCGM (Group A) or 24 weeks of rtCGM (Group B). A time-adjusted within-subject analysis was conducted to estimate the overall treatment effect of rtCGM versus SMBG.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven participants were randomised to Group A or B, and all were included in the analysis (53% indigenous Māori, 57% female, median age 53 [range 16-69] years). Baseline-adjusted mean time in range (3.9-10.0 mmol/L) was 15% (95% CI 10-20; p = <0.001) higher with rtCGM use versus SMBG use. There was no evidence of a difference in Hba1c between rtCGM and SMBG use (-3.4 mmol/mol [0.31%], 95% CI -9.4 to 2.7 mmol/mol [-0.86 to 0.24%], p = 0.27). One participant withdrew in phase 2 due to unmanageable skin reactions to the CGM device. There were no severe hypoglycaemia or ketoacidosis events in either group during the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of rtCGM demonstrates safe and sustained glycaemic improvement in rtCGM use with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes during the first 26 weeks of the 2GO-CGM study.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Guide Food Choices and Diabetes Self-Care in People with Type 2 Diabetes not Taking Insulin

Objective: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is an effective tool for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on insulin. This study evaluated the effect of using CGM to reduce hyperglycemia, by focusing on food and lifestyle choices, in people with T2D not taking insulin. Methods: A 6-month randomized, prospective four-center study was conducted. The primary end point was a within-group reduction in time above range >180 mg/dL (TAR180) at 3 months. Participants were asked not to make diabetes medication changes in the first 3 months. Seventy-two adults not on insulin or sulfonylurea therapy, with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.5%-12%, were randomized to use CGM alone (n = 31) or CGM plus a food logging app (n = 41) to aid diabetes management. Participants attended guided education visits. Differences in CGM metrics, HbA1c, and body weight were compared. Results: The CGM alone group decreased TAR180 from 55% at baseline to 27% at 3 months (P < 0.001) and 21% at 6 months (P < 0.001); the CGM plus food logging app group decreased TAR180 from 53% at baseline to 30% at both 3 and 6 months (P < 0.001 for both). For all participants, time in range (70-180 mg/dL) increased from 46% at baseline to 71% at 3 months (P < 0.001) and to 72% at 6 months (P < 0.001). HbA1c and weight were reduced by 1.3% (P < 0.001) and 7 pounds (lbs.) (P < 0.001) for all participants at 6 months. Conclusion: People with T2D not taking insulin showed large, clinically significant improvements in CGM metrics and HbA1c when using either CGM alone or with a food logging app. This occurred with a near absence of medication changes in the first 3 months and were therefore likely due to changes in food and/or lifestyle choices.

Managing Diabetes in Older Adults: Current Approaches in Long-Term Care Facilities

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This narrative review aims to explore the literature on advancements in diabetes management within long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Managing chronic diseases like diabetes in LTCFs is particularly challenging due to the dynamic nature of these environments and the significant changes they have undergone over the past decade. Various factors, including rising care costs and government regulations, influence the quality-of-care residents receive in these settings.

RECENT FINDINGS

Many diabetes medications have not been extensively studied in LTCFs, and high-risk medications such as sulfonylureas and sliding scale insulin are still in use, potentially increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality among residents. Additionally, the adoption of diabetes technologies, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps, remains limited in LTCFs. Despite the high prevalence of diabetes, significant research gaps persist. Diabetes technologies have the potential to greatly improve diabetes management and outcomes for residents. However, more research is needed to evaluate their efficacy and safety in long-term care settings. Furthermore, there is a pressing need to address the gap in staff training on the use of these technologies. Closing these research gaps is essential for developing evidence-based guidelines and improving the quality of diabetes care in LTCFs.

Classifying Continuous Glucose Monitoring Documents From Electronic Health Records

BACKGROUND

Clinical use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is increasing storage of CGM-related documents in electronic health records (EHR); however, the standardization of CGM storage is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of CGM Ambulatory Glucose Profile (AGP) classification criteria.

METHODS

We randomly chose 2244 (18.1%) documents from NYU Langone Health. Our document classification algorithm: (1) separated multiple-page documents into a single-page image; (2) rotated all pages into an upright orientation; (3) determined types of devices using optical character recognition; and (4) tested for the presence of particular keywords in the text. Two experts in using CGM for research and clinical practice conducted an independent manual review of 62 (2.8%) reports. We calculated sensitivity (correct classification of CGM AGP report) and specificity (correct classification of non-CGM report) by comparing the classification algorithm against manual review.

RESULTS

Among 2244 documents, 1040 (46.5%) were classified as CGM AGP reports (43.3% FreeStyle Libre and 56.7% Dexcom), 1170 (52.1%) non-CGM reports (eg, progress notes, CGM request forms, or physician letters), and 34 (1.5%) uncertain documents. The agreement for the evaluation of the documents between the two experts was 100% for sensitivity and 98.4% for specificity. When comparing the classification result between the algorithm and manual review, the sensitivity and specificity were 95.0% and 91.7%.

CONCLUSION

Nearly half of CGM-related documents were AGP reports, which are useful for clinical practice and diabetes research; however, the remaining half are other clinical documents. Future work needs to standardize the storage of CGM-related documents in the EHR.

A Qualitative Study of Older Adult Perspectives on Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may improve self-management and reduce hypoglycemia risk among individuals with diabetes. However, little is known about how older adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (T2D) experience and incorporate this technology into their daily lives.

OBJECTIVE

To explore experiences, preferences, barriers, and questions related to using CGM among older adults with insulin-treated T2D with and without experience using CGM.

DESIGN

Qualitative focus group study.

PARTICIPANTS

English-speaking older adults with T2D in a large, integrated healthcare delivery system. Groups included either experienced CGM users or adults who had not previously used CGM. Recruitment efforts prioritized individuals ≥ 75 years of age.

APPROACH

Transcripts were analyzed using the Framework Method to identify perspectives on CGM. Specific thematic categories were hypoglycemia-related benefits, general benefits, usefulness and ease of use concerns, and CGM questions.

KEY RESULTS

The study included 26 participants: 17 (65%) were experienced CGM users, 58% were female; median age was 74 (range 62-88) years. Participants perceived and anticipated these CGM benefits: informing behavior changes, reducing in-the-moment hypoglycemia risk, improving awareness and decision-making, and strengthening clinician collaboration. Perceived CGM barriers included challenges with wearability and reliability, burdens to others, distrust of technology, sensory and learning challenges, insufficient clinician support or engagement, and access and payer hurdles. Despite these downsides, experienced users perceived CGM as a worthwhile alternative to daily fingerstick glucose checks. Non-users were able to formulate many usability questions, providing a snapshot of informational needs for this age group.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults with insulin-treated T2D experienced or anticipated benefits from CGM for diabetes management. Findings indicate a need for tailored education and self-management support for older adults to learn and gain maximal benefit from this technology.

Improved Glycemic Control in Insulin-Treated Individuals With Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Through Combined Structured Education With Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the efficacy of structured individualized education combined with real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rt-CGM, Dexcom G6) in improving glycemic outcomes in insulin-treated adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

This multicenter, 16-week, single-arm study included 66 adults with T2D (multiple daily insulin [MDI]: 33; basal insulin: 33) with a ≥7.8%. Each cohort comprised 15 participants aged ≥60 years. The participants attended four educational sessions. The primary outcome was a change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels between baseline and week 16.

RESULTS

Sixty-four individuals were included in this study, with a mean age of 58.3 ± 12.4 years. The mean HbA1c levels decreased from 9.0% at baseline to 7.1% at 16 weeks in the MDI group (difference: -1.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.3 to -1.3) and from 8.8% to 7.0% in the basal insulin group (difference: -1.8%, 95% CI = -2.1 to -1.4). In the total population, the mean time in range 70 to 180 mg/dL increased by 25.2% (6 hours 4 minutes, 95% CI = 20.6 to 29.8), whereas the time in tight range 70 to 140 mg/dL increased by 17.3% (4 hours 10 minutes, 95% CI = 14.0 to 20.7). Both groups maintained a target of <1% of the time below the range of <54 mg/dL. Improvements in HbA1c and CGM metrics were comparable between individuals aged ≥60 years and those aged <60 years (all P-values for interaction >.1).

CONCLUSIONS

In adults with poorly controlled insulin-treated T2D, rt-CGM use with structured education significantly improved the HbA1c and CGM metrics, primarily by reducing hyperglycemia, regardless of age.

Intermittent Use of Flash Glucose Monitoring Improves Glycemic Control in Chinese Older Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To explore the efficacy and safety of intermittent use of flash glucose monitoring (FGM) for improving glycemic control in Chinese elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

This is a prospective observational study involving patients with T2DM aged ≥60 years. The study period spans 12 weeks, with participants wearing FGM at weeks 0, 5, and 10. Participants were divided into two subgroups based on HbA1c at enrollment: < 7.0% and ≥7.0%. The primary outcome of the study was HbA1c level. Secondary outcomes included time in range (3.9-10mmol/L) (TIR), time below range (<3.9mmol/L) (TBR), time above range (>10.0mmol/L) (TAR), and glycemic variability (GV).

RESULTS

A total of 68 patients completed the 12-week FGM follow-up (age 67.9 ± 5.2 years; BMI 25.4 ± 3.3kg/m²). Overall findings revealed that compared to baseline, HbA1c decreased from 7.81 ± 1.25% to 7.44±1.10% after 12 weeks of intermittent wearing of FGM (p <0.001). In the subgroup analysis with HbA1c ≥7.0%, the results showed a significant reduction in HbA1c of 0.51mmol/L after 12 weeks (8.36 ± 0.95% vs 7.75 ± 0.97%, p < 0.001). And there was a significant reduction in TBR in the subgroup with HbA1c < 7% (p = 0.028). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the baseline HbA1c (β = -0.529, P<0.001), duration of T2DM (β = 0.341, P = 0.001), and the frequency of sensor use (β = -0.269, P = 0.043) were associated with the reduction in HbA1c level.

CONCLUSION

Intermittent use of FGM is associated with an improvement in glycemic outcomes and reduces the risk of hypoglycemia in Chinese elderly patients with T2DM.

Risk of hypoglycaemia among people with type 2 diabetes not treated with insulin: A retrospective analysis of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries

AIMS

In 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released proposed changes to Medicare's continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) coverage policy, making individuals with a history of problematic hypoglycaemia eligible for CGM coverage, irrespective of insulin use. This study estimated the burden of hypoglycaemia in Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with noninsulin-treated type 2 diabetes (T2D).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analysed US healthcare claims data using Optum's deidentified Clinformatics® database. Noninsulin-treated beneficiaries were identified in the 16 years from January 2007 to March 2023. Hypoglycaemia-related encounters (HREs) were those accompanied by a hypoglycaemia-specific ICD-9/10 diagnosis code in any position on the claim or the first or second position. HREs following the first claim related to T2D were reported by setting (ambulatory or inpatient/emergency department [ED]).

RESULTS

HREs were identified in 689,853 (21.4%) of 3,229,695 noninsulin-treated Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, of whom 82.9% (n = 571,581) had ≥1 HRE in an ambulatory location and 26.8% (n = 184,833) in an ED/inpatient location. Use of sulfonylurea (odds ratio [OR]: 4.33 confidence interval [CI: 4.27-4.38]), evidence of end-stage kidney disease (OR: 2.87 [CI: 2.79-2.94]), hypertension (OR: 3.09 [CI: 3.04-3.15]) and retinopathy (OR: 2.94 [CI: 2.82-3.07]) were the strongest predictors of an HRE (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings show that HREs are prevalent in noninsulin-treated diabetes and identify a large number of patients who may benefit from CGM. Because >80% of HREs occur in the ambulatory setting and >70% occur in patients not taking sulfonylureas, primary care providers should be aware of the latest eligibility criteria for Medicare's coverage of CGM and not restrict this technology to their sulfonylurea-treated patients.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee, ElSayed NA, McCoy RG, Aleppo G, Balapattabi K, Beverly EA, Briggs Early K, Bruemmer D, Echouffo-Tcheugui JB, Ekhlaspour L, Garg R, Khunti K, Lal R, Lingvay I, Matfin G, Pandya N, Pekas EJ, Pilla SJ, Polsky S, Segal AR, Seley JJ, Stanton RC, Bannuru RR. 7. Diabetes Technology: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee, ElSayed NA, McCoy RG, Aleppo G, Balapattabi K, Beverly EA, Briggs Early K, Bruemmer D, Echouffo-Tcheugui JB, Ekhlaspour L, Garg R, Khunti K, Lal R, Lingvay I, Matfin G, Napoli N, Pandya N, Pekas EJ, Pilla SJ, Polsky S, Segal AR, Seley JJ, Stanton RC, Bannuru RR. 13. Older Adults: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Diabetes Technology Use in Special Populations: A Narrative Review of Psychosocial Factors

As diabetes technologies continue to advance, their use is expanding beyond type 1 diabetes to include populations with type 2 diabetes, older adults, pregnant individuals, those with psychiatric conditions, and hospitalized patients. This review examines the psychosocial outcomes of these technologies across these diverse groups, with a focus on treatment satisfaction, quality of life, and self-management behaviors. Despite demonstrated benefits in glycemic outcomes, the adoption and sustained use of these technologies face unique challenges in each population. By highlighting existing research and identifying gaps, this review seeks to emphasize the need for targeted studies and tailored support strategies to understand and optimize psychosocial outcomes and well-being.

Best practices and rationale for expanding Medicaid access to continuous glucose monitoring

Numerous studies have demonstrated that use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) significantly improves overall glycemic control and reduces the frequency and severity of hypoglycemic events in individuals treated with intensive insulin, nonintensive insulin, and noninsulin therapies, with reductions in both all-cause and diabetes-related health care resource utilization and lower costs. However, implementation of CGM including prescribing and assessment of the ambulatory glucose profile to make clinical decisions in primary care settings is low. A recent pilot program was initiated at MetroHealth System (Cleveland, Ohio) to implement a CGM integration program for primary care offices throughout the system. Based on the experience and successes from this health system as well as current literature, rationale will be discussed to support the expansion of CGM to individuals enrolled in all Medicaid programs.

Using continuous glucose monitoring to measure and improve quality metrics: Updates on the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set 2024 Glucose Management Indicator measure

Value-based diabetes care is a proactive approach to providing quality care to individuals with diabetes. This approach focuses on improving clinical outcomes rather than the volume of services provided. Implementation of value-based diabetes care requires an established set of standardized quality measures against which all stakeholders can assess and benchmark their performance. The National Committee for Quality Assurance recently added the Glucose Management Indicator to its Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set. The Glucose Management Indicator can be used as a measure of glucose control. This article discusses the benefits of value-based care, the importance of diabetes quality measures, and how the rapidly increasing adoption of continuous glucose monitoring is impacting these measures while improving the lives of individuals with diabetes.

Advances in diabetes technology within the digital diabetes ecosystem

Ongoing innovations in glucose monitoring, insulin delivery, and telehealth technologies have created a digital diabetes ecosystem populated by connected tools and technologies that have been shown to improve clinical outcomes, lower costs, and reduce the burden of diabetes. Advances in connected continuous glucose monitoring devices, insulin pumps, and insulin pens have led to the development of automated insulin delivery systems that modulate insulin infusion based on sensor glucose data. Similar integrations of continuous glucose monitoring and connected blood glucose meter data into "smart" pens have lessened the guesswork of intensive insulin management for individuals who prefer traditional injection therapy. A growing number of health apps that can be accessed through smartphones and wearable devices provide information and advice that support individuals in adopting healthier lifestyles. The differences in features and functionality give users the ability to select the devices that best meet their unique requirements and preferences. This article reviews the most current digital diabetes technologies and discusses how the connectivity of these tools can create an overarching architecture of feedback mechanisms that monitor an individual's health status, motivate and enhance adherence to self-management, and provide advice and decision-support tools to clinicians as well as other members of the health care team to make living with diabetes more manageable.

Ageing well with diabetes: the role of technology

Over the past two decades there has been a substantial rise in the adoption of diabetes therapeutic technology among children, adolescents and younger adults with type 1 diabetes, and its use is now also advocated for older individuals. Older people with diabetes are more prone to experience hypoglycaemia because of numerous predisposing factors and are at higher risk of hypoglycaemic events requiring third-party assistance as well as other adverse sequelae. Hypoglycaemia may also have long-term consequences, including cognitive impairment, frailty and disability. Diabetes in older people is often characterised by marked glucose variability related to age-associated changes such as variable appetite and levels of physical activity, comorbidities and polypharmacotherapy. Preventing hypoglycaemia and mitigating glucose excursions may have considerable positive impacts on physical and cognitive function and general well-being and may even prevent or improve frailty. Technology for older people includes continuous glucose monitoring systems, insulin pumps, automated insulin delivery systems and smart insulin pens. Clinical trials and real-world studies have shown that older people with diabetes benefit from technology in terms of glucose management, reductions in hypoglycaemic events, emergency department attendance and hospital admissions, and improvement in quality of life. However, ageing may bring physical impairments and other challenges that hinder the use of technology. Healthcare professionals should identify older adults with diabetes who may benefit from therapeutic technology and then adopt an individualised approach to education and follow-up for individuals and their caregivers. Future research should explore the impact of diabetes technology on outcomes relevant to older people with diabetes.

[Continuous glucose monitoring devices in people over 65 years: literature review]

Background

The use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in elderly patients with diabetes is not well documented. The present study search to know the current status of use of CGM devices in patients with diabetes over 65 years of age.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed and Scopus databases in November 2023. The following descriptors were used, linked using the Boolean operators AND and OR: Diabetes, Continuous glucose monitoring, Flash glucose monitoring, Glycemia, Glycemic control, Controlled diabetes, Diabetes care, Metrics, Older and Elder. The CASPe critical reading system and the PRISMA methodology were applied to document the review.

Results

Fourteen selected studies published between 2019 and 2023 were reviewed. Publications from European countries used small sample sizes and were intervention studies. The duration of the interventions was generally short: 7 were ≤14 days in duration and only 3 were 6-12 months in duration. Overall, the selected articles found that CGM improved glycemic outcomes due to a decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin value and an improvement in CGM metrics, and diabetes-associated complications in elderly patients with diabetes.

Conclusion

CGM seems to be a useful and effective tool to improving glycemic outcomes of people with diabetes over age 65. Further studies under real-world conditions and of longer duration are needed to expand and improve the evidence.

Glucose Targets Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring Metrics in Older Adults With Diabetes: Are We There Yet?

The older population is increasing worldwide and up to 30% of older adults have diabetes. Older adults with diabetes are at risk of glucose-related acute and chronic complications. Recently, mostly in type 1 diabetes (T1D), continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices have proven beneficial in improving time in range (TIR glucose, 70-180 mg/dL or glucose 3.9-10 mmol/L), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and in lowering hypoglycemia (time below range [TBR] glucose <70 mg/dL or glucose <3.9 mmol/L). The international consensus group formulated CGM glycemic targets relating to older adults with diabetes based on very limited data. Their recommendations, based on expert opinion, were aimed at mitigating hypoglycemia in all older adults. However, older adults with diabetes are a heterogeneous group, ranging from healthy to very complex frail individuals based on chronological, biological, and functional aging. Recent clinical trial and real-world data, mostly from healthy older adults with T1D, demonstrated that older adults often achieve CGM targets, including TIR recommended for non-vulnerable groups, but less often meet the recommended TBR <1%. Existing data also support that hypoglycemia avoidance may be more strongly related to minimization of glucose variability (coefficient of variation [CV]) rather than lower TIR. Very limited data are available for glucose goals in older adults adjusted for the complexity of their health status. Herein, we review the bidirectional associations between glucose and health status in older adults with diabetes; use of diabetes technologies, and their impact on glucose control; discuss current guidelines; and propose a new set of CGM targets for older adults with insulin-treated diabetes that are individualized for health and living status.

Continuous glucose monitoring for the routine care of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Although continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are now considered the standard of care for people with type 1 diabetes mellitus, the uptake among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been slower and is focused on those receiving intensive insulin therapy. However, increasing evidence now supports the inclusion of CGM in the routine care of people with T2DM who are on basal insulin-only regimens or are managed with other medications. Expanding CGM to these groups could minimize hypoglycaemia while allowing efficient adaptation and escalation of therapies. Increasing evidence from randomized controlled trials and observational studies indicates that CGM is of clinical value in people with T2DM on non-intensive treatment regimens. If further studies confirm this finding, CGM could soon become a part of routine care for T2DM. In this Perspective we explore the potential benefits of widening the application of CGM in T2DM, along with the challenges that must be overcome for the evidence-based benefits of this technology to be delivered for all people with T2DM.

Effectiveness of telehealth on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was employed to enhance clinical outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the effectiveness of telehealth remains inconclusive.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the impact of telehealth on the glycemic control of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the pandemic.

Design

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Setting

N/A.

Participants

A total of 669 studies was sourced from electronic databases, including EMBASE, PubMed, and Scopus. Among these, twelve randomized controlled trials, comprising 1498 participants, were included.

Methods

A comprehensive search was performed in electronic databases. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and statistical heterogeneity was assessed using I² and Cochran's Q tests. A random-effects model was utilized to combine the outcomes. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations was used to evaluate the certainty of the evidence.

Results

The meta-analysis showed that participants receiving a telehealth intervention achieved a greater reduction in the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) compared to those receiving usual care, with a weighted-mean difference of -0.59 (95 % CI -0.84 to -0.35, p < .001, I² = 74.1 %, high certainty of evidence). Additionally, participants receiving telehealth interventions experienced better secondary outcomes, including a reduction in fasting blood sugar (16.06 %, 95 %CI -29.64 to -2.48, p = .02, high certainty of evidence), a decrease in body mass index (1.5 %, 95 %CI -1.98 to -1.02, p < .001, high certainty of evidence), and a decrease in low-density lipoprotein (7.8 %, 95 %CI -14.69 to -0.88, p = .027, low certainty of evidence).

Conclusions

In our review, we showed telehealth's positive impact on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Healthcare professionals can use telehealth in diabetes care. Caution is needed due to heterogeneity of the results. Further research should explore the long-term impacts of telehealth interventions.

Registration

The study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022381879.

The Glucose Management Indicator: Time to Change Course?

Laboratory measurement of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has, for decades, been the standard approach to monitoring glucose control in people with diabetes. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a revolutionary technology that can also aid in the monitoring of glucose control. However, there is uncertainty in how best to use CGM technology and its resulting data to improve control of glucose and prevent complications of diabetes. The glucose management indicator, or GMI, is an equation used to estimate HbA1c based on CGM mean glucose. GMI was originally proposed to simplify and aid in the interpretation of CGM data and is now provided on all standard summary reports (i.e., average glucose profiles) produced by different CGM manufacturers. This Perspective demonstrates that GMI performs poorly as an estimate of HbA1c and suggests that GMI is a concept that has outlived its usefulness, and it argues that it is preferable to use CGM mean glucose rather than converting glucose to GMI or an estimate of HbA1c. Leaving mean glucose in its raw form is simple and reinforces that glucose and HbA1c are distinct. To reduce patient and provider confusion and optimize glycemic management, mean CGM glucose, not GMI, should be used as a complement to laboratory HbA1c testing in patients using CGM systems.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a prevalent disease that increases risk for vascular, renal, and neurologic complications. Prevention and treatment of T2D and its complications are paramount. Many advancements in T2D care have emerged over the past 5 years, including increased understanding of the importance of early intensive glycemic control, mental health, social determinants of health, healthy eating patterns, continuous glucose monitoring, and the benefits of some drugs for preventing cardiorenal disease. This review summarizes the evidence supporting T2D prevention and treatment, focusing on aspects that are commonly in the purview of primary care physicians.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Older Adults: What We Know and What We Have Yet to Learn

OBJECTIVE

To assess the growing use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems by older adults and explore additional areas integration that could benefit adults with frailty.

BACKGROUND

The use of CGM devices has expanded rapidly in the last decade. This has been supported by substantial data showing significant benefit in glycemic metrics: hemoglobin A1c improvements, less hypoglycemia, and improved quality of life. However, sub-populations, such as older persons, exist where available data are limited. Furthermore, frail older adults represent a heterogeneous population with their own unique challenges to the management of diabetes. This group has some of the poorest outcomes related to the sequela of diabetes. For example, hypoglycemia resulting in significant morbidity and mortality is more frequent in older person with diabetes than in younger persons with diabetes.

METHOD

We present a concise literature review on CGM use in the older adult as well as expand upon glycemic and nonglycemic benefits of CGM for patients, caregivers, and providers. Retrospective analysis of inpatient glycemic data of 16,935 older adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist indicated those with fraility managed with insulin or sulfonylurea had the highest rates of delirium (4.8%), hypoglycemia (3.5%), cardiovascular complications (20.2%) and ED visits/hospitalizatoins (49%). In addition, we address special consideration of specific situations including inpatient, palliative and long term care settings.

CONCLUSION

This review article summarizes the available data for CGM use in older adults, discusses the benefits and obstacles with CGM use in this population, and identifies areas of future research needed for improved delivery of care to older persons with diabetes.

Detection and Intervention: Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Early Stages of Type 2 Diabetes

The term "prediabetes" has been used to identify the state of abnormal glucose homeostasis (dysglycemia) that often leads to the development of clinical type 2 diabetes. However, this term does not describe the cellular changes that are already taking place in individuals with elevated glucose levels. This article describes our approach to detecting early dysglycemia using continuous glucose monitoring and explains how this approach can be integrated into clinical practice settings.

Continuous glucose monitoring in older adults with diabetes: Data from the diabetes prospective follow-up (DPV) registry

AIMS

To analyse predictors for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use in people with diabetes aged ≥60 years using insulin therapy and to assess the rates of CGM use during recent years (2019-2021).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Prospective study including 6849 individuals with diabetes and insulin therapy (type 2 diabetes: n = 5320; type 1 diabetes: n = 1529) aged ≥60 years. Data from 129 treatment centres were retrieved from the Diabetes Prospective Follow-up Registry (DPV) in March 2023.

RESULTS

Sensor use in individuals aged ≥60 years has increased in type 1 (2019: 28%, 2020: 39%, 2021: 45%) and type 2 diabetes (2019: 10%, 2020: 16%, 2021: 18%). Predictors for sensor use in older individuals with type 1 diabetes are younger age and CSII use (p < 0.001). Predictors in older individuals with type 2 diabetes are younger age, longer diabetes duration, higher BMI and CSII use (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

CGM has become more common in older adults with diabetes and will presumably increase further. Age is a predictor for sensor use in older adults with diabetes. Age-related physical barriers and insufficient usability of devices, lack of interest in technologies, but possibly also effects of prejudice on the grounds of age may contribute to this finding.

Guideline for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly in China (2024 Edition)

With the deepening of aging in China, the prevalence of diabetes in older people has increased noticeably, and standardized diabetes management is critical for improving clinical outcomes of diabetes in older people. In 2021, the National Center of Gerontology, Chinese Society of Geriatrics, and Diabetes Professional Committee of Chinese Aging Well Association organized experts to write the first guideline for diabetes diagnosis and treatment in older people in China, the Guideline for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly in China (2021 Edition). The guideline emphasizes that older patients with diabetes are a highly heterogeneous group requiring comprehensive assessment and stratified and individualized management strategies. The guideline proposes simple treatments and de-intensified treatment strategies for older patients with diabetes. This edition of the guideline provides clinicians with practical and operable clinical guidance, thus greatly contributing to the comprehensive and full-cycle standardized management of older patients with diabetes in China and promoting the extensive development of clinical and basic research on diabetes in older people and related fields. In the past 3 years, evidence-based medicine for older patients with diabetes and related fields has further advanced, and new treatment concepts, drugs, and technologies have been developed. The guideline editorial committee promptly updated the first edition of the guideline and compiled the Guideline for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly in China (2024 Edition). More precise management paths for older patients with diabetes are proposed, for achieving continued standardization of the management of older Chinese patients with diabetes and improving their clinical outcomes.

Diabetes management, dietary supplements use and the effect of coronavirus pandemic on diabetes patients in Serbia: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant public health challenge in Serbia, mirroring the situation in other European middle-income countries. The aims of this study were to examine the disease-related characteristics and management of diabetes, as well as the prevalence of use of dietary supplements (DS) among diabetes patients in Serbia, and to analyze the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on DM patients in Serbia.

METHODS

The study was carried out as an online, observational, cross-sectional study involving 422 adult diabetes type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) patients residing in Serbia.

RESULTS

DM1 patients were more likely than DM2 patients to self-control glucose levels (p < 0.001). Almost one-third of DM2 patients (31.4%) did not know their HbA1c value. Polypharmacy has been reported by 9.7% of DM1 patients and 23.5% of DM2 patients. During the coronavirus pandemic increased anxiety levels for one-third of respondents was noticed. The prevalence of DS use among DM patients was very high (95.3%), with vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D and magnesium being the most commonly used. Women were more likely to use vitamin D (p = 0.001) and magnesium DS (p = 0.005) than men. Most patients (76.9%) faced limited access to healthcare services during the coronavirus pandemic with, sometimes, detrimental consequences. A significant portion of respondents (41.2%) consulted a pharmacist more often in 2021 than in previous years.

CONCLUSIONS

Special caution is needed regarding the potential interactions of DS with chronic therapy. To enhance diabetes care, Serbia needs more accessible mental health support, improved diabetes education, expanded CGM availability, and carefully planned emergency healthcare measures for chronic patients.

Patterns and Trends in Continuous Glucose Monitoring Utilization Among Commercially Insured Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes: 2010-2013 to 2016-2019

Prior studies suggest that only ∼30% of patients with type 1 diabetes use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), but most studies to date focused on children and young adults seen by endocrinologists or in academic centers. This study examined national trends in CGM utilization among commercially insured children and adults with type 1 diabetes. Overall, CGM utilization was 20.12% in 2010-2013 and 49.78% in 2016-2019, reflecting a 2.5-fold increase in utilization within a period of <10 years. Identifying populations with low CGM use is a necessary first step in developing targeted interventions to increase CGM uptake.

Effects of continuous glucose monitoring on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AIMS

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) versus self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in maintaining glycaemic control among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023387583). PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and OVID databases were searched from 1 January 2000 until 31 December 2022 for randomized controlled trials comparing CGM with SMBG in glycaemic control among the outpatients with T2DM. The primary endpoint was glycated haemoglobin, while the secondary endpoints included time in range, time below range and time above range. Both traditional and network meta-analyses were conducted to explore the efficacy of CGM on glycaemic control in T2DM.

RESULTS

Eleven high-quality studies, involving 1425 individuals with T2DM, were identified. Traditional meta-analysis revealed that CGM exhibited a significantly decreased [mean difference (MD): -0.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-0.45, -0.18)], time above range [MD: -9.06%, 95% CI (-16.00, -2.11)], time below range [MD: -0.30%, 95% CI (-0.49, -0.12)] and a significantly increased time in range [MD: 8.49%, 95% CI (3.96, 13.02)] compared with SMBG. The network meta-analysis showed that real-time CGM can improve the glycaemic control of patients with T2DM to the most extent.

CONCLUSIONS

CGM could provide T2DM with greater benefits in glycaemic management compared with SMBG, particularly in patients using real-time CGM. These findings provide an updated perspective on previous research and offer guidance for CGM use in T2DM.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee, ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Bannuru RR, Bruemmer D, Collins BS, Ekhlaspour L, Hilliard ME, Johnson EL, Khunti K, Lingvay I, Matfin G, McCoy RG, Perry ML, Pilla SJ, Polsky S, Prahalad P, Pratley RE, Segal AR, Seley JJ, Stanton RC, Gabbay RA. 7. Diabetes Technology: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

AMCP Market Insights Health Plan Best Practice: Implementing continuous glucose monitoring to improve patient outcomes in diabetes

Diabetes is a complex chronic condition that affects the body's ability to produce or use insulin effectively, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. It is associated with various complications and comorbidities, significantly impacting both individuals and the health care system. Effective management involves a combination of lifestyle adjustments, medication adherence, monitoring, education, and support. The expanding use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been transformative in diabetes care, providing valuable real-time data and insights for better management. To understand the opportunity for health plans to support improved patient outcomes with CGM, AMCP sponsored a multifaceted approach to identify best practices consisting of expert interviews, a national payer survey, an expert panel workshop with clinical experts and managed care stakeholders, and a national webcast to communicate the program findings. This article summarizes current evidence for CGM to support managed care and payer professionals in making collaborative, evidence-based decisions to optimize outcomes among patients with diabetes. In addition, this review also presents the findings of a national payer survey and describes expert-supported health plan best practices around coverage and access to CGM.

Management of Glucose-Lowering Therapy in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Challenges and Opportunities

The population of older adults (≥65 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is diverse, encompassing individuals with varying functional capabilities, living arrangements, concomitant medical conditions, and life expectancies. Hence, their categorization into different patient profiles (ie, good health, intermediate health, poor health) may aid in clinical decision-making when establishing glycemic goals and pharmacological treatment strategies. Further granularity in assessing each patient profile through interdisciplinary collaboration may also add precision to therapeutic and monitoring decisions. In this review, we discuss with a multidisciplinary approach how to deliver the best benefit from advanced diabetes therapies and technologies to older adults with T2DM according to each patient profile. There remain however several areas that deserve further research in older adults with T2DM, including the efficacy and safety of continuous glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery systems, the switch to once-weekly insulin, the effectiveness of multidisciplinary care models, and the use of supported telemedicine and remote blood glucose monitoring in the oldest-old (≥85 years) who particularly require the assistance of others.

Coverage for Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Nonintensive Therapies: An Evidence-Based Approach to Policymaking

Numerous studies have demonstrated the clinical benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) who are treated with intensive insulin regimens. Based on this evidence, CGM is now a standard of care for individuals within these diabetes populations and widely covered by commercial and public insurers. Moreover, recent clinical guidelines from the American Diabetes Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinology now endorse CGM use in individuals treated with nonintensive insulin regimens. However, despite increasing evidence supporting CGM use for individuals treated with less-intensive insulin therapy or noninsulin medications, insurance coverage is limited or nonexistent. This narrative review reports key findings from recent randomized, observational, and retrospective studies investigating use of CGM in T2D individuals treated with basal insulin only and/or noninsulin therapies and presents an evidence-based rationale for expanding access to CGM within this population.

Beyond A1C: exploring continuous glucose monitoring metrics in managing diabetes

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has long been considered a cornerstone of diabetes mellitus (DM) management, as both an indicator of average glycemia and a predictor of long-term complications among people with DM. However, HbA1c is subject to non-glycemic influences which confound interpretation and as a measure of average glycemia does not provide information regarding glucose trends or about the occurrence of hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia episodes. As such, solitary use of HbA1c, without accompanying glucose data, does not confer actionable information that can be harnessed to guide targeted therapy in many patients with DM. While conventional capillary blood glucose monitoring (BGM) sheds light on momentary glucose levels, in practical use the inherent infrequency of measurement precludes elucidation of glycemic trends or reliable detection of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia episodes. In contrast, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data reveal glucose trends and potentially undetected hypo- and hyperglycemia patterns that can occur between discrete BGM measurements. The use of CGM has grown significantly over the past decades as an ever-expanding body of literature demonstrates a multitude of clinical benefits for people with DM. Continually improving CGM accuracy and ease of use have further fueled the widespread adoption of CGM. Furthermore, percent time in range correlates well with HbA1c, is accepted as a validated indicator of glycemia, and is associated with the risk of several DM complications. We explore the benefits and limitations of CGM use, the use of CGM in clinical practice, and the application of CGM to advanced diabetes technologies.

Expanding the Role of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Modern Diabetes Care Beyond Type 1 Disease

Application of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has moved diabetes care from a reactive to a proactive process, in which a person with diabetes can prevent episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, rather than taking action only once low and high glucose are detected. Consequently, CGM devices are now seen as the standard of care for people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Evidence now supports the use of CGM in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on any treatment regimen, not just for those on insulin therapy. Expanding the application of CGM to include all people with T1DM or T2DM can support effective intensification of therapies to reduce glucose exposure and lower the risk of complications and hospital admissions, which are associated with high healthcare costs. All of this can be achieved while minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia and improving quality of life for people with diabetes. Wider application of CGM can also bring considerable benefits for women with diabetes during pregnancy and their children, as well as providing support for acute care of hospital inpatients who experience the adverse effects of hyperglycemia following admission and surgical procedures, as a consequence of treatment-related insulin resistance or reduced insulin secretion. By tailoring the application of CGM for daily or intermittent use, depending on the patient profile and their needs, one can ensure the cost-effectiveness of CGM in each setting. In this article we discuss the evidence-based benefits of expanding the use of CGM technology to include all people with diabetes, along with a diverse population of people with non-diabetic glycemic dysregulation.

Relationship Between Time in Range and Dusk Phenomenon in Outpatients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Purpose

The dusk phenomenon refers to a spontaneous and transient pre-dinner hyperglycemia that affects glucose fluctuation and glycemic control, and the increasing use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has facilitated its diagnosis. We investigated the frequency of the dusk phenomenon and its relationship with the time in range (TIR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Patients and Methods

This study involved 102 patients with T2DM who underwent CGM for 14 days. CGM-derived metrics and clinical characteristics were evaluated. A consecutive dusk blood glucose difference (pre-dinner glucose minus 2-hour post-lunch glucose) of ≥ 0 or once-only dusk blood glucose difference of < 0 was diagnosed as the clinical dusk phenomenon (CLDP).

Results

We found that the percentage of CLDP was 11.76% (10.34% in men, 13.64% in women). Compared with the non-CLDP group, the CLDP group tended to be younger and have a lower percentage of TIR (%TIR^3.9-10) and higher percentage of time above range (%TAR^>10 and %TAR^>13.9) (P ≤ 0.05). Adjusted for confounding factors, the binary logistic regression analysis showed a negative association of CLDP with %TIR (odds ratio < 1, P < 0.05). We repeated the correlation analysis based on 70%TIR and found significant differences in hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose, mean blood glucose, standard deviation of the sensor glucose values, glucose coefficient of variation, largest amplitude of glycemic excursions, mean amplitude of glycemic excursions, glucose management indicator, and percentage of CLDP between the two subgroups of TIR ≤ 70% and TIR > 70% (P < 0.05). The negative association between TIR and CLDP still remained after adjustment by the binary logistic regression analysis.

Conclusion

The CLDP was frequently present in patients with T2DM. The TIR was significantly correlated with the CLDP and could serve as an independent negative predictor.

Assessing non-adjunctive CGM safety at home and in new markets (ANSHIN)

INTRODUCTION

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can guide treatment for people with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The ANSHIN study assessed the impact of non-adjunctive CGM use in adults with diabetes using intensive insulin therapy (IIT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-arm, prospective, interventional study enrolled adults with T1D or T2D who had not used CGM in the prior 6 months. Participants wore blinded CGMs (Dexcom G6) during a 20-day run-in phase, with treatment based on fingerstick glucose values, followed by a 16-week intervention phase and then a randomized 12-week extension phase with treatment based on CGM values. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes were CGM metrics. Safety endpoints were the number of severe hypoglycaemic (SH) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) events.

RESULTS

Of the 77 adults enrolled, 63 completed the study. Those enrolled had mean (SD) baseline HbA1c of 9.8% (1.9%), 36% had T1D, and 44% were ≥65 years old. Mean HbA1c decreased by 1.3, 1.0 and 1.0 percentage points for participants with T1D, T2D or age ≥65, respectively (p < .001 for each). CGM-based metrics including time in range also improved significantly. SH events decreased from the run-in period (67.3 per 100 person-years) to the intervention period (17.0 per 100 person-years). Three DKA events unrelated to CGM use occurred during the total intervention period.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-adjunctive use of the Dexcom G6 CGM system improved glycaemic control and was safe for adults using IIT.

7. Diabetes Technology: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Older Adults: A Review of Benefits, Challenges and Future Directions

Many new technologies have been developed over the past decade, and these have substantially changed the way diabetes is managed. Continuous glucose monitoring is now the standard of care for many people living with diabetes, and among its numerous benefits, it has been shown to improve glycaemic outcomes and enhance quality of life. Older adults carry a high burden of diabetes and have a high risk of hypo-glycaemia and hypo-glycaemic unawareness, and continuous glucose monitoring can help to improve glycaemic management in this vulnerable population. Unfortunately, only a few trials have evaluated the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring in older adults. Certainly, the implementation of continuous glucose monitoring in older adults can come with many challenges, including logistical, educational and reimbursement barriers. This article will discuss the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring in older adults with diabetes, the clinical studies that support its use and the barriers to its optimal implementation in this population.