Real-time continuous glucose monitoring or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, what goes first?: results of a pilot study

Evaluation of the Adherence to Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Patients on Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy: The SENLOCOR Study

BACKGROUND

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy improve glucose control provided good adherence. In France, not only diabetologists, nurses, and dieticians but also nurses employed by homecare providers (HCPNs) are together involved in the initiation and/or follow-up of continuous subcutaneous insulin injection (CSII) and SAP training. The SENLOCOR Study is an observational study designed to assess SAP adherence over 6 months (primary objective). Secondary objectives included the impact of SAP on metabolic control and patients' satisfaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CGM initiation (M0) was performed within 3 months after CSII. CGM adherence, defined by sensor wear >70% of the time, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and satisfaction questionnaires were collected at inclusion and at 3 (M3) and 6 (M6) months.

RESULTS

The analysis population was 234 patients, including 27 children. Of the physicians, 88.0% were involved in SAP education for the whole cohort (median time, 45 min), whereas HCPNs were involved in CGM training for 190 patients (81.2%) (median time: at M0, 156 min; at M3, 20 min). Good adherence was obtained in 86.1% (M0-M3) and 68.9% (M3-M6) of the patients. The HbA1c level decreased from 8.16 ± 1.35% (M0) to 7.67 ± 1.01% (M6) in 189 patients (change, -0.48%; 95% confidence interval, -0.64, -0.33). The percentage of patients who experienced severe hypoglycemia decreased from 20.7% (M0) to 13.6% (M3) and 13.3% (M6). Satisfaction scores were high.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with type 1 diabetes, a 6-month training on SAP involving a multidisciplinary team, and especially HCPNs, improved metabolic control with a high level of adherence and satisfaction.

Clinical Efficacy of Two Different Methods to Initiate Sensor-Augmented Insulin Pumps: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim. To analyze clinical effect of a novel approach to initiate sensor-augmented insulin pumps in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients through early real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) initiation. Methods. A 26-week pilot study with T1DM subjects randomized (1 : 1) to start RT-CGM three weeks before continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CGM pre-CSII) or adding RT-CGM three weeks after continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CGM post-CSII). Results. Twenty-two patients were enrolled with a mean age of 36.6 yr. (range 19-59 yr.) and T1DM duration of 16.8 ± 10.6 yr. Higher adherence in CGM pre-CSII patients was confirmed at study end (84.6 ± 11.1% versus 64.0 ± 25.4%; P = 0.01). The two intervention groups had similar HbA_1c reduction at study end of -0.6% (P = 0.9). Hypoglycemic event frequency reduction was observed from baseline to study end only in CGM pre-CSII group (mean difference in change, -6.3%; 95% confidence interval, -12.0 to -0.5; P = 0.04). Moreover, no severe hypoglycemia was detected among CGM pre-CSII subjects during the study follow-up (0.0 ± 0.0 events versus 0.63 ± 1.0 events; P = 0.03). CGM pre-CSII patients showed better satisfaction than CGM post-CSII patients at the end of the study (27.3 ± 9.3 versus 32.9 ± 7.2; P = 0.04). Conclusions. CGM pre-CSII is a novel approach to improve glycemic control and satisfaction in type 1 diabetes sensor-augmented pump treated patients.

HypoDE: Research Design and Methods of a Randomized Controlled Study Evaluating the Impact of Real-Time CGM Usage on the Frequency of CGM Glucose Values <55 mg/dl in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes and Problematic Hypoglycemia Treated With Multiple Daily Injections

Systems for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) have been available for a number of years, and numerous clinical studies have been performed with them. Interestingly, in many of these studies patients with an increased risk of hypoglycemic events were excluded. In addition, in most studies subjects were using a pump for insulin delivery. Therefore our knowledge about the benefit of CGM in patients employing multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin is limited, especially when it comes to a reduction in the risk of low glucose events in high-risk individuals. We are planning to run a 26-week randomized controlled study in Germany (HypoDE, Hypoglycemia in Deutschland) that is focused on evaluating if such a reduction can be observed in patients on MDI with an increased risk of low glucose events. In all, 160 patients will participate in the study, randomized into the intervention group and control group. Ideally one would study if the frequency of severe hypoglycemic events is different between both groups. However, this would require such a large sample size and study duration, so for pragmatic reasons we will use low glucose levels <55 mg/dl (measured by CGM) for at least 20 minutes as a risk marker for severe hypoglycemic events. The results from the HypoDE study shall help determine the advantage of using CGM in subjects with type 1 diabetes with an increased risk of low glucose events treated with MDI.

Reduced Worries of Hypoglycaemia, High Satisfaction, and Increased Perceived Ease of Use after Experiencing Four Nights of MD-Logic Artificial Pancreas at Home (DREAM4)

AIMS

This study assesses the impact of using an AP-system at home on fear of hypoglycaemia. In addition, satisfaction and acceptance of the new technology are evaluated.

METHODS

In a multicentre, multinational study of 75 patients using the MD-Logic AP during four consecutive nights in home setting 59 of them (aged 10-54 years, 54% male, HbA1c 7.89 ± 0.69% [62.72 ± 7.51 mmol/mol], diabetes duration 11.6 ± 8.4 yrs) answered standardized questionnaires (HFS, adapted TAM, and AP satisfaction) before and after using the AP.

RESULTS

After experiencing the AP in home setting worries of hypoglycaemia were significantly reduced (before 1.04 ± 0.53 versus after 0.90 ± 0.63; P = 0.017). Perceived ease of use as a measure of acceptance with the AP significantly increased after personal experience (before 4.64 ± 0.94 versus after 5.06 ± 1.09; P = 0.002). The overall satisfaction mean score after using the AP was 3.02 ± 0.54 (range 0-4), demonstrating a high level of satisfaction with this technology.

CONCLUSIONS

The four-night home-based experience of using MD Logic AP was associated with reduced worries of hypoglycaemia, high level of satisfaction, and increased perceived ease of use of the new technology in children, adolescents, and adults.

The JDRF CCTN CGM TIME Trial: Timing of Initiation of continuous glucose Monitoring in Established pediatric type 1 diabetes: study protocol, recruitment and baseline characteristics

BACKGROUND

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been shown to improve glucose control in adults with type 1 diabetes. Effectiveness of CGM is directly linked with CGM adherence, which can be challenging to maintain in children and adolescents. We hypothesize that initiating CGM at the same time as starting insulin pump therapy in pump naïve children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes will result in greater CGM adherence and effectiveness compared to delaying CGM introduction by 6 months, and that this is related to greater readiness for making behaviour change at the time of pump initiation.

METHODS/DESIGN

The CGM TIME Trial is a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Eligible children and adolescents (5-18 years) with established type 1 diabetes were randomized to simultaneous initiation of pump (Medtronic Veo©) and CGM (Enlite©) or to standard pump therapy with delayed CGM introduction. Primary outcomes are CGM adherence and hemoglobin A1C at 6 and 12 months post pump initiation. Secondary outcomes include glycemic variability, stage of readiness, and other patient-reported outcomes with follow-up to 24 months. 144 (95%) of the 152 eligible patients were enrolled and randomized. Allowing for 10% withdrawals, this will provide 93% power to detect a between group difference in CGM adherence and 86% power to detect a between group difference in hemoglobin A1C. Baseline characteristics were similar between the treatment groups. Analysis of 12 month primary outcomes will begin in September 2014.

DISCUSSION

The CGM TIME Trial is the first study to examine the relationship between timing of CGM initiation, readiness for behaviour change, and subsequent CGM adherence in pump naïve children and adolescents. Its findings will advance our understanding of when and how to initiate CGM in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrial.gov NCT01295788. Registered 14 February 2011.

Lessons learned from a pilot RCT of simultaneous versus delayed initiation of continuous glucose monitoring in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes starting insulin pump therapy

Uncertainty remains about effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D). Success with CGM is related to CGM adherence, which may relate to readiness to make the behavior changes required for effective use. We hypothesize that readiness for change will be greater at initiation of insulin pump therapy than in established pump users, and that this will predict CGM adherence. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in children with established T1D comparing simultaneous pump and CGM initiation to standard pump therapy with delayed CGM initiation. We randomized participants to simultaneous pump and CGM initiation or to standard pump therapy with the option of adding CGM 4 months later. CGM adherence was tracked via web-based download and readiness for change assessed with the SOCRATES questionnaire. Of 41 eligible children, 20 agreed to participate; 15 subjects completed the study (7 males; baseline age 11.8 ± 4.0 years; T1D duration 2.7 ± 2.7 years; mean A1C 8.2 ± 0.8%). Six of 8 simultaneous group subjects used CGM > 60% of the time for 4 months compared to 1 of 7 delayed group subjects (P = .02). Using SOCRATES, we could assign 87-100% of subjects to a single motivation stage at baseline and 4 months. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of randomizing pump naïve children and adolescents with established T1D to simultaneous pump and CGM initiation versus standard pump therapy with delayed CGM initiation. Lessons from this pilot study were used to inform development of a full-scale multicenter RCT.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems: A Review

There have been continuous advances in the field of glucose monitoring during the last four decades, which have led to the development of highly evolved blood glucose meters, non-invasive glucose monitoring (NGM) devices and continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS). Glucose monitoring is an integral part of diabetes management, and the maintenance of physiological blood glucose concentration is the only way for a diabetic to avoid life-threatening diabetic complications. CGMS have led to tremendous improvements in diabetic management, as shown by the significant lowering of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in adults with type I diabetes. Most of the CGMS have been minimally-invasive, although the more recent ones are based on NGM techniques. This manuscript reviews the advances in CGMS for diabetes management along with the future prospects and the challenges involved.