Continuous glucose monitoring for children with hypoglycaemia: Evidence in 2023

First Accuracy and User-Experience Evaluation of New Continuous Glucose Monitoring System for Hypoglycemia Due to Hyperinsulinism

INTRODUCTION

Patients with congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) require constant glucose monitoring to detect and treat recurrent and severe hypoglycemia. Historically, this has been achieved with intermittent self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG), but patients are increasingly using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Given the rapidity of CGM device development, and increasing calls for CGM use from HI families, it is vital that new devices are evaluated early.

METHODS

We provided two months of supplies for the new Dexcom G7 CGM device to 10 patients with HI who had recently finished using the Dexcom G6. Self-monitoring blood glucose was performed concurrently with paired readings providing accuracy calculations. Patients and families completed questionnaires about device use at the end of the two-month study period.

RESULTS

Compared to the G6, the G7 showed a significant reduction in mean absolute relative difference (25%-18%, P < .001) and in the over-read error (Bland Altman +1.96 SD; 3.54 mmol/L to 2.95 mmol/L). This resulted in an improvement in hypoglycemia detection from 42% to 62% (P < .001). Families reported an overall preference for the G7 but highlighted concerns about high sensor failure rates.

DISCUSSION

The reduction in mean absolute relative difference and over-read error and the improvement in hypoglycemia detection implies that the G7 is a safer and more useful device in the management of hypoglycemia for patients with HI. Accuracy, while improved from previous devices, remains suboptimal with 40% of hypoglycemia episodes not detected.

Artificial intelligence in paediatric endocrinology: conflict or cooperation

Artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine is transforming healthcare by automating system tasks, assisting in diagnostics, predicting patient outcomes and personalising patient care, founded on the ability to analyse vast datasets. In paediatric endocrinology, AI has been developed for diabetes, for insulin dose adjustment, detection of hypoglycaemia and retinopathy screening; bone age assessment and thyroid nodule screening; the identification of growth disorders; the diagnosis of precocious puberty; and the use of facial recognition algorithms in conditions such as Cushing syndrome, acromegaly, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Turner syndrome. AI can also predict those most at risk from childhood obesity by stratifying future interventions to modify lifestyle. AI will facilitate personalised healthcare by integrating data from 'omics' analysis, lifestyle tracking, medical history, laboratory and imaging, therapy response and treatment adherence from multiple sources. As data acquisition and processing becomes fundamental, data privacy and protecting children's health data is crucial. Minimising algorithmic bias generated by AI analysis for rare conditions seen in paediatric endocrinology is an important determinant of AI validity in clinical practice. AI cannot create the patient-doctor relationship or assess the wider holistic determinants of care. Children have individual needs and vulnerabilities and are considered in the context of family relationships and dynamics. Importantly, whilst AI provides value through augmenting efficiency and accuracy, it must not be used to replace clinical skills.

Treatment recommendations for glycogen storage disease type IB- associated neutropenia and neutrophil dysfunction with empagliflozin: Consensus from an international workshop

Glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD Ib, biallelic variants in SLC37A4) is a rare disorder of glycogen metabolism complicated by neutropenia/neutrophil dysfunction. Since 2019, the SGLT2-inhibitor empagliflozin has provided a mechanism-based treatment option for the symptoms caused by neutropenia/neutrophil dysfunction (e.g. mucosal lesions, inflammatory bowel disease). Because of the rarity of GSD Ib, the published evidence on safety and efficacy of empagliflozin is still limited and does not allow to develop evidence-based guidelines. Here, an international group of experts provides 14 best practice consensus treatment recommendations based on expert practice and review of the published evidence. We recommend to start empagliflozin in all GSD Ib individuals with clinical or laboratory signs related to neutropenia/neutrophil dysfunction with a dose of 0.3-0.4 mg/kg/d given as a single dose in the morning. Treatment can be started in an outpatient setting. The dose should be adapted to the weight and in case of inadequate clinical treatment response or side effects. We strongly recommend to pause empagliflozin immediately in case of threatening dehydration and before planned longer surgeries. Discontinuation of G-CSF therapy should be attempted in all individuals. If available, 1,5-AG should be monitored. Individuals who have previously not tolerated starches should be encouraged to make a new attempt to introduce starch in their diet after initiation of empagliflozin treatment. We advise to monitor certain safety and efficacy parameters and recommend continuous, alternatively frequent glucose measurements during the introduction of empagliflozin. We provide specific recommendations for special circumstances like pregnancy and liver transplantation.

The use of CGM to identify hypoglycemia and glycemic patterns in congenital hyperinsulinism

OBJECTIVES

Unrecognized hypoglycemia, especially in the neonatal population, is a significant cause of morbidity and poor neurologic outcomes. Children with congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) are at risk of hypoglycemia and point of care testing (POCT) is the standard of care. Studies have shown that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) improves glycemic control and reduces the frequency of hypoglycemia among children with type 1 diabetes. There is limited experience with the use of CGM in children with HI. To assess the glycemic pattern of children with HI on stable therapy and evaluate the frequency of undetected hypoglycemia using Dexcom G6® CGM.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, observational pilot study was done in 10 children, ages 3 months to 17 years. Each child had a clinical or genetic diagnosis of HI on stable medical therapy. Participants were asked to continue their usual POCT blood glucose monitoring, as well as wear a blinded Dexcom G6® CGM during a 20-day study period with the potential of unblinding if there was severe hypoglycemia detected during the study trial.

RESULTS

During the study period, 26 hypoglycemic events were noted by CGM in 60 % of the participants with 45 % occurring between 0600 and 0800.

CONCLUSIONS

CGM can help detect hypoglycemia and blood glucose trends during a time when there is usually no POCT, which can guide medical management. 30 % of our population had a dose adjustment in their medications. This study was limited by population size.

Standardised practices in the networked management of congenital hyperinsulinism: a UK national collaborative consensus

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a condition characterised by severe and recurrent hypoglycaemia in infants and young children caused by inappropriate insulin over-secretion. CHI is of heterogeneous aetiology with a significant genetic component and is often unresponsive to standard medical therapy options. The treatment of CHI can be multifaceted and complex, requiring multidisciplinary input. It is important to manage hypoglycaemia in CHI promptly as the risk of long-term neurodisability arising from neuroglycopaenia is high. The UK CHI consensus on the practice and management of CHI was developed to optimise and harmonise clinical management of patients in centres specialising in CHI as well as in non-specialist centres engaged in collaborative, networked models of care. Using current best practice and a consensus approach, it provides guidance and practical advice in the domains of diagnosis, clinical assessment and treatment to mitigate hypoglycaemia risk and improve long term outcomes for health and well-being.

The Utility and Safety of a Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) in Asphyxiated Neonates during Therapeutic Hypothermia

BACKGROUND

The present study was designed to assess the feasibility and reliability of a Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) in a population of asphyxiated neonates during therapeutic hypothermia.

METHODS

This non-randomized feasibility study was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) facilities of Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCSS. Infants matching the criteria for hypothermic treatment were included in this study and were connected to the CGMS (Medtronic, Northridge, CA, USA) within the first 12 h of life. Hypoglycemia was defined as a glucose value ≤ 47 mg/dL, and hyperglycemia was defined as a glucose value ≥ 180 mg/dL. Data obtained via the CGMS were compared with those obtained via a point-of-care blood glucometer (GTX).

RESULTS

The two measuring techniques were compared using the Modified Clarke Error Grid (MCEG). Sixteen infants were enrolled. The sensor had an average (standard deviation) duration of 93 (38) h. We collected 119 pairs of glycemia values (CGMVs) from the CGMS vs. GTX measurements. The CGMS detected twenty-five episodes of hypoglycemia and three episodes of hyperglycemia. All the CGMVs indicating hyperglycemia matched with the blood sample taken via the point-of-care glucometer.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a CGMS would be useful as it could detect more episodes of disglycemia than standard care. Our data show poor results in terms of the accuracy of the CGMS in this particular setting.

Current understanding on pathogenesis and effective treatment of glycogen storage disease type Ib with empagliflozin: new insights coming from diabetes for its potential implications in other metabolic disorders

Glycogen storage type Ib (GSDIb) is a rare inborn error of metabolism caused by glucose-6-phosphate transporter (G6PT, SLC37A4) deficiency. G6PT defect results in excessive accumulation of glycogen and fat in the liver, kidney, and intestinal mucosa and into both glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis impairment. Clinical features include hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, lactic acidemia, hyperuricemia, hyperlipidemia, and growth retardation. Long-term complications are liver adenoma, hepatocarcinoma, nephropathy and osteoporosis. The hallmark of GSDIb is neutropenia, with impaired neutrophil function, recurrent infections and inflammatory bowel disease. Alongside classical nutritional therapy with carbohydrates supplementation and immunological therapy with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, the emerging role of 1,5-anhydroglucitol in the pathogenesis of neutrophil dysfunction led to repurpose empagliflozin, an inhibitor of the renal glucose transporter SGLT2: the current literature of its off-label use in GSDIb patients reports beneficial effects on neutrophil dysfunction and its clinical consequences. Surprisingly, this glucose-lowering drug ameliorated the glycemic and metabolic control in GSDIb patients. Furthermore, numerous studies from big cohorts of type 2 diabetes patients showed the efficacy of empagliflozin in reducing the cardiovascular risk, the progression of kidney disease, the NAFLD and the metabolic syndrome. Beneficial effects have also been described on peripheral neuropathy in a prediabetic rat model. Increasing evidences highlight the role of empagliflozin in regulating the cellular energy sensors SIRT1/AMPK and Akt/mTOR, which leads to improvement of mitochondrial structure and function, stimulation of autophagy, decrease of oxidative stress and suppression of inflammation. Modulation of these pathways shift the oxidative metabolism from carbohydrates to lipids oxidation and results crucial in reducing insulin levels, insulin resistance, glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity. For its pleiotropic effects, empagliflozin appears to be a good candidate for drug repurposing also in other metabolic diseases presenting with hypoglycemia, organ damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and defective autophagy.