Article / Publication
This article provides a comprehensive summary of the latest discoveries in the category of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). It compiles the most recent scientific findings in an easy-to-read format, complete with hyperlinks and QR codes to full-text articles and abstracts. Read here to learn how increased implementation and expanded access to CGM may improve clinical and economic outcomes and reduce diabetes-related healthcare utilization and costs.
Key Topics:
- 2024 Clinical Practice Updates and Quality Measure Changes
- Emerging Evidence for CGM Use in Non-Intensively Treated Type 2 Diabetes
- Reduction in Healthcare Resource Utilization and Mortality
- Real-World Data Showing CGM Reduces Costs
- Utilization of GLP-1 Agonists in Conjunction with CGM
A poster presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s (AMCP) annual meeting in New Orleans, LA, shared data from a health initiative by Metro Nashville Public Schools. The employer provided CGM devices as a pharmacy benefit without prior authorization. This policy change led to a two-fold increase in CGM utilization among employees aged 18 to 64 years with T1D and T2D regardless of treatment regimen. The retrospective analysis, covering 184 participants, showed significant improvements in glycemic control associated with CGM use. Specifically, average A1c decreased from 8.7% to 7.9% and from 7.6% to 6.8% among those with T2D treated with insulin and not-treated with insulin, respectively. Additionally, CGM use resulted in a significant improvement in the proportion of individuals meeting the HEDIS and ADA HbA1c targets of <8.0% and <7.0%, respectively. These results underscore the potential benefits of CGM for improving diabetes management through streamlined health care payer and purchaser coverage.
Learn MoreThe poster outlines best practices for health plan coverage and access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) for diabetes management, emphasizing the technology’s transformative impact on care. It recommends aligning coverage criteria with current medical evidence, enhancing utilization oversight, and improving access for underserved populations. Strategies include offering CGM under pharmacy benefits, educating healthcare providers and patients, and developing support systems for at-risk groups. The best practices, derived from expert interviews, a national survey, and a workshop, aim to assist health plan decision makers in optimizing diabetes outcomes and managing healthcare costs efficiently.
Learn MoreAmong 47 patients enrolled in a cardiovascular disease (CVD) outpatient program, CGM use was associated with improved glycemic and cardiometabolic outcomes. In the two-phase crossover study, participants were required to have T2D not treated with insulin therapy, an HbA1c >7%, and an obesity classification (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). Through 90 days of follow-up, CGM use was associated with a reduction in average glucose (184.0 to 147.2 mg/dL, P<0.001), an increase in time in range (57.8 to 82.8%, P<0.001), and a trend towards lower glycemic variability (26.2% to 23.8%). CGM users also experienced significant reductions in HbA1c, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides, blood pressure, total cholesterol, diabetes distress, and 10-year predicted risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (P<0.05 for all). These findings are pertinent to managed care and payer professionals seeking to better manage outcomes in T2D with comorbid CVD in health plan populations.
Reed J, Dong T, Eaton E, Friswold J, Porges J, Al-Kindi SG, Rajagopalan S, Neeland IJ. Continuous glucose monitoring for glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes not on insulin therapy: A clinical trial. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024 Apr 28. doi: 10.1111/dom.15608. Epub ahead of print.
Learn MoreIn a real-word study analyzing 12 months of pre- and post-CGM-initiation US claims data, researchers found that CGM utilization was associated with lower hospital use and diabetes-related costs in intensive insulin-treated T2D. Among the 790 individuals who met the inclusion criteria, the number with ≥1 ED visit decreased by 30.0% (P=0.01) and with ≥1 inpatient visit decreased by 41.5% (P<0.0001). The number of diabetes-related visits and average number of visits per person likewise decreased by at least 31.4%. Total diabetes-related costs expressed as per-person-per-month (PPPM) also decreased by $341 PPPM. Managed care and payer professionals will find this analysis of interest in assessing the value of CGM as a cost-reduction intervention in the management of T2D among plan members.
Hannah KL, Nemlekar PM, Green CR, Norman GJ. Reduction in Diabetes-Related Hospitalizations and Medical Costs After Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor Initiation in People with Type 2 Diabetes Using Intensive Insulin Therapy. Adv Ther. 2024 Apr 15. doi: 10.1007/s12325-024-02851-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38619722.
Learn MoreA retrospective cohort study published in JAMA Network Open showed that CGM use was associated with lower odds of developing diabetic retinopathy (DR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Among 550 adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) included in the analysis, 62.7% patients used CGM, 58.2% used an insulin pump, and 47.5% used both. After adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, diabetes duration, microvascular and macrovascular complications, insurance type, and mean HbA1c, CGM was associated with lower odds of DR (odds ratio [OR], 0.52; 95% CI, 0.32-0.84; P=0.008) and PDR (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.23-0.75; P =0.004), compared with no CGM use. These findings show that CGM can be beneficial preventing DR—the leading cause of blindness among adults in the United States—even in individuals with well managed T1D.
Liu TYA, Shpigel J, Khan F, Smith K, Prichett L, Channa R, Kanbour S, Jones M, Abusamaan MS, Sidhaye A, Mathioudakis N, Wolf RM. Use of Diabetes Technologies and Retinopathy in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Mar 4;7(3):e240728.
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Leveraging an opportunity for health plans to support improved patient outcomes in diabetes management with CGM, AMCP sponsored a multifaceted initiative to identify best practices. The program approach consisted of expert interviews, a national payer survey, and an expert panel workshop with clinical experts and managed care stakeholders. In addition to a national webcast to communicate the program findings, this supplement published in the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy summarizes current evidence and consensus recommendations for CGM to support the effective management of diabetes in health plan populations. The supplement also presents the findings from the national payer survey and describes expert-supported health plan best practices around streamlined but evidence-based coverage and access to CGM. Managed care and payer professionals will find this information useful in making collaborative, evidence-based decisions to optimize outcomes among members with diabetes.
Learn MoreWhile CGM systems were initially prescribed predominantly for patients with T1D, the mounting body of literature and expert recommendations have led to more widespread use in insulin-treated T2D and beyond. Based on RCT and real world evidence supporting CGM use in T2D and published literature demonstrating the utility of CGM in population health, 4 payer and 5 health system experts convened virtually to share their insights on the integration of this technology in current programs. This article provides a review of key evidence discussed by these stakeholders and findings from the meeting, with recommendations for the implementation of T2D population health programs integrating CGM with other interventions.
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