Effect of Continuous Glucose Monitoring on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Basal Insulin: A Randomized Clinical Trial
RCT (n=175 with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes) found CGM resulted in better glycaemic control vs. blood glucose meter monitoring (BGM) in this population (mean HbA1c decreased from 9.1% at baseline to 8.0% at 8 months with CGM vs. from 9.0% to 8.4% with BGM; p =0.02)
Source:
Journal of the American Medical Association
SPS commentary:
Data from a retrospective cohort study (n= 5673 type 1 & n=36,080 type 2 diabetes) found use of real-time CGM vs. nonuse linked to significantly lower HbA1c (difference, −0.40%; p< 0.001) and lower rates of emergency visits or hospitalisations for hypoglycaemia (difference, −2.73%; p = 0.001).
According to an editorial, these studies are important because they confirm that CGM is a technology that can be effectively used by patients with type 2 diabetes to improve glycaemic control in terms of improved HbA1c level, time spent in the target blood glucose range, and reduced hypoglycaemic episodes. It notes the glycaemic benefits may be primarily due to patient factors, such as insulin adherence and lifestyle modifications, and provide a powerful narrative that CGM may be a useful technology that helps control diabetes among multiple patient groups.