Background: The use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in the pediatric population is not well characterized. We have evaluated the use of CGM over a 12-month interval in youth with type 1 diabetes (TID) and have provided a description of CGM use.
Methods: Eighty subjects 8-17 years old with T1D and baseline hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >or=7.0% used CGM as part of a 6-month randomized trial and subsequent 6-month extension study. Outcomes included frequency of CGM use, HbA1c levels, rate of severe hypoglycemia, and a CGM satisfaction scale.
Results: Seventy-six (95%) of 80 subjects were using CGM after 6 months (median use = 5.5 days/week) compared with 67 (84%) after 12 months (median use = 4.0 days/week). The 17 subjects using CGM >or=6 days/week in month 12 had substantially greater improvement from baseline in HbA1c than did the 63 subjects using CGM <6 days/week in month 12 (mean change - 0.8 +/- 0.6% vs. +0.1 +/- 0.7%, P < 0.001). They also reported greater satisfaction with use of CGM (P = 0.001). The incidence of severe hypoglycemic events was low during the 12 months of the study irrespective of the amount of CGM use.
Conclusions: In youth with T1D, frequency of use decreases over time. Individuals who use CGM on a near-daily basis can have substantial improvement in glycemic control.