Continuous Glucose Monitoring Improves Glycemic Control in Patients Using Multiple Insulin Injections

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM; subcutaneous glucose sensing and feedback with high and low glucose alerts) improves glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes who use insulin pumps. In two studies, researchers assessed CGM in type 1 diabetic patients without good glycemic control who were using multiple insulin injections. In both studies, mean participant age was about 45, average duration of diabetes was about 20 years, and mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) level was about 8.6%.

In a U.S. study, 158 patients were randomized to CGM or to home blood glucose monitoring at least four times daily. At 24 weeks, mean HbA_1c levels were reduced by 1.0% in the CGM group and 0.4% in the control group — a significant difference. Severe …