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Continuous Monitoring Better for Diabetes

Published:
29-Dec-2004

Ivanhoe Newswire, December 29 -- Doctors warn it’s very important for people with diabetes to keep close track of their glucose levels. A new study shows a continuous monitoring system may help patients achieve better results.

The Continuous Glucose Monitoring System provides a complete, retrospective picture of glycemic control because it increases the number of glucose readings available to make appropriate changes. Doctors can download the information and make adjustments to insulin therapy, food intake, and activity level for patients. Therapy adjustments based on CGMS downloads have shown improvements in average blood sugar levels as well as bouts of hypoglycemia (or dangerously low blood sugar levels). However, the studies that have shown this have not compared CGMS to frequent self-monitoring of blood sugar levels, in which the patient pricks his finger to get readings throughout the day. So is CGMS better than self-monitoring of blood glucose? A new study takes on this question.

Researchers from Brody School of Medicine in Greenville, N.C., assigned more than 100 people with diabetes to either the CGMS or self-monitoring group. At the beginning of the study, there were no differences between the two groups when it came to blood sugar control. The patients were followed for nine months. Comparisons were made at the end of the study to test differences in blood sugar levels and hypoglycemia between the two groups.

Researchers write, "Patients who had therapy adjustments based on CGMS downloads had significant improvements in (blood sugar levels) from [their individual] baseline values at week eight and at week 12." Similar improvements were also seen in the self-monitoring group. However, the CGMS group had a significantly shorter duration of time they experienced low blood sugar episodes. The average length of time a patient in the self-monitoring group spent with their blood sugar being too low was 81 minutes. That's compared to only 49 minutes per event in the CGMS group.

Authors conclude, "The CGMS-guided therapy adjustments can be used to improve glycemic control in patients with insulin-treated diabetes without the risk of hypoglycemia compared with therapy adjustments based on [self-monitoring] values alone."

SOURCE: Mayo Clinical Proceedings, 2004;79:1521-1526