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July 8, 2020
Clinical Outcomes
Article / Publication

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association

Key Takeaway: Six-month, multicenter, randomized controlled trial using the Dexcom G5. The baseline population had diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds (38% Hispanic or non-white), high baseline HbA1c levels, and 41% had public health insurance. The trial showed a 0.4% A1c advantage in favor of CGM over BGM (p=0.01; baseline: 8.9%). Moreover, more than twice as many in the CGM group as compared to the BGM group achieved an A1c reduction ≥0.5% (44% vs. 21%, p=0.005) and over four-times as many participants in the CGM group vs. the BGM group saw an A1c reduction of ≥1% (25% vs. 6%, p=0.003). The CGM group also saw a 1.7 hour/day advantage vs. BGM on time-in-range (70-180 mg/dl) (p<0.001). Over two-thirds of the CGM group were using CGM at least five days/week by the end of the six-month study – the highest CGM use observed for adolescents in a study to date. Moreover, the CGM group reported significantly higher glucose monitoring satisfaction, measured via the Glucose Monitoring Satisfaction Survey score, at 26 weeks than the BGM group . Newer models of CGM devices that eliminate fingerstick calibration should lead to improved wearability and glycemic control even beyond the measured benefits observed in this trial. Improved glycemic control early in diabetes duration may prevent diabetes complications later in adulthood, making CGM an attractive option for this population.

Effect of Continuous Glucose Monitoring on Glycemic Control in Adolescents and Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Graph
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July 8, 2020
Clinical Outcomes
Article / Publication

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association

Key Takeaway: Older populations are more prone than younger populations to severe hypoglycemic episodes, which in turn contribute to dementia, risk of falls, glycemic variability, and mortality. To study whether CGM could reduce hypoglycemia incidence, Pratley and colleagues performed a randomized clinical trial that compared the effect of CGM (n = 103) with BGM (n = 100) in older adults (median age, 68 years) with type 1 diabetes in 22 diabetes centers across the US. The primary outcome was reduction in hypoglycemia (glucose <70mg/dL) over 6 months. Results showed that the median time in hypoglycemia was reduced from 73 minutes to 39 minutes per day in the CGM group compared with no change (from 68 minutes to 70 minutes per day) in the BGM group, an adjusted between group reduction of 27 minutes per day (95% CI, −40 to −16 min/d). Additionally, the median percentage of time with blood glucose levels below the range for severe hypoglycemia (glucose <54mg/dL) reached the goal per international guidelines (<14min/d in older adults). Moreover, only 1 severe hypoglycemic event (glucose <54mg/dL) occurred in the CGM group vs 10 in the BGM group, with 5 of those events involving seizure or loss of consciousness. 83% of participants in the CGM group used CGM at least 6 days per week during month 6 and the results did not differ by level of cognitive impairment, education level, or age. In summary, CGM reduced the time spent in the severe hypoglycemic range, which has health care use, mortality, morbidity, and economic benefits.

Effect of Continuous Glucose Monitoring on Hypoglycemia in Older Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Graph
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June 16, 2020
Coverage and Benefit Design
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Announcing a new white paper based on key findings from the Therapeutic CGM Health Care Stakeholder Summit held on November 7, 2019, in Washington, DC. The stakeholder panel included payer and employer leadership along with clinical experts in the field of endocrinology. The purpose was to gather input pertinent to the coverage and application of therapeutic continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in managed care settings. Clinical evidence supporting the clinical and economic value of rtCGM was presented and the insights of these health care stakeholders were captured en route to formulating coverage policy recommendations for the future. This input is intended to advance the uptake and appropriate coverage of evidence-based health technology interventions by managed care organizations (MCOs) and various payers.

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June 16, 2020
CGM Technology and Digital Health
Article / Publication

Source: Diabetes Care

Key Takeaways: CGM has emerged as a new standard of care for individuals with insulin-treated diabetes. Two types of CGM systems are now available: real-time CGM (rtCGM) and intermittently scanned (isCGM). rtCGM systems automatically transmit a continuous stream of glucose data to the user, provide alerts and active alarms, and transmit glucose data in real time to a smart phone and/or other display device. The current isCGM system provides the same type of data but requires the user to purposely scan the sensor to obtain information, and it does not have alerts and alarms. Both CGM technologies have significant advantages over self-monitoring of blood glucose; however, differences in the features and capabilities of the two approaches must be considered when guiding patient selection of the system that meets their individual needs.

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June 16, 2020
CGM Technology and Digital Health
Article / Publication

Source: American Journal of Managed Care

Key Takeaway: The use of CGM is proven to reduce A1C, reduce time spent in hypo- and hyperglycemia and improve time in range (TIR) for Type 1 and Type 2 patients using intensive insulin, defined as multiple daily injections of insulin or getting insulin through an insulin pump.  This has resulted in guidelines and recommendations from professional societies such as the ADA recommending CGM as a standard of care for Type 1 and Type 2 patients using intensive insulin.  CGM is an important monitoring tool that is best accessed by providers and patients in the pharmacy channel

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June 16, 2020
Coverage and Benefit Design
Article / Publication

Source: First Report Managed Care

Key Takeaway: Diabetes is a complex chronic disease that for some Type 1 and Type 2 patients requires the use of intensive insulin defined as 3 or more injections/day or insulin through a pump.  The adverse consequences of using insulin are severe and can result in a coma, seizure or even death which leads many patients and caregivers deciding to use less insulin as prescribed preventing achievement of glycemic goals.  Real-time CGM with alerts/alarms, remote monitoring and reporting can help patients use their insulin safely and effectively to achieve lower A1Cs, spend less time in hypo- and hyperglycemia and spend more time in range (TIR).  The benefits of CGM are seen when it is used to make diabetes treatment decisions such as insulin dosing, diet and lifestyle in a timely manner.  Accessing CGM devices via a pharmacy benefit allows patients to start CGM faster, stay safe while using insulin and engage pharmacists, providing additional support and interventions that have been shown to improve diabetes outcomes.

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June 16, 2020
CGM Technology and Digital Health
Article / Publication

Source: Diabetes Care

Key Takeaway: Successful utilization of CGM technology in routine clinical practice remains relatively low due to a lack of clear and agreed-upon glycemic targets that both diabetes teams and people with diabetes can work toward.  In February 2019, the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) Congress convened an international panel of physicians, researchers, and individuals with diabetes who are expert in CGM technologies to address this issue and established targets for time in range (TIR), time below range (TBR) and time above range (TAR).  These are metrics that only CGM can measure and overcome the limitations of metrics such as A1C which are reflective of a 3 month average of glycosylated hemoglobin and does not account for day to day glycemic variability or factors such as anemia which can skew A1C low.

CGM-based Targets for Different Diabetes Populations

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June 16, 2020
Clinical Outcomes
Economic Outcomes
Article / Publication

Source: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Key Takeaway: Nationwide reimbursement of real-time CGM improved HbA1c, fear of hypoglycemia, and QOL as well as economic indicators including work absenteeism and hospital admissions for acute diabetes complications.

The Value of rtCGM: Reduction in Hospitalizations and Work Absenteeism

 Pre-Reimbursement for rtCGMPost-Reimbursement for rtCGMP Value
 (n = 496)(n = 379) 
Patients with   
    Hospitalizations due to hypoglycemia and/or ketoacidosis77 (16%)14 (4%)<0.0005
    Hospitalizations due to hypoglycemia59 (11%)12 (3%)<0.0005
    Hospitalizations due to ketoacidosis23 (5%)4 (1%)0.092
    Work absenteesim*123 (25%)36 (9%)<0.0005
Days (per 100 patient years) of    
    Hospitalizations due to hypoglycemia and/or ketoacidosis53.517.8<0.0005
    Hospitalizations due to hypoglycemia38.512.50.001
    Hospitalizations due to ketoacidosis14.95.30.220
    Work absenteeism494.5233.80.001

Data are n (%).

*Work absenteeism of at least half a day. Patient-reported hospital admissions were validated by clinicians.

Reference: Charleer S, et al. Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(3):1224–1232


Reference: Charleer S, Mathieu C, Nobels F, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(3):1224-1232.

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June 16, 2020
Clinical Outcomes
Article / Publication

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association

Key Takeaway: In the DIAMOND RCT, patients using multiple daily injections of insulin with type 1 diabetes who were randomly assigned to real-time CGM (rtCGM) had improved glycemic control vs. the SMBG group. This benefit was seen across patient groups regardless of baseline A1C, age, education level, or math ability. In addition, the rtCGM group spent 79% less time in nocturnal hypoglycemia, and also demonstrated a greater increase in hypoglycemic confidence and a greater decrease in diabetes distress vs. the SMBG group.

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