Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) are small devices that continually measure glucose levels under the skin, and transmit this information to a wireless device such as a receiver or cell phone. Two large multi-center studies recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) tested if these devices improved glycemic control or reduced incidence of life-threatening low glucose levels in two very unique populations: adolescents and older adults living with type 1 diabetes. The CITY (CGM Intervention in Teens and Young Adults with type 1 diabetes) trial was a six month randomized controlled trial that showed that CGM helps adolescents and young adults manage their type 1 diabetes more effectively, compared with daily use of blood glucose finger-stick testing. The CGM users saw significant reductions in their hemoglobin A1C levels and less time spent with severe high and low blood glucose levels.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a major problem in older adults with long-standing T1D as they don’t feel low blood sugar symptoms. Large randomized controlled clinical trial in older adults with T1D (WISDM) showed significant reduction in hypoglycemia and improvement in their A1c levels with the use of real-time CGM compared to finger-stick testing.
Barbara Davis Center clinical and research staffs, including investigators Laurel Messer, PhD, Viral Shah, MD and Paul Wadwa, MD, were involved in the conduct of both landmark clinical trials.
Links to the two press releases are found here:
Release 1 - "Study Finds Better Glucose Control for Young People Using Continuous Monitoring Devices"
Release 2 - "Continuing Glucose Monitoring Reduces Hypoglycemia in Older Adults With Type 1 Diabetes"
Links to the two articles are found here:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2767160
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2767159
