A Practical Approach to Using Trend Arrows on the Dexcom G5 CGM System to Manage Children and Adolescents With Diabetes

Barriers and Facilitators Impacting Disease and Symptom Management Among College Students With Type 1 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators impacting disease and symptom management among college students living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

DESIGN

A qualitative, phenomenological approach using semi-structured, one-on-one interviews.

SETTING

Interviews conducted on Zoom (n = 28) and in-person (n = 3).

PARTICIPANTS

Purposive sample of 31 college students living with T1D for at least 2 years who attended large, 4-year public universities in the Southeastern United States.

METHOD

This study was theoretically informed using the Middle-Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness Integration of Symptoms to develop interview questions. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and uploaded in NVivo. Data were analyzed thematically using a codebook developed by the research team using the theory as a framework. Trustworthiness was established using an audit trail, memos, and negative case analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes described barriers: diabetes burnout, challenges adjusting to a college lifestyle, difficulty receiving medical supplies, and insurance limitations. Five themes explained facilitators: years of experience managing T1D, tangible support with medical supplies, informational support for disease management, and emotional/technological support for disease and symptom management.

CONCLUSION

Barriers and facilitators in this study should be addressed in future T1D interventions for college students. Findings can also guide healthcare professionals, health promotion practitioners, family, friends, and significant others on how to better support college students as they manage T1D.

A Head-to-Head Comparison of Two Algorithms for Adjusting Mealtime Insulin Doses Based on CGM Trend Arrows in Adult Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Results from an Exploratory Study

BACKGROUND

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) users are encouraged to consider trend arrows before injecting a meal bolus. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of two different algorithms for trend-informed bolus adjustments, the Diabetes Research in Children Network/Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (DirectNet/JDRF) and the Ziegler algorithm, in type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-over study of type 1 diabetes patients using Dexcom G6. Participants were randomly assigned to either the DirectNet/JDRF or the Ziegler algorithm for two weeks. After a 7-day wash-out period with no trend-informed bolus adjustments, they crossed to the alternative algorithm.

RESULTS

Twenty patients, with an average age of 36 ± 10 years, completed this study. Compared to the baseline and the DirectNet/JDRF algorithm, the Ziegler algorithm was associated with a significantly higher time in range (TIR) and lower time above range and mean glucose. A separate analysis of patients on CSII and MDI revealed that the Ziegler algorithm provides better glucose control and variability than DirectNet/JDRF in CSII-treated patients. The two algorithms were equally effective in increasing TIR in MDI-treated patients. No severe hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episode occurred during the study.

CONCLUSIONS

The Ziegler algorithm is safe and may provide better glucose control and variability than the DirectNet/JDRF over a two-week period, especially in patients treated with CSII.

Management of Individuals With Diabetes at High Risk for Hypoglycemia: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline

CONTEXT

Hypoglycemia in people with diabetes is common, especially in those taking medications such as insulin and sulfonylureas (SU) that place them at higher risk. Hypoglycemia is associated with distress in those with diabetes and their families, medication nonadherence, and disruption of life and work, and it leads to costly emergency department visits and hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To review and update the diabetes-specific parts of the 2009 Evaluation and Management of Adult Hypoglycemic Disorders: Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline and to address developing issues surrounding hypoglycemia in both adults and children living with diabetes. The overriding objectives are to reduce and prevent hypoglycemia.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of clinician experts, together with a patient representative, and methodologists with expertise in evidence synthesis and guideline development, identified and prioritized 10 clinical questions related to hypoglycemia in people living with diabetes. Systematic reviews were conducted to address all the questions. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess the certainty of evidence and make recommendations.

RESULTS

The panel agreed on 10 questions specific to hypoglycemia risk and prevention in people with diabetes for which 10 recommendations were made. The guideline includes conditional recommendations for use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and algorithm-driven insulin pumps in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), use of CGM for outpatients with type 2 diabetes at high risk for hypoglycemia, use of long-acting and rapid-acting insulin analogs, and initiation of and continuation of CGM for select inpatient populations at high risk for hypoglycemia. Strong recommendations were made for structured diabetes education programs for those at high risk for hypoglycemia, use of glucagon preparations that do not require reconstitution vs those that do for managing severe outpatient hypoglycemia for adults and children, use of real-time CGM for individuals with T1D receiving multiple daily injections, and the use of inpatient glycemic management programs leveraging electronic health record data to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSION

The recommendations are based on the consideration of critical outcomes as well as implementation factors such as feasibility and values and preferences of people with diabetes. These recommendations can be used to inform clinical practice and health care system improvement for this important complication for people living with diabetes.

Evaluation of the usefulness of and satisfaction with the flash glucose monitoring system (FreeStyle Libre®) guide for use in patients with type 1 diabetes⋆

The Flash Guide (FG) for insulin dosing (A. Chico, C. González) was the first document intended for FreeStyle Libre® (FSL) user patients to help with decision-making depending on glucose level and trend. The objective of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of and the level of satisfaction with the recommendations given by the FG in a group of patients with type 1 diabetes (DM1) who were FSL users. It included 31 subjects (54% women; age 41 ± 15 years; DM duration 21 ± 14 years; 22 with FSL > 12 months) who were provided with the FG. They completed a questionnaire on decision-making depending on glucose trend in different situations (before and three months after using the FG), and a satisfaction questionnaire (ad hoc). Demographic, clinical and glycaemic control data were collected. The percentage of subjects who used glucose trend in decision-making after receiving the FG increased: for adjusting insulin (51 vs. 83; p = 0.016), action without insulin (51 vs. 90%; p = 0.001), and in special circumstances. The FG was evaluated as very useful (4.19/5). There were no significant changes in glycaemic control, although the percentage of data gathered increased significantly (89.07 vs. 94.46%; p = 0.042). In conclusion, the FG was evaluated well for managing glucose trends with FSL by the patients with DM1 analysed, increasing their use of trend in decision-making, with no changes in glycaemic control, but with more data gathered.

Practical aspects of diabetes technology use: Continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and automated insulin delivery systems

There have been tremendous advances in diabetes technology in the last decade. Continuous glucose monitors (CGM), insulin pumps, and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems aim to improve glycemic control while simultaneously decreasing the burden of diabetes management. Although diabetes technologies have been shown to decrease both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and to improve health-related quality of life in individuals with type 1 diabetes, the impact of these devices in individuals with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is less clear. There are unique aspects of CFRD, including the different underlying pathophysiology and unique lived health care experience and comorbidities, that likely affect the use, efficacy, and uptake of diabetes technology in this population. Small studies suggest that CGM is accurate and may be helpful in guiding insulin therapy for individuals with CFRD. Insulin pump use has been linked to improvements in lean body mass and hemoglobin A1c among adults with CFRD. A recent pilot study highlighted the promise of AID systems in this population. This article provides an overview of practical aspects of diabetes technology use and device limitations that clinicians must be aware of in caring for individuals with CF and CFRD. Cost and limited insurance coverage remain significant barriers to wider implementation of diabetes technology use among patients with CFRD. Future studies exploring strategies to improve patient and CF provider education about these devices and studies showing the effectiveness of these technologies on health and patient-reported outcomes may lead to improved insurance coverage and increased rates of uptake and sustained use of these technologies in the CFRD community.

Clinical Evaluation of a Novel CGM-Informed Bolus Calculator with Automatic Glucose Trend Adjustment

Background: Expert opinion guidelines and limited data from clinical trials recommend adjustment to bolus insulin doses based on continuous glucose monitor (CGM) trend data, yet minimal evidence exists to support this approach. We performed a clinical evaluation of a novel CGM-informed bolus calculator (CIBC) with automatic insulin bolus dose adjustment based on CGM trend used with sensor-augmented pump therapy. Materials and Methods: In this multicenter, outpatient study, participants 6-70 years of age with type 1 diabetes (T1D) used the Omnipod^® 5 System in Manual Mode, first for 7 days without a connected CGM (standard bolus calculator, SBC, phase 1) and then for 7 days with a connected CGM using the CIBC (CIBC phase 2). The integrated bolus calculator used stored pump settings plus user-estimated meal size and/or either a manually entered capillary glucose value (SBC phase) or an imported current CGM value and trend (CIBC phase) to recommend a bolus amount. The CIBC automatically increased or decreased the suggested bolus amount based on the CGM trend. Results: Twenty-five participants, (mean ± standard deviation) 27 ± 15 years of age, with T1D duration 12 ± 9 years and A1C 7.0% ± 0.9% completed the study. There were significantly fewer sensor readings <70 mg/dL 4 h postbolus with the CIBC compared to the SBC (2.1% ± 2.0% vs. 2.8 ± 2.7, P = 0.03), while percent of sensor readings >180 and 70-180 mg/dL remained the same. There was no difference in insulin use or number of boluses given between the two phases. Conclusion: The CIBC was safe when used with the Omnipod 5 System in Manual Mode, with fewer hypoglycemic readings in the postbolus period compared to the SBC. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04320069).

Use of continuous glucose monitoring trend arrows in the younger population with type 1 diabetes

Early control of glycaemia is key to reduce vascular complications in individuals with Type 1 diabetes. Therefore, encouraging children and adolescents with T1DM to take responsibility for controlling glucose levels is an important yet a challenging task. The rapid expansion of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems has allowed for more comprehensive analysis of glycaemia in T1D. Moreover, CGM devices have the ability to calculate rate of change in glucose levels and display the information as trend arrows. In turn, this can help to take evasive actions to return glucose levels to near physiological glycaemia, which can be highly motivating for young people with T1DM. In the absence of standardised, evidence-based guidance, this consensus document, generated by experts from the Arab Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes and international advisors, summarises recent literature on the use of trend arrows in young people with T1DM. The use of trend arrows in different CGM systems is reviewed and their clinical significance is highlighted. Adjusting insulin doses according to trend arrows is discussed while also addressing special situations, such as exercise, fasting, nocturnal hypoglycaemia and menstruation. Adequate understanding of trend arrows should facilitate optimisation of glycaemic control in the T1D population.

The impact of "faster aspart" on blood glucose control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes treated using a sensor-augmented insulin pump

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Post-prandial glucose control is essential to achieve metabolic goals in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The new "faster aspart" insulin has a pharmacological profile noted for its faster absorption and onset of action, and increased early availability, resulting in improved blood glucose control after meals. The main objective of the study was to analyse the efficacy of "faster aspart" vs. "insulin aspart" in children and adolescents with DM1 on sensor-augmented pump treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Multicentre, longitudinal and prospective analytical trial evaluating the use of faster aspart insulin for three months in children with T1DM with MiniMed640G® sensor-augmented pumps previously treated with aspart insulin. At the beginning and end of the study the following variables were analysed for subsequent comparison: mean sensor glucose, percentage of time in range, hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, area under the curve (AUC) <70 and >180 mg/dL, mean sensor glucose pre- and postprandial in main meals, daily insulin requirements, basal/bolus percentage, and HbA1c. Acute complications, adverse events and satisfaction survey were assessed.

RESULTS

The study included 32 patients with a mean of 13.49 ± 2.42 years of age and with T1DM of 7.0 ± 3.67 years of onset. The use of faster aspart was associated with lower time in hyperglycaemia >180 mg/dL (25.8 ± 11.3 vs. 22.4 ± 9.5; p = .011) and >250 mg/dL (5.2±4.9 vs. 4.0 ± 3.6; p = .04), lower AUC >180 mg/dL (10.8 ± 6.5 vs. 9.3 ± 6.1; p = .03), and increased time in range (71.4 ± 10.0 vs. 74.3 ± 9.2; p = .03). No significant changes in hypoglycaemia, HbA1c, insulin requirements, and basal/bolus percentages were detected. Faster aspart was safe and well-evaluated by patients and caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Faster aspart achieves better glycaemic control by increasing glucose time in range in children and adolescents with T1DM on treatment with sensor-augmented pumps.

Practical Approach to Using Trend Arrows on Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in Type 1 Diabetes Adolescents Living Camp Setting Treated With Multiple Daily Injection or Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Insulin Therapy

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of an educational intervention on the use of trend arrows of a real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rt-CGM) to manage daily therapy decisions in a group of adolescents with type 1 diabetes attending a camp. The secondary aim was to evaluate the variations in total daily dose (TDD) of insulin requirement.

METHODS

Twenty patients (15-17 years) on multiple insulin injections (n = 8) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (n = 12) attended a training session at the beginning of the camp to learn our algorithm for the management of therapy depending on trend arrows. TDD, time in range (TIR), time above range (TAR), and time below range (TBR) (in the 24 hours and in the three hours after breakfast) before the training session (run-in) and at the end of the camp (T1) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Data showed a reduction of TAR (run-in 42.6%, T1 32.05%, P = .036) and an increase in TIR (run-in 52.9%, T1 62.4%, P = .013). Reduction of TBR (run-in 42.5%, T1 37.5%, P = .05) and improvement in TIR (run-in 49.0%, T1 57.0%, P = .02) were also observed in the post-breakfast period. Data showed a significant reduction in the TDD (run-in 52.02 ± 17.44 U/die, T1 46.49 ± 12.39 U/die, P = .024).

CONCLUSIONS

Statistically significant improvement of glycemic control and reduction of TTD were observed in all patients regardless of therapy type. The improvement between run-in and T1 demonstrates the importance of patients' education on the correct use of rt-CGM with simple algorithms for the management of therapy.

Integrating Continuous Glucose Monitoring Into Clinical Practices and Patients' Lives

Numerous studies have demonstrated the clinical benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in individuals with diabetes. Within ongoing innovations in CGM technology, individuals now have an expanding array of options that allow them to select the device that meets their individual needs and preferences. Although demand for CGM in primary care continues to grow, many clinicians are reluctant to prescribe this technology due to their unfamiliarity with the various devices, uncertainty about which devices are best suited to each patient and the feasibility of using CGM. This article reviews the features and functionality of the most recent commercially available CGM devices and provides guidance for integrating CGM use into clinical practices.

Evaluation of the usefulness of and satisfaction with the flash glucose monitoring system (FreeStyle Libre®) guide for use in patients with type 1 diabetes

The Flash Guide (FG) for insulin dosing (A. Chico, C. González) was the first document intended for FreeStyle Libre® (FSL) user patients to help with decision-making depending on glucose level and trend. The objective of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of and the level of satisfaction with the recommendations given by the FG in a group of patients with type 1 diabetes (DM1) who were FSL users. It included 31 subjects (54% women; age 41±15 years; DM duration 21±14 years; 22 with FSL>12 months) who were provided with the FG. They completed a questionnaire on decision-making depending on glucose trend in different situations (before and three months after using the FG), and a satisfaction questionnaire (ad hoc). Demographic, clinical and glycaemic control data were collected. The percentage of subjects who used glucose trend in decision-making after receiving the FG increased: for adjusting insulin (51 vs. 83; P=.016), action without insulin (51 vs. 90%; P=.001), and in special circumstances. The FG was evaluated as very useful (4.19/5). There were no significant changes in glycaemic control, although the percentage of data gathered increased significantly (89.07 vs. 94.46%; P=.042). In conclusion, the FG was evaluated well for managing glucose trends with FSL by the patients with DM1 analysed, increasing their use of trend in decision-making, with no changes in glycaemic control, but with more data gathered.

First Outpatient Evaluation of a Tubeless Automated Insulin Delivery System with Customizable Glucose Targets in Children and Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of the first commercial configuration of a tubeless automated insulin delivery system, Omnipod^® 5, in children (6-13.9 years) and adults (14-70 years) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in an outpatient setting. Materials and Methods: This was a single-arm, multicenter, prospective clinical study. Data were collected over a 14-day standard therapy (ST) phase followed by a 14-day hybrid closed-loop (HCL) phase, where participants (n = 36) spent 72 h at each of three prespecified glucose targets (130, 140, and 150 mg/dL, 9 days total) then 5 days with free choice of glucose targets (110-150 mg/dL) using the Omnipod 5. Remote safety monitoring alerts were enabled during the HCL phase. Primary endpoints were difference in time in range (TIR) (70-180 mg/dL) between ST and HCL phases and proportion of participants reporting serious device-related adverse events. Results: Mean TIR was significantly higher among children in the free-choice period overall (64.9% ± 12.2%, P < 0.01) and when using a 110 mg/dL target (71.2% ± 10.2%, P < 0.01), a 130 mg/dL target (61.5% ± 7.7%, P < 0.01), and a 140 mg/dL target (64.8% ± 11.6%, P < 0.01), and among adults using a 130 mg/dL target (75.1% ± 11.6%, P < 0.05), compared to the ST phase (children: 51.0% ± 13.3% and adults: 65.6% ± 15.7%). There were no serious device-related adverse events reported during the HCL phase, nor were there episodes of severe hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis. Conclusion: The Omnipod 5 System was safe and effective when used at glucose targets from 110 to 150 mg/dL for 14 days at home in children and adults with T1D.

Current treatment options and challenges in patients with Type 1 diabetes: Pharmacological, technical advances and future perspectives

Type 1 diabetes mellitus imposes a significant burden of complications and mortality, despite important advances in treatment: subjects affected by this disease have also a worse quality of life-related to disease management. To overcome these challenges, different new approaches have been proposed, such as new insulin formulations or innovative devices. The introduction of insulin pumps allows a more physiological insulin administration with a reduction of HbA1c level and hypoglycemic risk. New continuous glucose monitoring systems with better accuracy have allowed, not only better glucose control, but also the improvement of the quality of life. Integration of these devices with control algorithms brought to the creation of the first artificial pancreas, able to independently gain metabolic control without the risk of hypo- and hyperglycemic crisis. This approach has revolutionized the management of diabetes both in terms of quality of life and glucose control. However, complete independence from exogenous insulin will be obtained only by biological approaches that foresee the replacement of functional beta cells obtained from stem cells: this will be a major challenge but the biggest hope for the subjects with type 1 diabetes. In this review, we will outline the current scenario of innovative diabetes management both from a technological and biological point of view, and we will also forecast some cutting-edge approaches to reduce the challenges that hamper the definitive cure of diabetes.

A "Slide Rule" to Adjust Insulin Dose Using Trend Arrows in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: Test in Silico and in Real Life

INTRODUCTION

In persons with type 1 diabetes (T1D) insulin dosing can be adjusted based on trend arrows derived from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). We propose a slide rule with narrower blood glucose intervals and more classes of insulin sensitivity than are available in current models.

METHODS

The slide rule was tested in silico, in which a meal was simulated in 100 virtual subjects and the insulin bolus was calculated either in the standard way based on the insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio and the correction factor or according to the slide rule, following which the percentage time spent in range (70-180 mg/dl; %T_IR), hypoglycemia (< 70 mg/dl; %T_HYPO), and hyperglycemia (> 180 mg/dl; %T_HYPER) was compared between the methods during the 4 h after the meal. Slide rule performance was also tested in real life by analyzing the same variables at during the 4 h postprandial period in 27 individuals with T1D. Only meals starting while the rate of change was at least 1 mg/dl per minute (increasing or decreasing) were considered for analysis.

RESULTS

In silico, when the preprandial trend arrow was increasing, our slide rule reduced %T_HYPER and increased %T_IR (p < 0.05), whereas when the preprandial trend arrow was decreasing, it reduced %T_HYPO and slightly increased %T_HYPER (p < 0.05). In real life, our slide rule kept subjects on target for 70.8 and 91.6% of postprandial time when preprandial trend arrows were increasing or decreasing, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The proposed slide rule performed well both in silico and in real life, suggesting that it could be safely adopted by individuals with T1D to improve glucose control.

Beyond A1C: A Practical Approach to Interpreting and Optimizing Continuous Glucose Data in Youth

Despite significant pharmacological and technological advances in the treatment of type 1 diabetes, the majority of youth in the United States do not meet the American Diabetes Association's recommended A1C goal. Understanding and managing glycemic variability is important in children and adolescents. Because A1C provides an incomplete picture of day-to-day glycemic fluctuations, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-derived metrics are a promising addition to address glycemic management challenges in youth with diabetes. In this article, we discuss how to develop practical strategies to optimize the use of CGM in the pediatric population, interpret the valuable data it provides, and develop personalized and actionable treatment goals.

Utilizing continuous glucose monitoring in primary care practice: What the numbers mean

Use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been shown to improve glycemia control, reduce hypoglycemia, lower glycemic variability and enhance quality of life for individuals with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. However, many primary care physicians may be unfamiliar with the how CGM data can interpreted and acted upon. As adoption of this technology continues to grow, primary care physicians will be challenged to integrate CGM into their clinical practices. This article is intended to provide clinicians with practical guidance in interpreting and utilizing CGM data with their patients.

Use of ambulatory glucose monitoring and analysis of ambulatory glucose profile in clinical practice for diabetes management; a position statement of the Arab Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and diabetes

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Diabetes mellitus imposes a significant burden around the world generally and in the Middle East and North Africa specifically. Glucose monitoring is a cornerstone of diabetes management.

METHODS

Glycated haemoglobin has always been the main metric for assessing glycaemic control, but its use is linked with multiple pitfalls. As an alternative, continuous glucose monitoring is becoming a standard of care in many countries. Intermittent scanning glucose monitoring (isCGM) has acquired a worldwide popularity and has been proven to improve glycaemic control, hypoglycaemia detection and prevention, and quality of life.

RESULTS

The most recent International Society of Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes practice. guidelines recommended its use in young people with diabetes observing Ramadan to ensure safe fasting. At a meeting in Abu Dhabi in November 2019, the Arab Society for Paediatric. Endocrinology and Diabetes brought together a number of regional diabetes experts, patient. representatives and international expert advisors to review the evidence for isCGM and propose. guidelines for its use in the Middle East and North Africa region.

CONCLUSION

In this paper, the authors strongly recommend the use of isCGM for patients in MENA and present general recommendations and compressive specific guidance for physicians and patients, which they believe will also have wider resonance.

Using trend arrows in continuous glucose monitoring systems for insulin adjustment in clinical practice: Brazilian Diabetes Society Position Statement

This manuscript reports the Brazilian Diabetes Society Position Statement for insulin adjustments based on trend arrows observed in continuous glucose monitoring systems. The Brazilian Diabetes Society supports the utilization of trend arrows for insulin dose adjustments in patients with diabetes on basal-bolus insulin therapy, both with multiple daily insulin doses or insulin pumps without closed-loop features. For those on insulin pumps with predictive low-glucose suspend feature, we suggest that only upward trend arrows should be used for adjustments. In this paper, tables for insulin adjustment based on sensitivity factors are provided and strategies to optimize the use of trend arrows in clinical practice are discussed.

[The impact of «faster aspart» on blood glucose control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes treated using a sensor-augmented insulin pump]

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Post-prandial glucose control is essential to achieve metabolic goals in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The new «faster aspart» insulin has a pharmacological profile noted for its faster absorption and onset of action, and increased early availability, resulting in improved blood glucose control after meals. The main objective of the study was to analyse the efficacy of «faster aspart» vs. «insulin aspart» in children and adolescents with DM1 on sensor-augmented pump treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Multicentre, longitudinal and prospective analytical trial evaluating the use of faster aspart insulin for three months in children with T1DM with MiniMed640G® sensor-augmented pumps previously treated with aspart insulin. At the beginning and end of the study the following variables were analysed for subsequent comparison: mean sensor glucose, percentage of time in range, hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, area under the curve (AUC) < 70 and > 180 mg/dL, mean sensor glucose pre and postprandial in main meals, daily insulin requirements, basal/bolus percentage, and HbA1c. Acute complications, adverse events and satisfaction survey were assessed.

RESULTS

The study included 31 patients with a mean of 13.49 ± 2.42 years of age and with T1DM of 7.0 ± 3.67 years of onset. The use of faster aspart was associated with lower time in hyperglycaemia > 180 mg/dL (25.8 ± 11.3 vs. 22.4 ± 9.5; p = 0.011) and > 250 mg/dL (5.2 ± 4.9 vs. 4.0 ± 3.6; p = 0.04), lower AUC > 180 mg/dL (10.8 ± 6.5 vs. 9.3 ± 6.1; p = 0.03), and increased time in range (71.4 ± 10.0 vs. 74.3 ± 9.2; p = 0.03). No significant changes in hypoglycaemia, HbA1c, insulin requirements, and basal/bolus percentages were detected. Faster aspart was safe and well-evaluated by patients and caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Faster aspart achieves better glycaemic control by increasing glucose time in range in children and adolescents with T1DM on treatment with sensor-augmented pumps.

Hypoglycaemia and its management in primary care setting

Hypoglycaemia is common in patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes and constitutes a major limiting factor in achieving glycaemic control among people with diabetes. While hypoglycaemia is defined as a blood glucose level under 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), symptoms may occur at higher blood glucose levels in individuals with poor glycaemic control. Severe hypoglycaemia is defined as an episode requiring the assistance of another person to actively administer carbohydrate, glucagon, or take other corrective actions to assure neurologic recovery. Hypoglycaemia is the most important safety outcome in clinical studies of glucose lowering agents. The American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care recommends that a management protocol for hypoglycaemia should be designed and implemented by every hospital, along with a clear prevention and treatment plan. A tailored approach, using clinical and pathophysiologic disease stratification, can help individualize glycaemic goals and promote new therapies to improve quality of life of patients. Data from recent large clinical trials reported low risk of hypoglycaemic events with the use of newer anti-diabetic drugs. Increased hypoglycaemia risk is observed with the use of insulin and/or sulphonylureas. Vulnerable patients with T2D at dual risk of severe hypoglycaemia and cardiovascular outcomes show features of "frailty." Many of such patients may be better treated by the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists or SGLT2 inhibitors rather than insulin. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) should be considered for all individuals with increased risk for hypoglycaemia, impaired hypoglycaemia awareness, frequent nocturnal hypoglycaemia and with history of severe hypoglycaemia. Patients with impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia benefit from real-time CGM. The diabetes educator is an invaluable resource and can devote the time needed to thoroughly educate the individual to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia and integrate the information within the entire construct of diabetes self-management. Conversations about hypoglycaemia facilitated by a healthcare professional may reduce the burden and fear of hypoglycaemia among patients with diabetes and their family members. Optimizing insulin doses and carbohydrate intake, in addition to a short warm up before or after the physical activity sessions may help avoiding hypoglycaemia. Several therapeutic considerations are important to reduce hypoglycaemia risk during pregnancy including administration of rapid-acting insulin analogues rather than human insulin, pre-conception initiation of insulin analogues, and immediate postpartum insulin dose reduction.

Current status of continuous glucose monitoring among Korean children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) requires life-long insulin therapy because of diminished insulin-secretion capability. Glycemic control and glucose monitoring are important to prevent T1DM complications. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) measures glucose level, every one to five minutes, in the interstitial fluid from a subcutaneous sensor and facilitates better glycemic control, reduces hypoglycemia, and is safely used in the pediatric population. CGM can be categorized as retrospective, real-time, or intermittently scanned CGM, and all forms are available in Korea. The CGM device has 3 components: sensor, transmitter, and monitor/receiver. Key metrics of CGM include days of CGM application, percentage of time with CGM, mean glucose, glucose management indicator, glycemic variability, and use of Ambulatory Glucose Profile for CGM reports. CGM sensors and transmitters have been partly reimbursed by the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) since 2019, and 1,434 T1DM patients (male, 40.8%; age <20 years, 52.4%) in Korea were prescribed CGM as of December 2019. In Korea, the number of CGM users will increase due to reimbursement for CGM sensors and transmitters by the NHIS. Successful CGM use requires long-term policies to establish diabetes education and financial assistance. Clinicians should become well-acquainted with interpretation of CGM data and information updates to facilitate integration of CGM data into clinical practice among pediatric T1DM patients.

Practical guidance for using the FreeStyle Libre flash continuous glucose monitoring in primary care

Use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) improves clinical outcomes in type 1 diabetes, and significant benefits been demonstrated in patients with type 2 diabetes, including improved glycemic control, better treatment adherence, and an increased understanding of their treatment regimens. Currently, there are two types of CGM systems: real-time CGM (rtCGM) and flash CGM (FCGM). Retrospective analysis of CGM data allows patients and their clinicians to identify glycemic patterns that support and facilitate informed therapy decisions. With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, primary care physicians will be compelled to take on more responsibility for managing patients with diabetes. This article focuses on practical approaches and decision-making strategies for utilizing FCGM in primary care settings.

Use of Diabetes Technology in Children: Role of Structured Education for Young People with Diabetes and Families

The current era has witnessed an explosion of advanced diabetes technologies. Young people with diabetes and their families require detailed, structured diabetes education in order to optimize use of such devices. There is need for youth and their families to participate in the selection of particular devices for personal use and comprehensive education regarding the safe and effective use of such technologies. The education process should ensure that youth and their families receive realistic expectations of what the advanced technologies can and cannot do to avoid disappointment and the premature discontinuation of such systems.

Therapeutic Inertia in Pediatric Diabetes: Challenges to and Strategies for Overcoming Acceptance of the Status Quo

Despite significant advances in therapies for pediatric type 1 diabetes, achievement of glycemic targets remains elusive, and management remains burdensome for patients and their families. This article identifies common challenges in diabetes management at the patient-provider and health care system levels and proposes practical approaches to overcoming therapeutic inertia to enhance health outcomes for youth with type 1 diabetes.

Clinical Approach to Flash Glucose Monitoring: An Expert Recommendation

The flash glucose monitoring (FGM) system FreeStyle Libre® is a device that measures interstitial glucose in a very simple way and indicates direction and speed of glucose change. This allows persons with diabetes to prevent hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events. Scientific evidence indicates that the system can improve glycemic control and quality of life. To obtain the maximum benefit, it is necessary to properly handle glucose values and trends. Due to the generalization of the system use, the purpose of the document is to provide recommendations for the optimal use of the device, not only in the management of glucose values and trends but also in the prevention of hypoglycemia, actuation in exercise, special situations, and retrospective analysis of the glucose data, among others.

Monitoring of Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes

Regular self-monitoring of blood glucose levels, and ketones when indicated, is an essential component of type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. Although fingerstick blood glucose monitoring has been the standard of care for decades, ongoing rapid technological developments have resulted in increasingly widespread use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). This article reviews recommendations for self-monitoring of glucose and ketones in pediatric T1D with particular emphasis on CGM and factors that impact the accuracy and real-world use of this technology.

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.

Predictive Glucose Trends From Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Friend or Foe in Clinical Decision Making?

In this commentary, we briefly review the currently recommended approaches to interpretation and management of continuous glucose monitor (CGM) rate of change (ROC) trend arrows and discuss the inherent difficulty in incorporating practical recommendations for their application into routine clinical care. We have limited our review and discussion to the currently available Dexcom G5 and G6 CGM systems and Abbott's Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitor (FGM) system, as they are the most widely used and currently approved for nonadjunctive use in the United States.

Clinical Targets for Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data Interpretation: Recommendations From the International Consensus on Time in Range

Improvements in sensor accuracy, greater convenience and ease of use, and expanding reimbursement have led to growing adoption of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). However, successful utilization of CGM technology in routine clinical practice remains relatively low. This may be due in part to the lack of clear and agreed-upon glycemic targets that both diabetes teams and people with diabetes can work toward. Although unified recommendations for use of key CGM metrics have been established in three separate peer-reviewed articles, formal adoption by diabetes professional organizations and guidance in the practical application of these metrics in clinical practice have been lacking. In February 2019, the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) Congress convened an international panel of physicians, researchers, and individuals with diabetes who are expert in CGM technologies to address this issue. This article summarizes the ATTD consensus recommendations for relevant aspects of CGM data utilization and reporting among the various diabetes populations.

Clinical Targets for Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data Interpretation: Recommendations From the International Consensus on Time in Range

Improvements in sensor accuracy, greater convenience and ease of use, and expanding reimbursement have led to growing adoption of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). However, successful utilization of CGM technology in routine clinical practice remains relatively low. This may be due in part to the lack of clear and agreed-upon glycemic targets that both diabetes teams and people with diabetes can work toward. Although unified recommendations for use of key CGM metrics have been established in three separate peer-reviewed articles, formal adoption by diabetes professional organizations and guidance in the practical application of these metrics in clinical practice have been lacking. In February 2019, the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) Congress convened an international panel of physicians, researchers, and individuals with diabetes who are expert in CGM technologies to address this issue. This article summarizes the ATTD consensus recommendations for relevant aspects of CGM data utilization and reporting among the various diabetes populations.

Therapy Adjustments Based on Trend Arrows Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems use trend arrows to accurately display the anticipated glucose curve for the user. These are used for both "real-time" glucose monitoring and for intermittent scanning glucose monitoring. Trend arrow data are used by people with diabetes to make corrections to their glucose control. It is essential that they are correctly interpreted when adjusting insulin doses and to ensure that appropriate treatment decisions are made. The aim of this article is to provide general treatment guidance for diabetes teams and for people with diabetes using CGM in the context of trend arrows. This is based on previous recommendations for interpreting trend arrows without losing sight of the need for individual therapy adjustment.

Lag Time Remains with Newer Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring Technology During Aerobic Exercise in Adults Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices help detect glycemic excursions associated with exercise, meals, and insulin dosing in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the delay between interstitial and blood glucose may result in CGM underestimating the true change in glycemia during activity. The purpose of this study was to examine CGM discrepancies during exercise and the meal postexercise versus self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). Methods: Seventeen adults with T1D using insulin pump therapy and CGM completed 60 min of aerobic exercise on three occasions. A standardized meal was given 30 min postexercise. SMBG was measured during exercise and in recovery using OmniPod® Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM; Insulet, Billerica, MA) with built-in glucose meter (FreeStyle; Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL), while CGM was measured with Dexcom G4® with 505 algorithm (n = 4) or G5® (n = 13), which were calibrated with subjects' own PDM. Results: SMBG showed a large drop in glycemia during exercise, while CGM showed a lag of 12 ± 11 (mean ± standard deviation) minutes and bias of -7 ± 19 mg/dL/min during activity. Mean absolute relative difference (MARD) for CGM versus SMBG was 13 (6-22)% [median (interquartile range)] during exercise and 8 (5-14)% during mealtime. Clarke error grids showed CGM values were in zones A and B 94%-99% of the time for SMBG. Conclusion: In summary, the drop in CGM lags behind the drop in blood glucose during prolonged aerobic exercise by 12 ± 11 min, and MARD increases to 13 (6-22)% during exercise as well. Therefore, if hypoglycemia is suspected during exercise, individuals should confirm glucose levels with a capillary glucose measurement.

Analysis of "Performance of a Factory-Calibrated, Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in Pediatric Participants With Type 1 Diabetes"

Accuracy of sensors play an important role in the acceptance and long-term use of CGM which is related to improved glycemic outcome. This has been lower in children and adolescents in the past for reasons such as size of the device, pain, and necessity to calibrate sensors but also inaccuracy and perceived nonreliability on alarms among others. In the study of Welsh et al, performance of a new, factory-calibrated sensor was assessed. The accuracy of the sensor, as measured in MARD, paired values within 20/20% or 15/15% and surveillance error grid analysis showed very good results, although less so in low value range <70 mg/dL, falling rate of change, and on first day of use. Accurate glucose measurements especially in these incidences are of utmost importance to people with diabetes as their treatment decisions are based on these, also in the beginning of sensor use.

Freestyle Libre trend arrows for the management of adults with insulin-treated diabetes: A practical approach

Freestyle Libre (FSL) system is a new method to detect glucose enabling a new paradigm in glucose monitoring and self-management. The sensor, reading the interstitial fluid glucose concentration, provides a numerical data of glucose level and a trend arrow that add context to static measurement of glucose level. Therefore, patients could easily follow the progression of their glucose levels over the time, allowing early detection and timely treatment of deviations from targeted glucose level range, thus preventing extreme fluctuations. In order to take full advantage of the system both the caregiver and the person with diabetes must appreciate the need of careful interpretation of the data generated by the FSL. To this purpose we have generated recommendations that are based on methods suggested for CGM, our clinical experience and discussion with experienced patients using FSL, to provide a pragmatic approach to use FSL trend arrow data for managing diabetes in adults.

Reference Guide for Integrating Continuous Glucose Monitoring Into Clinical Practice

PURPOSE

Large randomized trials have demonstrated the efficacy of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in persons with type 1 diabetes and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this article is to provide basic knowledge about CGM technology, discuss the use of CGM data in clinical practice, and direct clinicians to online resources that provide comprehensive information and tools relevant to patient selection, education/training, and reimbursement.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective use of CGM requires all members of the health care team to become knowledgeable and skilled in integrating CGM into their practices and in teaching their patients how to safely incorporate CGM use into their daily diabetes self-management.

Advances in Glucose Monitoring and Automated Insulin Delivery: Supplement to Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines

Endocrine Society guideline recommendations on diabetes technology in adults originate from the 2016 guideline titled “Diabetes Technology—Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Therapy and Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adults: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.” Society recommendations on diabetes technology in children are contained in the 2011 guideline titled “Continuous Glucose Monitoring: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.” The field of diabetes technology is a rapidly advancing one, with new devices released annually and data from clinical trials published frequently. This report describes the most recent findings since the 2011 and 2016 guidelines were written, combining summaries of new literature with the authors’ clinical experience of new devices. Although we describe what we believe to be important scientific and technological updates since these guidelines were published, we are not advancing formal additions or amendments to previously offered recommendations.

Preserving Skin Integrity with Chronic Device Use in Diabetes

Skin integrity and diabetes device placement are ongoing concerns for people with diabetes who utilize continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pumps. This is especially significant for individuals with skin sensitivities, pediatric patients, and those who use devices chronically. Dermatological complications are often cited as a barrier to device use and a reason for device discontinuation. Furthermore, it is a frequent topic of discussion in diabetes follow-up visits, although little evidence-based literature exists to guide providers in managing skin integrity issues. The purpose of this article is to review current literature related to the prevalence of dermatological issues with insulin pumps and CGM, discuss published solutions to skin irritation, and to share the consolidated experience of our large academic diabetes clinic to address placement, prophylactic skin care, adhesives, removal, and skin healing with diabetes device use. Recommendations for targeted studies, increased surveillance, and development of new adhesive compounds are suggested to reduce the burden of device wear for management of diabetes.

Emerging Technologies for Diabetes Care

New therapies, monitoring, and revolutionary enabling technologies applied to healthcare represent an historic opportunity to improve the lives of people with diabetes. These advances enable more meaningful monitoring of blood glucose values with the facilitation of more optimal insulin dosing and delivery. Newer insulins and delivery systems are in development that seek to mitigate both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia and increase time in range. Information systems now exist that may be leveraged to merge data from previously discrete systems into new models of connected care. This review highlights important developments that serve to increase effectiveness while reducing the burden of diabetes care in the near future.