Predictors of use and improvement in glycemic indices after initiating continuous glucose monitoring in real world: Data from Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and aims: To identify predictors of use and benefit from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: Predictors of CGM use and changes in glycemic indices and other clinical parameters after initiating intermittently-scanned CGMs were examined in 116 individuals with T1D living in Saudi Arabia. Participants were categorized based on frequency of CGM sensor scanning at month 6 into: Frequent users (≥10 scans/day) and infrequent users (<10 scans/day).

Results: Frequent CGM users had an improvement in time in range (TIR) and time above range (TAR) at months 6 and 12; whereas infrequent users had comparable improvements but only at month 12. Individuals with baseline TIR <50% had a significant improvement in TIR and TAR; whereas those with baseline TIR ≥50% had a significant improvement only in time below range (TBR). Baseline TIR <50% and higher frequency of scans were predictive of improvement in TIR at month 6 (OR: 4.84, p <0.01, 1.05, p= 0.04; respectively); whereas baseline TBR was the only predictor of improvement in TBR (OR:1.24,p < 0.01). Being a woman, higher number of scans/day during the first 2 weeks of CGM use, and having a lower A1C at baseline predict being a frequent scanner at month 6 (OR: 2.81, p=0.04; 1.12, p <0.01; and 0.73, p <0.01; respectively).

Conclusions: Improvement in glycemic control with CGM use can be predicted by: number of scans per day and baseline TIR and TBR in people with T1D.

Keywords: CGM; Diabetes; Predictors; Saudi Arabia; TIR.