Introduction: Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has changed the way people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and health care providers perceive diabetes management and glucose control.
Objectives: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the emotional well-being of adults with T1DM who used CGM and those using conventional self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG).
Patients and methods: The MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library / Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases were searched for relevant publications. Primary outcome measures were health-related quality of life, glycemic control, and fear of hypoglycemia. Randomized controlled trials and survey studies focused on the quality of life and fear of hypoglycemia among adult patients using CGM and SMBG were included in the analysis.
Results: The meta-analysis included 11 studies involving a total of 1228 patients with T1DM. Analysis of the Worry subscale of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey indicated a reduction of hypoglycemia fear in CGM users compared with SMBG users (Cohen d = –0.24; 95% CI, –0.41 to –0.07; mean difference, –3.15; 95% CI, –5.48 to –0.82). Outcome analysis of studies including the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire showed Cohen d of 0.23 (95% CI, –0.18 to 0.63). The overall value of Cohen d equaled –0.24 (95% CI, –0.57 to 0.09), indicating a lack of effect of CGM use on improving HbA1c levels; however, after one of the studies was excluded from calculations, the reduction of HbA1c levels was significantly higher in CGM users (Cohen d = –0.33; 95% CI, –0.66 to 0.00; P = 0.047).
Conclusions: This is the first quantitative meta-analysis of studies involving adult patients exclusively with T1DM, providing further evidence for the ability of CGM systems to reduce fear of hypoglycemia and improve quality of life. Continuous glucose monitoring systems have advantage over SMBG in adults with T1DM and improve HbA1c levels.