Study Shows CGM Benefits Extend to Those with Type 2 Diabetes
Study results published in the Annals of Internal Medicine show that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems can help patients with type 2 diabetes better control their blood glucose levels (BGLs).
The study, which was sponsored by Dexcom, is the second arm of the DIaMonD study (Multiple Daily Injections and Continuous Glucose Monitoring) that reported findings on users type 1 diabetes (T1D) earlier this year.
After 24 weeks, type 2 patients on multiple daily insulin injection therapy (MDI) who used the study’s CGM system lowered their average HbA1C levels from 8.5 percent to 7.7 percent. Patients with higher HbA1C baselines saw even more pronounced reductions—those with an A1C of 9.0 percent or higher saw an average 1.4 percent decrease. Meanwhile, the control group, which used finger prick tests and a standard BGM, saw their average A1C levels decrease from 8.5 percent to 8 percent. While the gain from using a CGM may seem modest, it’s actually statistically significant.
“This arm of the DIaMonD study is one of the first to examine how well CGM works for people with type 2 diabetes on MDI,” said Kevin Sayer, president and CEO of Dexcom, in a statement. “We are pleased to see a significant A1C reduction in this study, showing that the millions of people globally with type 2 diabetes on MDI insulin therapy can benefit from CGM use.”
According to the study results, the A1C reductions occurred with minimal change in insulin dosages or dosing regime. Furthermore, CGM users also reported decreased time in hyperglycemia and increased time in their target blood sugar range compared to the control group.
Traditionally CGMs have been used with those with type 1, but that trend may be shifting. In the study, CGM users reported high levels of satisfaction with the system. By the end of the study, 93 percent of the users were still regularly using the device, and they rated the benefits of the technology high and the hassles low.
Historically the approach is to give those with type 2 an insulin and treatment regime until it begins to fail before adding more medication. Monitoring, in theory, would allow patients with type 2 to have immediate feedback on their bodies and potentially avoid adding more medication.
Study participants ranged from 35 to 79 years old, with a mean age of 60. The study used the Dexcom G4® PLATINUM CGM System, which employs the same software as the current Dexcom G5® Mobile CGM System approved by the FDA for standalone use in insulin dosing.
