Seniors With Diabetes Benefit From Intermittent Scanning CGM
The use of intermittent scanning continuous glucose monitoring (is-CGM) led to significant reductions in A1c levels among patients aged 60 years or older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, with improvements visible after 3 months and persisting up to 24 months. The technology showed high acceptance among users, with only 2.8% discontinuing it due to device-related issues.
METHODOLOGY:
Although real-time CGM has shown effectiveness in improving glycaemic control and preventing hypoglycaemia in older adult patients, the efficacy of is-CGM remains understudied in this population.
Researchers in the Netherlands conducted a retrospective case-control study to compare reductions in A1c levels between patients aged 60 years or older with type 1 or insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes who used is-CGM and those who did not.
They selected 353 patients (median age, 67 years; 59.8% men) from an outpatient clinic in Groningen; those who used is-CGM (n = 142) were matched with control individuals (n = 211) who did not use is-CGM on the basis of age, sex, type of diabetes, and insulin treatment modality.
Data were collected at baseline and 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months following the initiation of is-CGM, focusing on A1c levels and sensor usage.
The primary endpoint was the difference in A1c levels over time between is-CGM users and control individuals relative to their baseline values.
TAKEAWAY:
Median baseline A1c levels were 7.9% and 7.8% among is-CGM users and control individuals, respectively. After 3 months of initiating is-CGM, a significant reduction in A1c levels was observed among users compared with control individuals (unadjusted estimates, −0.5% vs −0.01%; P = .013), with reductions persisting throughout the study.
= .013), with reductions persisting throughout the study. After accounting for potential confounders, initiating is-CGM led to persistent statistically significant reductions in A1c levels at 6 months (−0.46%; P = .006) and 24 months (−0.39%; P = .033).
= .006) and 24 months (−0.39%; = .033). Device acceptance was notably high, with only 2.8% of users discontinuing is-CGM due to device-related reasons. No cases of diabetes-related complications were seen in both the groups.
IN PRACTICE:
"Together with the minimal number of discontinuations due to device-related reasons, our findings argue for the use of this technology in the elderly (60+) population with DM [diabetes mellitus]," the authors wrote.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Riemer A. Been, MD, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. It was published online on May 13, 2025, in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism .
LIMITATIONS:
The distribution of patients with type 1 diabetes was not evenly balanced between control and is-CGM groups. The study defined older adults as those aged 60 years or older, which may not have adequately reflected the diversity within this population, especially since those aged 80 years or older were underrepresented. The single-centre design at an academic hospital in the Netherlands may have limited the generalisability of the results to other regions.
DISCLOSURES:
This study was funded by the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes. One author reported receiving an unrestricted educational grant from the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes mentorship programme supported by AstraZeneca. The remaining authors reported having no conflicts of interest.
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