Positioning time in range in diabetes management

Once-weekly Basal Insulin Fc versus daily insulin degludec for glycemic control in diabetes: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression

Introduction

Diabetes management often requires insulin therapy, yet adherence to daily injections can be challenging due to complexity, injection pain, and fear of hypoglycemia. Basal Insulin Fc (BIF) is a novel once-weekly insulin analog designed to simplify regimens, improve adherence, and enhance glycemic control. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of BIF compared to once-daily insulin degludec.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library, along with ClinicalTrials.gov, was conducted up to November 2024 to identify RCTs comparing BIF with insulin degludec. The search employed MeSH terms like "type 1 diabetes mellitus," "type 2 diabetes mellitus," "once weekly basal insulin Fc," and "insulin degludec." Studies were screened in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, and data on glycemic outcomes, safety, and patient demographics were extracted. Statistical analysis included pooled mean differences (MD) and risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic, and sensitivity analyses were conducted for cases of high heterogeneity. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses assessed moderators such as diabetes type, insulin status, follow-up duration, and heterogeneity.

Results

Five RCTs with 2,562 participants (Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes) were included. BIF showed non-inferiority to degludec in HbA1c reduction (MD 0.03, p = 0.37) and percentage time in range (MD 0.56, p = 0.27). No significant differences were observed in self-monitored fasting blood glucose (MD 2.73, p = 0.40) or clinically significant hypoglycemia (RR 1.00, p = 0.95). However, BIF increased time spent below range (MD 0.30, p = 0.0004) and was associated with higher treatment-emergent adverse events (RR 1.12, p = 0.006). The subgroup analysis highlighted differences in hypoglycemia risks between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion

BIF offers comparable glycemic control to insulin degludec while reducing injection frequency, potentially enhancing adherence. However, increased hypoglycemia risks in certain subgroups and higher adverse event rates warrant further evaluation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-025-01602-y.

A CGM-Based model for predicting hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes patients with TIR in target

AIM

This study aims to predict risk factors for hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and with time in range (TIR) > 70%.

METHODS

Data from 111 patients with T2DM who underwent CGM with TIR > 70% were analyzed. A hypoglycemia episode was defined as CGM-detected glucose < 3.9mmol/L sustained for at least 5 min. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between hypoglycemia and mean blood glucose (MBG), glycemic variability (GV) metrics [including mean amplitude of glucose excursion (MAGE), largest amplitude of glycemic excursion (LAGE), mean of daily difference (MODD), coefficient of variation (CV), standard deviation (SD)], and low blood glucose index (LBGI). A nomogram model was constructed, and its diagnostic performance was assessed. Data were bootstrapped 1000 times for internal validation, and a calibration curve was drawn to evaluate the model's predictive ability. Decision curve analysis was performed to assess its clinical usefulness.

RESULTS

Among the 111 included patients, 53 experienced hypoglycemic event during wearing CGM (47.75%). GV metrics were higher in hypoglycemia group, while MBG was lower. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the MBG, GV metrics, LBGI were independently associated with hypoglycemia. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) for the MBG-SD-LBGI model was 0.93 (95% CI = 0.88-0.97). The calibration curve showed good consistency between the predicted and observed probabilities. Decision curve analysis demonstrated strong clinical applicability.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a significant correlation between CGM metrics and hypoglycemia in patients with T2DM who achieved TIR > 70%. These findings suggest that CGM metrics can predict the risk of hypoglycemia in T2DM patients with a TIR > 70%, and the nomogram developed from these metrics holds strong potential for clinical application.

Assessing the predictive value of time-in-range level for the risk of postoperative infection in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cohort study

Aim

To analyze the correlation between preoperative time-in-range (TIR) levels and postoperative infection in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to evaluate the value of the TIR as a predictor of postoperative infection in patients with T2DM.

Methods

A total of 656 patients with T2DM during the perioperative period were divided into a TIR standard group (TIR≥70%) and a TIR nonstandard group (TIR<70%) according to the TIR value. Modified Poisson regression was used to analyze postoperative risk factors in patients with T2DM. All patients were subsequently divided into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 7:3. LASSO regression and the Boruta algorithm were used to screen out the predictive factors related to postoperative infection in T2DM patients in the training set. The discrimination and calibration of the model were evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and calibration curve, and the clinical net benefit of the model was evaluated and verified through the decision analysis (DCA) curve. Finally, a forest plot was used for relevant subgroup analysis.

Results

Modified Poisson regression analysis revealed that the TIR was a risk factor for postoperative infection in T2DM patients, and when the TIR was <70%, the risk of postoperative infection increased by 52.2% (P <0.05). LASSO regression and Boruta algorithm screening variables revealed that the TIR, lymphocytes, neutrophils, total serum cholesterol, superoxide dismutase and type of incision were predictive factors for postoperative infection in patients with T2DM (P<0.05). The calibration curve confirmed that the model predictions were consistent with reality, and the decision curve confirmed that the model had better clinical benefits. Finally, the results of the subgroup analysis revealed that in each subgroup, the risk of postoperative infection was greater when the TIR was <70% than when the TIR was ≥70%, and there was no interaction between subgroups.

Conclusion

The TIR is related to postoperative infection and can be used as a new indicator to predict the risk of postoperative infection in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Dynamic Interference Testing-Unexpected Results Obtained with the Abbott Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices

BACKGROUND

Sensors for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are now commonly used by people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, the response of these devices to potentially interfering nutritional, pharmaceutical, or endogenous substances is barely explored. We previously developed an in vitro test method for continuous and dynamic CGM interference testing and herein explore the sensitivity of the Abbott Libre2 (L2) and Dexcom G6 (G6) sensors to a panel of 68 individual substances.

METHODS

In each interference experiment, L2 and G6 sensors were exposed in triplicate to substance gradients from zero to supraphysiological concentrations at a stable glucose concentration of 200 mg/dL. YSI Stat 2300 Plus was used as the glucose reference method. Interference was presumed if the CGM sensors showed a mean bias of at least ±10% from baseline with a tested substance at any given substance concentration.

RESULTS

Both L2 and G6 sensors showed interference with the following substances: dithiothreitol (maximal bias from baseline: L2/G6: +46%/-18%), galactose (>+100%/+17%), mannose (>+100%/+20%), and N-acetyl-cysteine (+11%/+18%). The following substances were found to interfere with L2 sensors only: ascorbic acid (+48%), ibuprofen (+14%), icodextrin (+10%), methyldopa (+16%), red wine (+12%), and xylose (>+100%). On the other hand, the following substances were found to interfere with G6 sensors only: acetaminophen (>+100%), ethyl alcohol (+12%), gentisic acid (+18%), hydroxyurea (>+100%), l-cysteine (-25%), l-Dopa (+11%), and uric acid (+33%). Additionally, G6 sensors could subsequently not be calibrated for use after exposure to dithiothreitol, gentisic acid, l-cysteine, and mesalazine (sensor fouling).

CONCLUSIONS

Our standardized dynamic interference testing protocol identified several nutritional, pharmaceutical and endogenous substances that substantially influenced L2 and G6 sensor signals. Clinical trials are now necessary to investigate whether our findings are of relevance during routine care.

Beyond Digital Interventions: Human-Centered Design for Adolescents' Type 1 Diabetes Management in LMICs

Human-centered design (HCD) centers users' perspectives in the technology design process. This approach is widely used in ICTD to develop digital interventions for people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including mobile health (mHealth) applications. However, primarily using HCD to develop digital interventions limits understanding of how to design interventions for users who do not regularly use digital technologies, particularly smartphones. In this article, we contribute a case study documenting our collaboration with Kenyan adolescents and their caregivers to develop a prototype paper-based diary to support type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. We describe how outcomes from the project's user research and ideation phases-in particular, findings from two design workshops-contributed to the development of the diary. Our findings motivate a discussion about considering alternative HCD outcomes: in particular, non-digital interventions, new knowledge creation, and community-building.

Time in tight glucose range in adolescents and young adults with diabetes during Ramadan intermittent fasting: Data from real-world users on different treatment strategies

BACKGROUND

Time in tight range (TITR) is a novel glycemic metric assessing normoglycemia in individuals with diabetes.

AIM

To assess the attainability of the TITR (70-140 mg/dL) target in youth with diabetes using different treatment strategies during Ramadan fasting.

METHODS

This prospective study included 276 non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 426 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who were categorized into: multiple daily injections [MDI] + intermittently scanned CGM (isCGM), sensor augmented pump (SAP) and advanced hybrid closed loop (AHCL).

RESULTS

At the end of Ramadan, the mean TITR was 42.3 ± 6.6 % for all T1DM patients and 63.5 ± 4.0 % in T2DM (p < 0.001). The highest TITR was in T2DM group together with T1DM on AHCL (62.3 ± 11.6 %), followed by SAP group (37.7 ± 5.7 %) and MDI + isCGM group (23.6 ± 5.9 %, p < 0.001). Hypoglycemic episodes as shown by time below range (TBR) < 70 mg/dL and TBR < 54 mg/dL were minimal during Ramadan in AHCL group in comparison to before Ramadan (2.6 ± 0.7 versus 2.9 ± 0.9 %; p = 0.061 and 0.4 ± 0.1 vs 0.5 ± 0.1 %, p = 0.561, respectively) with a lower coefficient of variation (CoV) (p < 0.001) than other T1DM participants.

CONCLUSION

At the end of Ramadan, TITR was decreased in patients with T1DM except those using AHCL who had similar levels to non-insulin-treated T2DM patients. Advanced technology has the potential for achieving tight glycemic targets, along with a reduction in CoV, without increasing hypoglycemic risk compared with other insulin treatment modalities.

Diabetes remission in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus through short-term continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion intensive therapy combined with low-carbohydrate diet treatment

AIM/INTRODUCTION

To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy short-term continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) intensive therapy combined with a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) for diabetes remission in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who were randomly divided into two groups: conventional (conventional CSII + traditional lifestyle guidance); and intensive (intensive CSII + LCD lifestyle guidance). CSII was used for blood glucose control, with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) used to monitor blood glucose levels. The primary outcome measure was hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level; secondary outcomes included body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, glycemic control, and biochemical indices.

RESULTS

The time in range (TIR) in the intensive treatment group was greater than that in the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of hypoglycemia between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the conventional treatment group, diabetes remission rates were significantly greater in the intensive treatment group (P < 0.05). In the intensive treatment group, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, Homeostasis Model assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and changes in body weight, BMI, visceral fat area (VFA), and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) decreased significantly (P < 0.05). FPG, HOMA-IR, TG, LDL-c, and changes in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and VFA were significantly correlated with HbA1c levels (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of intensive CSII and LCD lifestyle guidance had been improved the remission rate in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Are Trends in Economic Modeling of Pediatric Diabetes Mellitus up to Date with the Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Latest Scientific Findings?

Background: Modeling techniques in the field of pediatrics present unique challenges beyond traditional model limitations, and sometimes difficulties in faithfully simulating the condition's evolution over time. Objective: This study aimed to identify whether economic modeling approaches in diabetes in pediatric patients align with the recommendations of clinical practice guidelines and the latest scientific evidence. Methods: A literature review was performed in March 2023 to identify modeling-based economic evaluations in diabetes in pediatric patients. Data were extracted and synthesized from eligible studies. Clinical practice guidelines for diabetes were gathered to compare their alignment with modeling strategies. Two endocrinology specialists provided insights on the latest findings in diabetes that are not yet included in the guidelines. A multidisciplinary group of experts agreed on the relevant themes to conduct the comparative analysis: parameter informing on glycemic control, diabetic ketoacidosis/hypoglycemia, C-peptide as prognostic biomarker, metabolic memory, age at diagnosis, socioeconomic status, pediatric-specific sources of risk equations, and pediatric-specific sources of utilities/disutilities. Results: Nineteen modeling-based studies (7 de novo, 12 predesigned models) and 34 guidelines were selected. Hemoglobin A1c was the main parameter to model the glycemic control; however, guidelines recommend the usage of complementary measures (eg, time in range) which are not included in economic models. Eight models included diabetic ketoacidosis (42.1%), 16 included hypoglycemia (84.2%), 2 included C-peptide (1 of those as prognostic factor) (10.5%) and 1 included legacy effect (5.3%). Neither guidelines nor models included recent findings, such as age at diagnosis or socioeconomic status, as prognostic factors. The lack of pediatric-specific sources for risk equations and utility/disutility values were additional limitations. Discussion: Economic models designed for assessing interventions in diabetes in pediatric patients should be based on pediatric-specific data and include novel adjuvant glucose-monitoring metrics and latest evidence on prognostic factors (C-peptide, legacy effect, age at diagnosis, socioeconomic status) to provide a more faithful reflection of the disease. Conclusions: Economic models represent useful tools to inform decision making. However, further research assessing the gaps is needed to enhance evidence-based health economic modeling that best represents reality.

Glucometrics and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Insights From the Correlation of Time in Range (CorrelaTIR) Study in Real-World Settings

Background This study aimed to measure the association between time in range (TIR) and other continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-derived glucometrics, quality of life (QoL), healthcare resource use (HCRU), and costs in persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in routine clinical practice in Spain. Methods This observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study evaluated persons with T1DM who received insulin via multiple daily injections. The study collected data on the participants (demographic and clinical), the use of the CGM devices, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for general and diabetes-related QoL, treatment satisfaction, work productivity and activity impairment, HCRU, and costs. Data were analysed descriptively. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to measure the association between glucometrics and PROs, HCRU and costs. Results Participants (N=114) had a mean age (standard deviation) of 44.53 (14.39) years, were 50.88% men, and 53.51% had glycated haemoglobin ≤7%. A higher TIR was significantly associated with better diabetes-related QoL but not with general QoL. HCRU and PRO scores for treatment satisfaction and work productivity and activity impairment showed no correlation with TIR. Higher TIR correlated with a lower number of emergency room visits. Conclusion Good glycaemic control (high TIR) is favourably associated with some aspects of diabetes-related QoL.

Seasonal fluctuations of CGM metrics in individuals with type 1 diabetes using an intermittently scanned CGM device or sensor augmented pump

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the fluctuations in glucose levels measured using CGM-metrics during the four distinct seasons of the year in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using an intermittently scanned CGM (isCGM) device or sensor augmented pump (SAP).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This retrospective, single-center study enrolled 93 individuals with T1DM who were equipped with an isCGM device or SAP at Kobe University Hospital. The subjects had a median age of 47.0 years [interquartile range, 37.0-62.0 years], 25 individuals (26.9%) were male, median body mass index was 22.0 kg/m2 [20.8-23.8 kg/m2], and median hemoglobin A1c level was 7.4% [6.9-8.0%]. CGM data were reviewed from January to December 2019, and the mean sensor glucose (SG) value, time above range (TAR), time in range (TIR), time below range (TBR), and standard deviation (SD) of SG were calculated for each season (spring, March-May; summer, June-August; autumn, September-November; winter, December-February).

RESULTS

Seasonal fluctuations were detected for mean SG, TAR, TIR, and SD, with TIR being lower and mean SG, TAR, and SD being higher in cold seasons (spring or winter) than in warm seasons (summer or autumn).

CONCLUSION

Seasonal fluctuations in CGM metrics should be taken into account in future studies performed to evaluate the favorable impact of CGM on glycemic management in individuals with T1DM.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee, ElSayed NA, McCoy RG, Aleppo G, Balapattabi K, Beverly EA, Early B, Bruemmer D, Echouffo-Tcheugui JB, Ekhlaspour L, Garg R, Khunti K, Lal R, Lingvay I, Matfin G, Pandya N, Pekas EJ, Pilla SJ, Polsky S, Segal AR, Seley JJ, Selvin E, Stanton RC, Bannuru RR. 6. Glycemic Goals and Hypoglycemia: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Personal and Social-Built Environmental Factors of Glucose Variability Among Multiethnic Groups of Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Research Protocol Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, Continuous Glucose Monitoring, and Actigraphy

Glucose variability (GV)-the degree of fluctuation in glucose levels over a certain period of time-is emerging as an important parameter of dynamic glycemic control. Repeated glycemic oscillations have been reported to be the link to diabetes complications. This prospective observational study aims to: (1) identify multilevel risk factors (personal and social-built environmental factors) associated with high GV; (2) identify "within-person predictors" of high GV leveraging the intra-person data to inform future personalized diabetes interventions; and (3) examine which lifestyle factors either mediate or moderate the relationship between emotional well-being and GV among diverse adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We will recruit 200 adults with T2D from the community. All participants will complete baseline surveys assessing demographics, lifestyle, social-built environmental, and clinical factors. Real-time dynamic glucose levels will be measured using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Sleep, physical activity, diet/eating, and emotional well-being will be measured with an actigraphy device and a real-time self-report tool (ecological momentary assessment [EMA]) across 14 days. Two 24-h dietary recall data will be collected by online video calls. Generalized linear models, multilevel models, and structural equation models will be developed to achieve the study aims. The findings from the study will identify high-risk groups of high GV who would benefit from CGM to improve diabetes outcomes and inform the future development of personalized just-in-time interventions targeting lifestyle behaviors with an increased understanding of GV and by supporting healthcare providers' clinical decisions.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Profiles and Health Outcomes After Dapagliflozin Plus Saxagliptin vs Insulin Glargine

CONTEXT

Glycemic variability and hypoglycemia during diabetes treatment may impact therapeutic effectiveness and safety, even when glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction is comparable between therapies.

OBJECTIVE

We employed masked continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) during a randomized trial of dapagliflozin plus saxagliptin (DAPA + SAXA) vs insulin glargine (INS) to compare glucose variability and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

DESIGN

24-week substudy of a randomized, open-label, 2-arm, parallel-group, phase 3b study.

SETTING

Multicenter study (112 centers in 11 countries).

PATIENTS

283 adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) inadequately controlled with metformin ± sulfonylurea.

INTERVENTIONS

DAPA + SAXA vs INS.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Changes in CGM profiles, HbA1c, and PROs.

RESULTS

Changes from baseline in HbA1c with DAPA + SAXA were similar to those observed with INS, with mean difference [95% confidence interval] between decreases of -0.12% [-0.37 to 0.12%], P = .33. CGM analytics were more favorable for DAPA + SAXA, including greater percent time in range (> 3.9 and ≤ 10 mmol/L; 34.3 ± 1.9 vs 28.5 ± 1.9%, P = .033), lower percent time with nocturnal hypoglycemia (area under the curve ≤ 3.9 mmol/L; 0.6 ± 0.5 vs 2.7 ± 0.5%, P = .007), and smaller mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (-0.7 ± 0.1 vs -0.3 ± 0.1 mmol/L, P = .017). Improvements in CGM were associated with greater satisfaction, better body weight image, less weight interference, and improved mental and emotional well-being.

CONCLUSION

DAPA + SAXA and INS were equally effective in reducing HbA1c at 24 weeks, but people with T2D treated with DAPA + SAXA achieved greater time in range, greater reductions in glycemic excursions and variability, less time with hypoglycemia, and improved patient-reported health outcomes.

Association of time in range with cognitive impairment in middle-aged type 2 diabetic patients

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the association of Time In Range (TIR) obtained from Blood Glucose Monitoring (BGM) with Cognitive Impairment (CI) inpatients with middle-aged Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and further explored whether a TIR goal for T2DM in adults with > 70% possess a protective effect on cognitive function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 274 inpatients with T2DM aged 40-64 years, who underwent seven-point BGM ( pre meals and 120 min post meals and at bedtime) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. TIR was defined as the percentage of blood glucose within the target range of 3.9-10.0mmol/L. Subjects were divided into Normal Cognitive Function (NCF) (n = 160) and CI (n = 114) groups according to the results of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The association of TIR and other glycemic metrics, calculated from seven-point BGM data, with cognitive dysfunction was analyzed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CI was 41.6% in patients with middle-aged T2DM (median age 58 years). TIR was lower in CI group than in NCF group (28.6% vs. 42.9%, P = 0.004). The prevalence of CI decreased with ascending tertiles of TIR (p for trend < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between TIR and CI (odds ratio [OR] = 0.84, p < 0.001) after adjusting for confounders (age, education, marital status, age at Diabetes Mellitus (DM) onset, cerebrovascular disease). Further adjustment of Standard Deviation (SD)(OR = 0.84, p = 0.001) or Coefficient of Variation (CV)(OR = 0.83, p < 0.001), TIR was still associated with CI. While a TIR goal of > 70% probably possessed independent protective effect on cognitive function (OR = 0.25, p = 0.001) after controlling for confounders above.

CONCLUSIONS

TIR obtained from BGM was related to CI in middle-aged T2DM individuals and a TIR goal of > 70% probably possessed a protective effect on cognitive function for middle-aged T2DM .

Beyond Hemoglobin A1c-Outcomes That Matter to Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes in Adopting Digital Health Interventions for Self-Management Support: Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes is a demanding chronic condition that requires diligent blood glucose monitoring and timely insulin administration by patients who must integrate self-management into their daily lives.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to better understand what outcome measures are important to individuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Ontario, Canada, to help inform the development of type 1 diabetes virtual self-management Education and support (T1ME) trial.

METHODS

A qualitative approach was used, in which we conducted 6 focus groups with a total of 24 adult participants living with T1D (from age 18 to >65 years) in Ontario. Each focus group was semistructured in nature; participants were encouraged to talk openly about their experiences with T1D self-management and provide their perspectives on more focused topics such as technology and relationships with health care providers.

RESULTS

An interpretive analysis helped us devise a framework for our results that centered around 6 main discussion themes: (1) adapting self-management to meet evolving needs, (2) looking "beyond A1c" toward more personalized indicators of glycemic management, (3) the benefits and challenges of adopting new T1D technology, (4) establishing trusting relationships with diabetes care providers, (5) perceived benefits of peer support, and (6) pre- and post-COVID-19 perspectives on virtual care.

CONCLUSIONS

Our goal is for these findings to help facilitate the development of patient-oriented outcome measures that are in line with the unique needs and preferences of T1D patients in this new, more virtual landscape of clinical care, education, and self-management support.

Rebound Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes

AIMS

The aim was to investigate rebound hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events, and describe their relation to other glycemic metrics.

METHODS

Data from intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring were downloaded for 90 days for 159 persons with type 1 diabetes. A hypoglycemic event was defined as glucose <3.9 mmol/l for at least two 15-minute periods. Rebound hypoglycemia (Rhypo) was a hypoglycemic event preceded by glucose >10.0 mmol/l within 120 minutes and rebound hyperglycemia (Rhyper) was hypoglycemia followed by glucose >10.0 mmol/l within 120 minutes.

RESULTS

A total of 10 977 hypoglycemic events were identified of which 3232 (29%) were Rhypo and 3653 (33%) were Rhyper, corresponding to a median frequency of 10.1, 2.5, and 3.0 events per person/14 days. For 1267 (12%) of the cases, Rhypo and Rhyper coexisted. The mean peak glucose was 13.0 ± 1.6 mmol/l before Rhypo; 12.8 ± 1.1 mmol/l in Rhyper. The frequency of Rhyper was significantly (P < .001) correlated with Rhypo (Spearman's rho 0.84), glucose coefficient of variation (0.78), and time below range (0.69) but not with time above range (0.12, P = .13).

CONCLUSIONS

The strong correlation between Rhyper and Rhypo suggests an individual behavioral characteristic toward intensive correction of glucose excursions.

Time-in-range derived from self-measured blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes advancing to iGlarLixi: A participant-level pooled analysis of three phase 3 LixiLan randomized controlled trials

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy of a fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine 100 U/mL plus lixisenatide (iGlarLixi) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) using derived time-in-range (dTIR).

METHODS

Participant-level data from LixiLan-L, LixiLan-O and LixiLan-G were pooled and dTIR (70-180 mg/dL), derived time-above-range (> 180 mg/dL) and derived time-below-range (dTBR; < 70 mg/dL) were calculated from participant seven-point self-monitored blood glucose profiles.

RESULTS

This pooled analysis included data from 2420 participants receiving iGlarLixi (n = 1093), iGlar (n = 836), Lixi (n = 234) or a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) (n = 257). Numerically greater improvements in least square (LS) means dTIR were seen from baseline to end of treatment (EOT) with iGlarLixi (25.7%) versus iGlar (15.8%), Lixi (11.7%) or GLP-1 RA (16.2%). At EOT, the mean (standard deviation) dTBR was 0.71% ± 3.4%, 0.61% ± 3.2%, 0.08% ± 1.0% and 0.0% ± 0.0% for iGlarLixi, iGlar, Lixi and GLP-1 RA, respectively. In a subgroup analysis, participants aged younger than 65 years (n = 1690) and 65 years or older (n = 713) showed numerically greater improvements in LS means dTIR from baseline to EOT with iGlarLixi versus iGlar, Lixi or GLP-1 RA.

CONCLUSIONS

iGlarLixi achieved improvements in dTIR, with low dTBR values, providing further evidence to inform clinical outcomes with the use of iGlarLixi.

Closed-Loop Insulin Therapy for People With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With an Insulin Pump: A 12-Week Multicenter, Open-Label Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial

OBJECTIVE

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) combined with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) achieves better glycemic control than multi-injection therapy in people with type 2 diabetes. The effectiveness of closed-loop therapy needs to be further evaluated in this population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study objective was to measure the impact of a hybrid closed-loop device (DBLG1) compared with CSII + CGM on glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes previously treated with CSII. The randomized, controlled, crossover, two-period, open-label, and multicenter study was conducted from August 2022 to July 2023 in 17 individuals (9 to receive 6 weeks of CSII + CGM first and 8 to receive 6 weeks of closed-loop therapy first). The primary end point was the percentage time in range (TIR: 70-180 mg/dL). Secondary outcomes were other CGM-glucose metrics, physical activity, and sleep objectively measured using 1-week actimetry.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed using a modified intention-to-treat approach. Mean age was 63 (SD 9) years and 35% were women. Mean HbA1c at inclusion was 7.9% (SD 0.9). TIR increased to 76.0% (interquartile range 69.0-84.0) during the closed-loop condition vs. 61.0% (interquartile range 55.0-70.0) during the CSII + CGM condition; mean difference was 15.0 percentage points (interquartile range 8.0-22.0; P < 0.001). Analyses of secondary end points showed a decrease in time above range, in glucose management indicator, in glucose variability, and an increase in daily insulin dose. Actimetric sleep analysis showed an improvement in sleep fragmentation during closed-loop treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Closed-loop therapy improved glycemic control more than did CSII + CGM in people with type 2 diabetes.

Patient, family and caregiver engagement in diabetes care: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

New treatments and technologies have advanced diabetes care; however, diabetes continues to have a major impact on the daily lives of affected individuals, especially among equity-deserving groups. Evidence from patient engagement literature suggests that involving diverse patients in healthcare can create cost-effective improvements and enhanced efficiency in care that has high patient acceptability and numerous health benefits, as well as improved provider satisfaction. A scoping review will be conducted to provide a cohesive and comprehensive understanding of patient engagement practices and the resulting outcomes.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The review will follow the recommendations for the conduct of scoping reviews developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Scoping Review Methodology Group. The review will include English-language literature published between 1 January 1990 and the present, searched through MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (Ovid), International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), Sociological Abstracts, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), Scopus, Social Sciences Citation Index and Campbell Collaboration; hand searches; and grey literature. Literature that describes conceptualisations of engagement, methods/strategies for engagement and/or evaluations of engagement across different levels of diabetes care, including direct care, organisational design and governance and policymaking will be included. The review will encompass quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies. Research that is secondary, published in languages other than English, or not specifically focused on patient engagement will be excluded. Screening and extraction will be completed by two independent reviewers and conflicts will be resolved by discussion or a third reviewer, with piloting at each step. Studies will be analysed through descriptive numerical summary and content analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

No ethical or safety considerations are pertinent to this work. The results will be disseminated to patients/patient advocacy groups, diabetes organisations, clinicians, researchers, decision-makers and policymakers by way of summary documents, infographics, meeting presentations and through peer-reviewed publications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

The protocol has been registered with Open Science Framework: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/KCD7Z.

Improving Diabetic Care Through Education and Innovation

Background: Despite the innovative advancements in diabetes care, providers may not recognize patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who qualify for a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device or the benefits of a telemedicine program for improving self-management behaviors. Objective: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to determine if an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)-led telemedicine program using CGM could improve glycemic control and self-management in patients with insulin-dependent T2DM. Methods: A 6-week telemedicine program was developed and implemented using the CGM's time-in-range to deliver patient-specific education. Clinical metrics were collected at each visit. All patients completed a pre- and postintervention Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire-Revised (DSMQ-R) survey. Results: A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that the telemedicine program had a statistically significant impact on time-in-range outcomes, F(2, 14) = 18.203, p < .001. Paired-samples t tests indicate that APRN-led education improved body mass index, t(8) = 4.232, p = .002; decreased systolic blood pressure, t(8) = 2.90, p = .010, and diastolic blood pressure, t(8) = 3.21, p = .007; and increased self-management skills as evidenced by DSMQ-R, t(8) = -5.498, p < .001. Conclusions: This QI project highlights multiple interventions for improving diabetes management in a primary care facility. Implications for Nursing: An APRN-led telemedicine program integrating CGM time-in-range data can improve glycemic control and self-management skills in patients with T2DM who administer insulin.

Potential Benefits of Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Predicting Vascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes: A Rapid Review of Primary Research

(1) Background: Chronic hyperglycaemia is a cause of vascular damage and other adverse clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Emerging evidence suggests a significant and independent role for glycaemic variability (GV) in contributing to those outcomes. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides valuable insights into GV. Unlike in type 1 diabetes mellitus, the use of CGM-derived GV indices has not been widely adopted in the management of T2DM due to the limited evidence of their effectiveness in predicting clinical outcomes. This study aimed to explore the associations between GV metrics and short- or long-term vascular and clinical complications in T2DM. (2) Methods: A rapid literature review was conducted using the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases to seek high-level evidence. Lower-quality studies such as cross-sectional studies were excluded, but their content was reviewed. (3) Results: Six studies (five prospective cohort studies and one clinical trial) reported associations between GV indices (coefficient of variation (CV), standard deviation (SD), Mean Amplitude of Glycaemic Excursions (MAGE), Time in Range (TIR), Time Above Range (TAR), and Time Below Range (TBR)), and clinical complications. However, since most evidence came from moderate to low-quality studies, the results should be interpreted with caution. (4) Conclusions: Limited but significant evidence suggests that GV indices may predict clinical compilations in T2DM both in the short term and long term. There is a need for longitudinal studies in larger and more diverse populations, longer follow-ups, and the use of numerous CGM-derived GV indices while collecting information about all microvascular and macrovascular complications.

Perspectives and Behaviors of People with Diabetes toward Time in Range and Glucose Control in Diabetes Management: An Online Survey

INTRODUCTION

This study assessed experiences, attitudes, and behaviors of people with diabetes (PwD) regarding diabetes self-management and glucose control, and their level of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward time in range (TIR).

METHODS

This quantitative survey was conducted using an online questionnaire across seven countries. Respondents were PwD classified into three subgroups: type 1 (T1), type 2 insulin (T2 insulin), and type 2 not on insulin (T2 N/insulin).

RESULTS

Respondents included 621 people in the T1, 780 people in the T2 insulin, and 735 people in the T2 N/insulin subgroups. Awareness of TIR was low, particularly in the T2 N/insulin subgroup (T1 53%, T2 insulin 29%, T2 N/insulin 9%). Despite a lower current use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) among the T2 insulin and T2 N/insulin participants (38% and 9%, respectively), versus T1 participants (64%), most (> 70%) were positive toward utilizing new tools and measures to self-manage blood glucose. Recommendations from their healthcare professionals (HCPs) were cited as a strong motivator to try new measures for analyzing glucose levels. The main barriers cited were limited access to CGM and lack of understanding of TIR benefits. Cost was the main reason given by ≥ 40% of respondents for stopping CGM use.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an unmet need in diabetes management, and TIR and CGM offer a potential solution. PwD are motivated to manage their blood glucose levels and are positive toward utilizing new tools and measures to achieve this goal. HCPs play a pivotal role in informing and guiding PwD on new measures for analyzing glucose.

Research progress on the association between glycemic variability index derived from CGM and cardiovascular disease complications

Currently, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has been widely used to assess the glycemic control of patients with diabetes. However, HbA1c has certain limitations in describing both short-term and long-term glycemic control. To more accurately evaluate the glycemic control of diabetes patients, the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology has emerged. CGM technology can provide robust data on short-term glycemic control and introduce new monitoring parameters such as time in range, time above range, and time below range as indicators of glycemic fluctuation. These indicators are used to describe the changes in glycemic control after interventions in clinical research or treatment modifications in diabetes patient care. Recent studies both domestically and internationally have shown that these indicators are not only associated with microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus but also closely related to cardiovascular disease complications and prognosis. Therefore, this article aims to comprehensively review the association between CGM-based glycemic parameters and cardiovascular disease complications by analyzing a large number of domestic and international literature. The purpose is to provide scientific evidence and guidance for the standardized application of these indicators in clinical practice, in order to better evaluate the glycemic control of diabetes patients and prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular disease complications. This research will contribute to improving the quality of life for diabetes patients and provide important references for clinical decision-making.

Ultra-stable insulin-glucagon fusion protein exploits an endogenous hepatic switch to mitigate hypoglycemic risk

The risk of hypoglycemia and its serious medical sequelae restrict insulin replacement therapy for diabetes mellitus. Such adverse clinical impact has motivated development of diverse glucose-responsive technologies, including algorithm-controlled insulin pumps linked to continuous glucose monitors ("closed-loop systems") and glucose-sensing ("smart") insulins. These technologies seek to optimize glycemic control while minimizing hypoglycemic risk. Here, we describe an alternative approach that exploits an endogenous glucose-dependent switch in hepatic physiology: preferential insulin signaling (under hyperglycemic conditions) versus preferential counter-regulatory glucagon signaling (during hypoglycemia). Motivated by prior reports of glucagon-insulin co-infusion, we designed and tested an ultra-stable glucagon-insulin fusion protein whose relative hormonal activities were calibrated by respective modifications; physical stability was concurrently augmented to facilitate formulation, enhance shelf life and expand access. An N-terminal glucagon moiety was stabilized by an α-helix-compatible Lys 13 -Glu 17 lactam bridge; A C-terminal insulin moiety was stabilized as a single chain with foreshortened C domain. Studies in vitro demonstrated (a) resistance to fibrillation on prolonged agitation at 37 °C and (b) dual hormonal signaling activities with appropriate balance. Glucodynamic responses were monitored in rats relative to control fusion proteins lacking one or the other hormonal activity, and continuous intravenous infusion emulated basal subcutaneous therapy. Whereas efficacy in mitigating hyperglycemia was unaffected by the glucagon moiety, the fusion protein enhanced endogenous glucose production under hypoglycemic conditions. Together, these findings provide proof of principle toward a basal glucose-responsive insulin biotechnology of striking simplicity. The fusion protein's augmented stability promises to circumvent the costly cold chain presently constraining global insulin access.

Significance Statement

The therapeutic goal of insulin replacement therapy in diabetes is normalization of blood-glucose concentration, which prevents or delays long-term complications. A critical barrier is posed by recurrent hypoglycemic events that results in short- and long-term morbidities. An innovative approach envisions co-injection of glucagon (a counter-regulatory hormone) to exploit a glycemia-dependent hepatic switch in relative hormone responsiveness. To provide an enabling technology, we describe an ultra-stable fusion protein containing insulin- and glucagon moieties. Proof of principle was obtained in rats. A single-chain insulin moiety provides glycemic control whereas a lactam-stabilized glucagon extension mitigates hypoglycemia. This dual-hormone fusion protein promises to provide a basal formulation with reduced risk of hypoglycemia. Resistance to fibrillation may circumvent the cold chain required for global access.

Pre-hospital glycemia as a biomarker for in-hospital all-cause mortality in diabetic patients - a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) presents a significant healthcare challenge, with considerable economic ramifications. While blood glucose management and long-term metabolic target setting for home care and outpatient treatment follow established procedures, the approach for short-term targets during hospitalization varies due to a lack of clinical consensus. Our study aims to elucidate the impact of pre-hospitalization and intra-hospitalization glycemic indexes on in-hospital survival rates in individuals with T2DM, addressing this notable gap in the current literature.

METHODS

In this pilot study involving 120 hospitalized diabetic patients, we used advanced machine learning and classical statistical methods to identify variables for predicting hospitalization outcomes. We first developed a 30-day mortality risk classifier leveraging AdaBoost-FAS, a state-of-the-art ensemble machine learning method for tabular data. We then analyzed the feature relevance to identify the key predictive variables among the glycemic and routine clinical variables the model bases its predictions on. Next, we conducted detailed statistical analyses to shed light on the relationship between such variables and mortality risk. Finally, based on such analyses, we introduced a novel index, the ratio of intra-hospital glycemic variability to pre-hospitalization glycemic mean, to better characterize and stratify the diabetic population.

RESULTS

Our findings underscore the importance of personalized approaches to glycemic management during hospitalization. The introduced index, alongside advanced predictive modeling, provides valuable insights for optimizing patient care. In particular, together with in-hospital glycemic variability, it is able to discriminate between patients with higher and lower mortality rates, highlighting the importance of tightly controlling not only pre-hospital but also in-hospital glycemic levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the pilot nature and modest sample size, this study marks the beginning of exploration into personalized glycemic control for hospitalized patients with T2DM. Pre-hospital blood glucose levels and related variables derived from it can serve as biomarkers for all-cause mortality during hospitalization.

Impact of the State of Emergency Declaration for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Pandemic Suppression on Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective To examine the impact of lifestyle changes caused by the first emergency declaration issued in 2020 on glycemic control and body weight changes in Japanese individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Methods This study included Japanese individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus who visited Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital between January 2019 and September 2020 (n=278). Seasonal changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and the body mass index (BMI) were compared. A self-administered questionnaire regarding changes in treatment, diet, exercise, sleep, and telecommuting was used to assess lifestyle changes. Results Although HbA1c levels decreased from winter to summer in 2019 and 2020, the annual change was slightly but significantly greater in 2020 than in 2019. Seasonal changes in the BMI between 2019 and 2020 were also significantly different. An increase in the daily insulin dose, overall blood glucose level, diurnal change in blood glucose level, and food intake were significantly associated with increased HbA1c levels. Furthermore, HbA1c levels decreased with increasing moderate physical activity and sleep duration. The change in the BMI increased with increasing insulin dose, overall high blood glucose levels, and food intake. However, an increase in moderate physical activity was associated with a decrease in the BMI. HbA1c levels were significantly lower after the first emergency declaration in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus than that before the emergency declaration, even after accounting for seasonal variations. Conclusion Decreased HbA1c levels were associated with a decreased food intake, increased moderate exercise, and increased sleep duration during the state of emergency. The BMI remained relatively unchanged.

Trends in clinical characteristics, medication use, and glycemic control in insulin-treated patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Finland in 2012-2019: Nationwide real-world evidence study

AIMS

To describe the clinical characteristics and medication purchases of insulin-treated adults in Finland at index (January 1, 2012 or first insulin purchase) and December 31, 2019. Additionally, to describe basal insulin (BI) treatment patterns and associated changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this descriptive study using nationwide registries, we included adults with at least two reimbursed insulin purchases within 12 months of the first purchase between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2019. We formed four study groups: type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D)-diagnosed people who were further divided into prevalent or naïve users (start of insulin use before or after January 1, 2012). Insulin treatment patterns were estimated from medication purchase data and glycemic control from HbA1c results.

RESULTS

Out of 145 020 people included, 34 359 had T1D and 110 661 T2D. By 2019, in parallel with the adaptation of new noninsulin medications, second-generation basal insulin (BI) analogues were adopted by 45.9% and 21.1% of prevalent T1D and T2D users. At index, HbA1c target (≤53 mmol/mol) was reached by 17% and 35% of T2D naïve and prevalent users, respectively, and by 17% of T1D prevalent users. At study end, the target was reached respectively by 41%, 34%, and 22% of insulin users. Insulin initiation improved and discontinuation worsened glycemic control in T2D, with lesser effects seen after treatment gaps or switches between BIs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that glycemic control in insulin users has remained stable or improved between 2012 and 2019 despite aging population and in parallel with introduction of new treatment options, providing valuable insight into Finnish national diabetes care.

Antidiabetic Close Loop Based on Wearable DNA-Hydrogel Glucometer and Implantable Optogenetic Cells

Diabetes mellitus and its associated secondary complications have become a pressing global healthcare issue. The current integrated theranostic plan involves a glucometer-tandem pump. However, external condition-responsive insulin delivery systems utilizing rigid glucose sensors pose challenges in on-demand, long-term insulin administration. To overcome these challenges, we present a novel model of antidiabetic management based on printable metallo-nucleotide hydrogels and optogenetic engineering. The conductive hydrogels were self-assembled by bioorthogonal chemistry using oligonucleotides, carbon nanotubes, and glucose oxidase, enabling continuous glucose monitoring in a broad range (0.5-40 mM). The optogenetically engineered cells were enabled glucose regulation in type I diabetic mice via a far-red light-induced transgenic expression of insulin with a month-long avidity. Combining with a microchip-integrated microneedle patch, a prototyped close-loop system was constructed. The glucose levels detected by the sensor were received and converted by a wireless controller to modulate far-infrared light, thereby achieving on-demand insulin expression for several weeks. This study sheds new light on developing next-generation diagnostic and therapy systems for personalized and digitalized precision medicine.

Q-Score Complements the Time in Range in the Evaluation of Short-Term Glycemic Control

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The Q-Score is a single-number composite metric that is constructed based on the following components: central glycemic tendency, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and intra- and interday variability. Herein, we refined the Q-Score for the screening and analysis of short-term glycemic control using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) profiles.

METHODS

Continuous glucose monitoring profiles were obtained from noninterventional, retrospective cross-sectional studies. The upper limit of the Q-Score component hyperglycemia' that is, the time above target range (TAR), was adjusted from 8.9 to 10 mmol/L (n = 1562 three-day-sensor profiles). A total of 302 people with diabetes mellitus treated with intermittent CGM for ≥14 days were enrolled. The time to stability was determined via correlation-based analysis.

RESULTS

There was a strong correlation between the Q-Scores of the two TARs, that is, 8.9 and 10 mmol/L (Q-ScoreTAR10 = -0.03 + 1.00 Q-ScoreTAR8.9, r = .997, p < .001). The times to stability of the Q-Score and TIR were 10 and 12 days, respectively. The Q-Score was correlated with fructosamine concentrations, the glucose management indicator (GMI), the time in range (TIR), and the glycemic risk index (GRI) (r = .698, .887, -.874, and .941), respectively. The number of Q-Score components above the target increased as the TIR decreased, from two (1.7 ± 0.9) in CGM profiles with a TIR between 70% and 80% to four (3.9 ± 0.5) in the majority of the CGM profiles with a TIR below 50%. A conversion matrix between the Q-Score and glycemic indices was developed.

CONCLUSIONS

The Q-Score is a tool for assessing short-term glycemic control. The Q-Score can be translated into clinician opinion using the GRI.

Dietary composition and time in range in population with type 2 diabetes mellitus-exploring the association using continuous glucose monitoring device

AIM

To understand the association between macronutrient composition of a diet with Time in Range (TIR), Time above Range (TAR) and Time below Range (TBR) derived using a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) device for 14 days.

METHODOLOGY

An exploratory analysis on the baseline data of 50 Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus participants with age 25-55 years, HbA1c upto 8% and on Metformin only) enrolled for an interventional clinical trial was performed.

RESULTS

Participants consuming adequate carbohydrates (CHO) of 55 to 60% of total calories had better Average Blood Glucose of 142.0 ± 24.0 mg/dL with a significance of p = 0.03 and Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) of 6.6 ± 0.7% significant at p = 0.01, than those with high CHO intake >60% of the total calories, with Average Blood Glucose - 155.0 ± 13.4 mg/dL and GMI - 7.06 ± 0.4%. Similarly, TIR - 68.2 ± 5.1% and TAR - 23.0 ± 10.8% was significantly better (p = 0.00) among those consuming adequate protein (12-15%) as compared to low protein (≤ 10%) with TIR- 61.0 ± 5.1% & TAR- 32.9 ± 10.3%. A correlation (r = -0.482 & p = 0.00) and simple linear regression analysis (R² = 0.33, F = 7.72, p = 0.000) revealed that when CHO intake increases the TIR decreases whereas TAR increases (r = 0.380 & p = 0.006). We did not find any significant relation between fat intake and TIR, TAR or TBR.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that lowering CHO, while increasing protein in the diet may help improve TIR. Further in-depth studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Effectiveness of Continuous Glucose Monitoring on Metrics of Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

To provide a systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizing the findings of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in the management of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on glucose control and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for RCTs that assessed the effectiveness of real-time CGM (rt-CGM) or flash CGM (FGM) in adults (≥18 years) with T2DM that reported on at least 1 of the following outcomes: hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), time in range, time in hyperglycemia, or time in hypoglycemia. The GRADE approach was used to assess certainty of evidence for primary outcomes.

RESULTS

Fourteen RCTs assessing CGM were included, with 825 patients in 9 RCTs using rt-CGM and 822 in 5 RCTs using FGM. Moderate certainty of evidence indicated that use of CGM had a modest but statistically significant reduction in HbA1c levels of about 0.32%. Our analyses of each device type separately showed similar reductions in HbA1c (0.34% and 0.33%, respectively, for rt-CGM and FGM), with trends for improvement in other glucose metrics favoring rt-CGM over self-monitored blood glucose.

CONCLUSION

Both rt-CGM and flash CGM led to modest but statistically significant declines in HbA1c among individuals with T2DM, with little heterogeneity in the results. However, the duration of the included RCTs was relatively short and few studies reported on important clinical outcomes, such as adverse events, emergency department use, or hospitalization. Longer term studies are needed to determine if the short-term improvements in glucose control leads to improvements in clinically important outcomes.

Determination of Time in Range Associated With HbA1c ≤7% in a Prospective Cohort of Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Three Months

INTRODUCTION

Finding a goal of time in range (%TIR) that defines good glycemic control is necessary. Previous retrospective studies suggest good concordance between HbA1c ≤7% with a TIR >70%; however, the studies that included the largest number of patients used blood glucose measurement data with a follow-up time of less than 90 days. This study defined the TIR value that best discriminates HbA1c ≤7%.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study of diagnostic tests based on a cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) treated with a hybrid closed loop (HCL) followed for three months. The ability of %TIR to distinguish patients with HbA1c ≤7% was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. We determined the %TIR cutoff point with the best operating characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 118 patients were included (58.1% women, 47% overweight or obese, and 33% with high glycemic variability). A moderate negative correlation (R = -.54, P < .001) was found between %TIR and HbA1c. The discrimination ability was moderate, with an area under the curve of 0.7485 (95% confidence interval = 0.6608-0.8363). The cutoff point that best predicted HbA1c ≤7% was %TIR ≥75.5 (sensitivity 70%, specificity 67%). The findings were similar among those with a coefficient of variation (CV%) ≥36%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the %TIR adequately identifies patients with HbA1c ≤7%. A target of TIR ≥75%, rather than the currently recommended TIR ≥70%, may be a more suitable value for optimal glycemic control.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee, ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Bannuru RR, Bruemmer D, Collins BS, Ekhlaspour L, Hilliard ME, Johnson EL, Khunti K, Lingvay I, Matfin G, McCoy RG, Perry ML, Pilla SJ, Polsky S, Prahalad P, Pratley RE, Segal AR, Seley JJ, Selvin E, Stanton RC, Gabbay RA. 6. Glycemic Goals and Hypoglycemia: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors as an adjunct to insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes assessed by continuous glucose monitoring: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Patients undergoing insulin-based therapy for type 1 diabetes often experience poor glycemic control characterized by significant fluctuations. This study was undertaken to analyze the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is), as an adjunct to insulin, on time in range (TIR) and glycemic variability in patients with type 1 diabetes, using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). In addition, we examined which type of SGLT2I yielded a superior effect compared to others.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and clinical trial registry websites, retrieving all eligible randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published up until February 2023. We analyzed the mean TIR, mean amplitude of glucose excursions (MAGE), mean daily glucose (MDG), diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), standard deviation (SD), total insulin dose, and severe hypoglycemia to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SGLT2Is. A random-effects model was also employed.

RESULTS

This study encompassed 15 RCTs. The meta-analysis revealed that the use of SGLT2Is as an adjuvant therapy to insulin led to a significant increase in TIR (MD = 10.78, 95%CI = 9.33-12.23, I2 = 42 %, P < 0.00001) and a decrease in SD (MD = -0.38, 95%CI = -0.50 to -0.26, I2 = 0 %, P < 0.00001), MAGE (MD = -0.92, 95%CI = -1.17 to -0.67, I2 = 19 %, P < 0.00001), MDG(MD = -1.01, 95%CI = -1.32 to -0.70, I2 = 48 %, P < 0.00001), and total insulin dose (MD = -5.81, 95%CI = -7.81 to -3.82, I2 = 32 %, P < 0.00001). No significant increase was observed in the rate of severe hypoglycemia (RR = 1.04, 95 % CI = 0.76-1.43, P = 0.80). However, SGLT2I therapy was associated with increased DKA occurrence (RR = 2.79, 95 % CI = 1.42-5.48; P = 0.003, I2 = 16 %). In addition, the subgroup analyses based on the type of SGLT2Is revealed that dapagliflozin might exhibit greater efficacy compared to other SGLT2Is across most outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

SGLT2Is exhibited a positive effect on improving blood glucose level fluctuations. Subgroup analysis showed that dapagliflozin appeared to have more advantages. However, giving due consideration to preventing adverse effects, particularly DKA, is paramount.

REGISTRATION

Prospero CRD42023408276.

Hyperglycemia and insulin infusion in pancreatoduodenectomy: a prospective cohort study on feasibility and impact on complications

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycemia is a risk factor for postoperative complications but its impact on outcome after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is scarcely studied. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the effect of continuous insulin infusion on postoperative complications and blood glucose, as well as to evaluate the impact of hyperglycemia on complications, after PD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred patients planned for PD at Skåne University Hospital, Sweden were prospectively included for perioperative continuous insulin infusion and a historic cohort of 100 patients was included retrospectively. Median blood glucose levels were calculated and data on complications were analyzed and compared between the historic cohort and the intervention group as well as between normo- and hyperglycemic patients.

RESULTS

Median glucose levels were significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the historic cohort up to 30 days postoperatively (median glucose 8.5 mmol/l (interquartile range 6.4-11) vs. 9.1 mmol/l (interquartile range 6.8-17) ( P =0.007)). No significant differences in complication rates were recorded between these two groups. The incidence of complications classified as Clavien ≥3 was higher in hyperglycemic patients (100 vs. 27%, P =0.024). Among hyperglycemic patients the prevalence of preoperative diabetes was higher compared to normoglycemic patients (52 vs.12%, P <0.001). In patients with a known diagnosis of diabetes, a trend, although not statistically significant, towards a lower incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula grade B and C, as well as postpancreatectomy hemorrhage grade B and C, was seen compared to those without preoperative diabetes (6.8 vs. 14%, P =0.231 and 2.3 vs. 7.0%, P =0.238, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Insulin infusion in the early postoperative phase after PD is feasible in a non-ICU setting and significantly decreased blood glucose levels. The influence on complications was limited. Preoperative diabetes was a significant predictor of postoperative hyperglycemia and was associated with a lower incidence of clinically significant postoperative pancreatic fistula.

Time in range and complications of diabetes: a cross-sectional analysis of patients with Type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of CGM parameters and HbA1c with diabetes complications in patients with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

METHODS

Patients with T1D using the CGM system Freestyle Libre were included in this analysis. The association of CGM-metrics and HbA1c with diabetes complications (any complication, microvascular complications, or macrovascular complications) was assessed using logistic regression unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes duration (model 1), and further adjusted for hypertension and dyslipidemia (model 2).

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-one patients with T1D were included. The mean (± SD) age was 37.4 ± 13.4 years old and the median T1D duration was 17.7 ± 10.6 years. Time in range (TIR) was associated with any complication and microvascular complications in the unadjusted model and in the adjusted models. TIR was associated with retinopathy in the unadjusted model as well as in model 1, and was associated with macrovascular complications only in the unadjusted model. HbA1c was associated with any complications, microvascular complications, and retinopathy in the unadjusted model but not in the adjusted models. HbA1c was associated with macrovascular complications in the unadjusted model and in the adjusted model 1.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cross-sectional analysis of patients with T1D using intermittent scanned CGM, TIR, and HbA1c were associated with complications of diabetes. TIR may be a better predictor than HbA1c of any complication and microvascular complications, while HbA1c may be a better predictor of macrovascular complications.

Current and future therapies to treat impaired awareness of hypoglycemia

In order to achieve optimal glycemic control, intensive insulin regimes are needed for individuals with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and insulin-dependent Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Unfortunately, intensive glycemic control often results in insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Moreover, recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia result in both the loss of the characteristic warning symptoms associated with hypoglycemia and an attenuated counterregulatory hormone responses. The blunting of warning symptoms is known as impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH). Together, IAH and the loss of the hormonal response is termed hypoglycemia associated autonomic failure (HAAF). IAH is prevalent in up to 25% in people with T1D and up to 10% in people with T2D. IAH and HAAF increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia 6-fold and 25-fold, respectively. To reduce this risk for severe hypoglycemia, multiple different therapeutic approaches are being explored that could improve awareness of hypoglycemia. Current therapies to improve awareness of hypoglycemia include patient education and psychoeducation, the use of novel glycemic control technology, pancreas/islet transplantation, and drug therapy. This review examines both existing therapies and potential therapies that are in pre-clinical testing. Novel treatments that improve awareness of hypoglycemia, via improving the counterregulatory hormone responses or improving hypoglycemic symptom recognition, would also shed light on the possible neurological mechanisms that lead to the development of IAH. To reduce the risk of severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes, elucidating the mechanism behind IAH, as well as developing targeted therapies is currently an unmet need for those that suffer from IAH.

24-h glucose level and variability in response to carbohydrate overfeeding assessed using continuous glucose monitoring system are associated with daily carbohydrate intake

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The quantity gap between daily and loaded carbohydrates may affects blood glucose response to carbohydrate intake; however, no study has investigated the difference in 24-h span. This study aimed to determine differences in the 24-h glucose levels and variability in response to single-day carbohydrate overfeeding based on daily carbohydrate intake in healthy Japanese men.

METHODS

Twenty male college students completed a 3-day dietary record and were divided into two groups based on whether their daily carbohydrate intake exceeded the median intake (H-CHO) or not (L-CHO). Thereafter, the participants consumed a high-carbohydrate diet (carbohydrate 8.1 g/kg/d) for 1 day. The 24-h glucose levels and glucose variability (CONGA1) were measured using a continuous glucose monitoring system.

RESULTS

The mean daily carbohydrate intakes in the L-CHO and H-CHO groups were 3.9 ± 0.5 and 5.8 ± 0.6 g/kg/d, respectively (p < 0.001). The peak 24-h glucose level was not differ between the L-CHO group and the H-CHO group (8.0 ± 0.8 vs. 8.0 ± 1.0; p = 0.886). The mean 24-h glucose level was higher in the L-CHO group than in the H-CHO group (6.0 ± 0.3 vs. 5.6 ± 0.3 mmol/L; p = 0.010). The CONGA1 was higher in the L-CHO group than in the H-CHO group (5.40 ± 0.41 vs. 4.95 ± 0.25; p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Mean glucose level and glucose variability in response to carbohydrate overfeeding were high in the individuals with small daily carbohydrate intake. These findings suggest that the large quantity gap between daily and loaded carbohydrates cause worse glucose control during carbohydrate overfeeding.

Real-World User and Clinician Perspective and Experience with MiniMed™ 780G Advanced Hybrid Closed Loop System

INTRODUCTION

The advanced hybrid closed loop (AHCL) MiniMed™ 780G system changes basal insulin delivery every 5 min and auto bolus in response to sensor glucose values. We assessed the performance of the AHCL system in real-world settings for individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) as well as user and clinician perspectives and satisfaction.

METHODS

We held two peer group discussions: one having adults with T1DM/parents of children and adolescents with T1DM to understand their experiences with the AHCL system and another with healthcare providers (HCPs). Responses from the discussions were analyzed and categorized into themes by two independent researchers, with any inconsistencies resolved by consensus. We also analyzed data from the system uploaded to CareLink personal software. Glycemic outcomes, including time in range (TIR), time below range (TBR), time above range (TAR), mean sensor glucose (SG) levels, glucose management indicator (GMI), sensor use, and percentage of time spent in AHCL, were determined.

RESULTS

The peer group discussions revealed numerous key themes and issues for each group, such as the significance of setting reasonable expectations, carbohydrate counting and bolus dosing, technical difficulties, and overall user experience. The users (n = 25; T1DM; 17 female; age 13.8 ± 7.49 years; A1C 6.54 ± 0.45%; duration of diabetes 6 ± 6.78 years) were very satisfied with the system. Most users experienced consistent blood glucose values with very few hypoglycemic episodes. However, there were a few limitations reported, such as hyperglycemic episodes caused by inaccuracies in carb counting, issues with sensor connectivity, and cannula blockages or kinking for those using insulin Fiasp. Users achieved a mean GMI of 6.4 ± 0.26%, TIR of 83.0 ± 8.12%, TBR (54-70 mg/dL) of 2.0 ± 0.81%, TBR* (< 54 mg/dL) of 0%. All of the users achieved a TIR of > 70%.

CONCLUSION

The use of the AHCL system in T1DM resulted in robust glycemic control, minimizing hypoglycemia. Providing training to both users and HCPs can help them use the system effectively.

Relationship Between Time in Range and Dusk Phenomenon in Outpatients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Purpose

The dusk phenomenon refers to a spontaneous and transient pre-dinner hyperglycemia that affects glucose fluctuation and glycemic control, and the increasing use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has facilitated its diagnosis. We investigated the frequency of the dusk phenomenon and its relationship with the time in range (TIR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Patients and Methods

This study involved 102 patients with T2DM who underwent CGM for 14 days. CGM-derived metrics and clinical characteristics were evaluated. A consecutive dusk blood glucose difference (pre-dinner glucose minus 2-hour post-lunch glucose) of ≥ 0 or once-only dusk blood glucose difference of < 0 was diagnosed as the clinical dusk phenomenon (CLDP).

Results

We found that the percentage of CLDP was 11.76% (10.34% in men, 13.64% in women). Compared with the non-CLDP group, the CLDP group tended to be younger and have a lower percentage of TIR (%TIR^3.9-10) and higher percentage of time above range (%TAR^>10 and %TAR^>13.9) (P ≤ 0.05). Adjusted for confounding factors, the binary logistic regression analysis showed a negative association of CLDP with %TIR (odds ratio < 1, P < 0.05). We repeated the correlation analysis based on 70%TIR and found significant differences in hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose, mean blood glucose, standard deviation of the sensor glucose values, glucose coefficient of variation, largest amplitude of glycemic excursions, mean amplitude of glycemic excursions, glucose management indicator, and percentage of CLDP between the two subgroups of TIR ≤ 70% and TIR > 70% (P < 0.05). The negative association between TIR and CLDP still remained after adjustment by the binary logistic regression analysis.

Conclusion

The CLDP was frequently present in patients with T2DM. The TIR was significantly correlated with the CLDP and could serve as an independent negative predictor.

Real-life 24-week changes in glycemic parameters among European users of flash glucose monitoring with type 1 and 2 diabetes and different levels of glycemic control

AIM

To evaluate real-life changes of glycemic parameters among flash glucose monitoring (FLASH) users who do not meet glycemic targets.

METHODS

De-identified data were obtained between 2014 and 2021 from patients using FLASH uninterrupted for a 24-week period. Glycemic parameters during first and last sensor use were examined in four identifiable groups: type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on basal-bolus insulin, T2DM on basal insulin, and T2DM without insulin treatment. Within each group, subgroup analyses were performed in persons with initial suboptimal glycemic regulation (time in range (TIR; 3.9-10 mmol/L) <70%, time above range (TAR; >10 mmol/L) >25%, or time below range (TBR; <3.9 mmol/L) >4%).

RESULTS

Data were obtained from 1,909 persons with T1DM and 1,813 persons with T2DM (1,499 basal-bolus insulin, 189 basal insulin, and 125 non-insulin users). In most of the performed analyses, both overall and in the various subgroups, significant improvements were observed in virtually all predefined primary (TIR) and secondary endpoints (eHbA1c, TAR, TBR and glucose variability).

CONCLUSIONS

24-weeks FLASH use in real life by persons with T1DM and T2DM with suboptimal glycemic regulation is associated with improvement of glycemic parameters, irrespective of pre-use regulation or treatment modality.

Glycemic Control and the Weight Benefit of a Daily 7 mg Dose of Oral Semaglutide Versus an Alternate-Day 14 mg Dose of Oral Semaglutide From an Ambulatory Glucose Monitoring Data: A Retrospective Cohort Study From Eastern India

INTRODUCTION

Oral semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) class of antidiabetic medication. High costs and GI side effects are the major limitations of its widespread use. Some patients who were on a 14 mg dose of oral semaglutide self-prescribed an alternate-day schedule to mitigate GI side effects and to reduce the cost.

METHODS

This retrospective observational cohort study evaluates the ambulatory glucose profile (AGP) data, extrapolated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and BMI of 11 types of 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) while they were on an alternate-day 14 mg dose of oral semaglutide compared to their record while on a daily 7 mg dose. The AGP metrics (time-in-range (TIR), time-below-range (TBR), and time-above-range (TAR)) along with extrapolated HbA1C and BMI were analyzed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Statistics version 21.0.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference in the AGP metrics between the AGP profile of a daily 7 mg dose and the AGP profile of an alternate-day 14 mg dose of oral semaglutide was observed. Interestingly, a statistically significant progressive decline in BMI value was observed even on the alternate-day 14 mg dose when compared to the daily 7 mg dose.

CONCLUSION

In this small cohort of patients, the metrics of short-term glycemic control and the extrapolated HbA1C values were similar for the daily 7 mg dose versus the alternate-day 14 mg dose of oral semaglutide. BMI showed progressive reduction which was statistically significant even with the alternate-day 14 mg dose of oral semaglutide.

Machine Learning-Based Time in Patterns for Blood Glucose Fluctuation Pattern Recognition in Type 1 Diabetes Management: Development and Validation Study

BACKGROUND

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for diabetes combines noninvasive glucose biosensors, continuous monitoring, cloud computing, and analytics to connect and simulate a hospital setting in a person's home. CGM systems inspired analytics methods to measure glycemic variability (GV), but existing GV analytics methods disregard glucose trends and patterns; hence, they fail to capture entire temporal patterns and do not provide granular insights about glucose fluctuations.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to propose a machine learning-based framework for blood glucose fluctuation pattern recognition, which enables a more comprehensive representation of GV profiles that could present detailed fluctuation information, be easily understood by clinicians, and provide insights about patient groups based on time in blood fluctuation patterns.

METHODS

Overall, 1.5 million measurements from 126 patients in the United Kingdom with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) were collected, and prevalent blood fluctuation patterns were extracted using dynamic time warping. The patterns were further validated in 225 patients in the United States with T1DM. Hierarchical clustering was then applied on time in patterns to form 4 clusters of patients. Patient groups were compared using statistical analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 6 patterns depicting distinctive glucose levels and trends were identified and validated, based on which 4 GV profiles of patients with T1DM were found. They were significantly different in terms of glycemic statuses such as diabetes duration (P=.04), glycated hemoglobin level (P<.001), and time in range (P<.001) and thus had different management needs.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed method can analytically extract existing blood fluctuation patterns from CGM data. Thus, time in patterns can capture a rich view of patients' GV profile. Its conceptual resemblance with time in range, along with rich blood fluctuation details, makes it more scalable, accessible, and informative to clinicians.

Glycemia Risk Index as a novel metric to evaluate the safety of glycemic control in children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: an observational, multicenter, real-life cohort study

Glycemia Risk Index (GRI) is a novel composite metric for the evaluation of the safety of glycemic management and control. The aim of this study was to evaluate GRI and its correlations with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics by analysing real-life CGM data in 1067 children/adolescents with type 1 Diabetes (T1D) using four different treatment strategies (intermittently scanned CGM [isCGM]-Multiple daily injections [MDI]; real time CGM [rtCGM]-MDI; rt-CGM-insulin pump [IP]; Hybrid Closed-Loop [HCL] therapy). GRI was positively correlated with High Blood Glucose Index (HBGI), Low Blood Glucose Index (LBGI), mean glycemia, its standard deviation, coefficient of variation and HbA1c. The four treatment strategies groups showed significantly different GRI with the lowest value in the HCL group (30.8) and the highest in the isCGM-MDI group (68.4). These findings support the use of GRI for the assessment of the glycemic risk and the safety of specific treatment in paediatric subjects with T1D.

Efficacy of polyethylene glycol loxenatide versus insulin glargine on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial

Objective: This trial aimed to evaluate the glycemic control of polyethylene glycol loxenatide measured with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with the hypothesis that participants given PEG-Loxe would spend more time in time-in-range (TIR) than participants were given insulin glargine after 24 weeks of treatment. Methods: This 24-week, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study was conducted in the Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Longhu Hospital, Shantou, China. Participants with T2DM, who were ≥45 years of age, HbA1c of 7.0%-11.0%, and treated at least 3 months with metformin were randomized (1:1) to receive PEG-Loxe or insulin glargine. The primary endpoint was TIR (blood glucose range: 3.9-10.0 mmol/L) during the last 2 weeks of treatment (weeks 22-24). Results: From March 2020 to April 2022, a total of 107 participants with T2DM were screened, of whom 78 were enrolled into the trial (n = 39 per group). At the end of treatment (weeks 22-24), participants given PEG-Loxe had a greater proportion of time in TIR compared with participants given insulin glargine [estimated treatment difference (ETD) of 13.4% (95% CI, 6.8 to 20.0, p < 0.001)]. The tight TIR (3.9-7.8 mmol/L) was greater with PEG-Loxe versus insulin glargine, with an ETD of 15.6% (95% CI, 8.9 to 22.4, p < 0.001). The time above range (TAR) was significantly lower with PEG-Loxe versus insulin glargine [ETD for level 1: -10.5% (95% CI: -14.9 to -6.0), p < 0.001; ETD for level 2: -4.7% (95% CI: -7.9 to -1.5), p = 0.004]. The time below range (TBR) was similar between the two groups. The mean glucose was lower with PEG-Loxe versus insulin glargine, with an ETD of -1.2 mmol/L (95% CI, -1.9 to -0.5, p = 0.001). The SD of CGM glucose levels was 1.88 mmol/L for PEG-Loxe and 2.22 mmol/L for insulin glargine [ETD -0.34 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.55 to -0.12), p = 0.002], with a similar CV between the two groups. Conclusion: The addition of once-weekly GLP-1RA PEG-Loxe to metformin was superior to insulin glargine in improving glycemic control and glycemic variability evaluated by CGM in middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM.

Early Insight Into the Retrospective Data of a Case Series on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Alternate-Day Dosing of Oral Semaglutide: Utopia or Reality?

Introduction Oral semaglutide, with a long half-life of seven days, is the first oral-based peptide drug and is used as an antidiabetic for the reduction of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Oral semaglutide, like other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs), is costly and has gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, especially with a 14 mg dose. In the real world, some type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients on 14 mg oral dose adopt an alternate-day strategy to minimize unwanted GI symptoms. In this study, we analyzed the ambulatory glucose profile (AGP) data of patients with T2DM who were on 14 mg alternate-day oral semaglutide therapy. Methods This retrospective observational study evaluated the AGP data of 10 patients on alternate-day dosing of 14 mg oral semaglutide. The AGP data over a period of 14 days on a single group of patients were analyzed without any control group or randomization and are presented as a case series. AGP monitoring, using Freestyle Libre Pro (Abbott, Illinois, United States), is a standard operating procedure of the endocrinology department for all T2DM patients who were put on oral semaglutide therapy. The AGP data of the glycemic parameters time-in-range (TIR), time-above-range (TAR), and time-below-range (TBR), were compared between the days when oral semaglutide was consumed (days-on-drug) versus the days when oral semaglutide was not consumed (days-off-drug). The statistical analysis was done with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results We applied the Shapiro-Wilk test (sample size <50) for normality testing; the TIR values of days-on-drug and days-off-drug showed high p values (p =0.285 and 0.109), respectively. This indicated that TIR values days-on-drug and days-off-drug were normally distributed. Although, the distribution of TAR and TBR values days-on-drug and days-off-drug, were not normal as they had small p values (p< 0.05). Hence, further analysis of the paired set of data was done using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. It revealed no difference in TIR, TAR, and TBR between the two groups (days-on-drug and days-off-drug). Conclusion Throughout the period of observation, the glycemic metrics (TIR, TAR, and TBR) remained steady with a 14 mg alternate-day oral semaglutide regimen.

Time in Range and Pregnancy Outcomes in People with Diabetes Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring

OBJECTIVE

 The international consensus on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) recommends time in range (TIR) target of >70% for pregnant people. Our aim was to compare outcomes between pregnant people with TIR ≤ versus >70%.

STUDY DESIGN

 This study was a retrospective study of all people using CGM during pregnancy from January 2017 to May 2021 at a tertiary care center. All people with pregestational diabetes who used CGM and delivered at our center were included in the analysis. Primary neonatal outcome included any of the following: large for gestational age, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, need for intravenous (IV) glucose, or respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Maternal outcomes included hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and delivery outcomes. Logistic regression was used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

 Of 78 people managed with CGM, 65 (80%) met inclusion criteria. While 33 people (50.1%) had TIR ≤70%, 32 (49.2%) had TIR >70%. People with TIR ≤70% were more likely to be younger, have a lower body mass index, and have type 1 diabetes than those with TIR >70%. After multivariable regression, there was no difference in the composite neonatal outcome between the groups (aOR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.16-1.92). However, neonates of people with TIR ≤70% were more likely to be admitted to the NICU (p = 0.035), to receive IV glucose (p = 0.005), to have RDS (p = 0.012), and had a longer hospital stay (p = 0.012) compared with people with TIR >70%. Furthermore, people with TIR ≤70% were more likely to develop hypertensive disorders (p = 0.04) than those with TIR >70%.

CONCLUSION

 In this cohort, the target of TIR >70% was reached in about one out of two people with diabetes using CGM, which correlated with a reduction in neonatal and maternal complications.

KEY POINTS

· Among people with diabetes, 50% reached the recommended time in range using CGM.. · Time in range >70% was associated with reducing the rate of some neonatal complications.. · Time in range ≤70% was associated with increased risk for adverse maternal outcomes..

Use of Continuous Glucose Monitors to Manage Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Progress, Challenges, and Recommendations

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) management has been revolutionized with the development and routine utilization of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). CGM technology has allowed for the ability to track dynamic glycemic fluctuations and trends over time allowing for optimization of medical therapy and the prevention of dangerous hypoglycemic events. This review details currently-available real-time and intermittently-scanned CGM devices, clinical benefits, and challenges of CGM use, and current guidelines supporting its use in the clinical care of patients with T1D. We additionally describe future issues that will need to be addressed as CGM technology continues to evolve.

Continuous glucose monitoring versus blood glucose monitoring for risk of severe hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

The effect of continuous glucose monitoring on the risk of severe hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis in patients with diabetes is unclear. We investigated whether rates of acute diabetes complications are lower with continuous glucose monitoring, compared with blood glucose monitoring, and which metrics predict its risk in young patients with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

In this population-based cohort study, patients were identified from 511 diabetes centres across Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland participating in the Diabetes Prospective Follow-up initiative. We included people with type 1 diabetes aged 1·5-25·0 years, with a diabetes duration of more than 1 year, who had been treated between Jan 1, 2014, and June 30, 2021, and had an observation time of longer than 120 days in the most recent treatment year. Severe hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis rates during the most recent treatment year were examined in people using continuous glucose monitoring and in those using blood glucose monitoring. Adjustments of statistical models included age, sex, diabetes duration, migration background, insulin therapy (pump or injections), and treatment period. Rates of severe hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis were evaluated by several continuous glucose monitoring metrics, including percentage of time below target glucose range (<3·9 mmol/L), glycaemic variability (measured as the coefficient of variation), and mean sensor glucose.

FINDINGS

Of 32 117 people with type 1 diabetes (median age 16·8 years [IQR 13·3-18·1], 17 056 [53·1%] males), 10 883 used continuous glucose monitoring (median 289 days per year), and 21 234 used blood glucose monitoring. People using continuous glucose monitoring had lower rates of severe hypoglycaemia than those using blood glucose monitoring (6·74 [95% CI 5·90-7·69] per 100 patient-years vs 8·84 [8·09-9·66] per 100 patient-years; incidence rate ratio 0·76 [95% CI 0·64-0·91]; p=0·0017) and diabetic ketoacidosis (3·72 [3·32-4·18] per 100 patient-years vs 7·29 [6·83-7·78] per 100 patient-years; 0·51 [0·44-0·59]; p<0·0001). Severe hypoglycaemia rates increased with percentage of time below target glucose range (incidence rate ratio 1·69 [95% CI 1·18-2·43]; p=0·0024, for 4·0-7·9% vs <4·0% and 2·38 [1·51-3·76]; p<0·0001, for ≥8·0% vs <4·0%) and glycaemic variability (coefficient of variation ≥36% vs <36%; incidence rate ratio 1·52 [95% CI 1·06-2·17]; p=0·022). Diabetic ketoacidosis rates increased with mean sensor glucose (incidence rate ratio 1·77 [95% CI 0·89-3·51], p=0·13, for 8·3-9·9 mmol/L vs <8·3 mmol/L; 3·56 [1·83-6·93], p<0·0001, for 10·0-11·6 mmol/L vs <8·3 mmol/L; and 8·66 [4·48-16·75], p<0·0001, for ≥11·7 mmol/L vs <8·3 mmol/L).

INTERPRETATION

These findings provide evidence that continuous glucose monitoring can reduce severe hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis risk in young people with type 1 diabetes on insulin therapy. Continuous glucose monitoring metrics might help to identify those at risk for acute diabetes complications.

FUNDING

German Center for Diabetes Research, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, German Diabetes Association, and Robert Koch Institute.