In this study by Alva et al, accuracy of a second-generation factory calibrated continuous glucose monitoring system is evaluated. Compared to the first-generation FreeStyle Libre 14-day system (FSL), accuracy was improved throughout the 14-day wear period, including improved accuracy in hypoglycemia for adults and youth. The addition of optional real-time alerts for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia as well as an integrated continuous glucose monitor (iCGM) designation by the FDA may further enable users to benefit from using CGM in real time, including in future automated insulin delivery systems. As CGM accuracy, affordability, and accessibility improve, we anticipate increased uptake of CGM by people on intensive insulin therapy, and also potential benefits and expansion into a broader patient population. There are growing opportunities to leverage cloud-connected CGM devices in the increasingly virtual, continuous telehealth-driven diabetes care model, which will require more focus on development and use of data interoperability standards.

With the first commercially available smart insulin pens, the predominant insulin delivery device for millions of people living with diabetes is now coming into the digital age. Smart insulin pens (SIPs) have the potential to reshape a connected diabetes care ecosystem for patients, providers, and health systems. Existing SIPs are enhanced with real-time wireless connectivity, digital dose capture, and integration with personalized dosing decision support. Automatic dose capture can promote effective retrospective review of insulin dose data, particularly when paired with glucose data. Patients, providers, and diabetes care teams will be able to make increasingly data-driven decisions and recommendations, in real time, during scheduled visits, and in a more continuous, asynchronous care model. As SIPs continue to progress along the path of digital transformation, we can expect additional benefits: iteratively improving software, machine learning, and advanced decision support. Both these technological advances, and future care delivery models with asynchronous interactions, will depend on easy, open, and continuous data exchange between the growing number of diabetes devices. SIPs have a key role in modernizing diabetes care for a large population of people living with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes clinicians are key facilitators of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provision, but data on provider behavior related to CGM use and CGM generated data are limited. METHODS: We conducted a national survey of providers caring for people with diabetes on CGM-related opinions, facilitators and barriers to prescription, and data review practices. RESULTS: Of 182 survey respondents, 73.2% worked at academic centers, 70.6% were endocrinologists, and 70.7% practiced in urban settings. Nearly 70% of providers reported CGM use in the majority of their patients with type 1 diabetes. Half of the providers reported CGM use in 10% to 50% of their patients with type 2 diabetes. All respondents believed CGM improved quality of life and could optimize diabetes control. We found no differences in reported rates of CGM use based on providers years of experience, patient volume, practice setting, or clinic type. Most providers reviewed CGM data each visit (97.7%) and actively involved patients in the data interpretation (98.8%). Only 14.1% of clinicians reported reviewing CGM data without any prompting from patients or their family members outside of visits. Most providers (80.7%) reported their CGM data review was valued by patients although only half reported having adequate time (45.1%) or an efficient process (56.1%) to do so. CONCLUSIONS: Despite uniform support for CGM by providers, ongoing challenges related to cost, insurance coverage, and difficulties with prescription were major barriers to CGM use. Increased use of CGM in appropriate populations will necessitate improvements in data access and integration, clearly defined workflows, and decreased administrative burden to obtain CGM.

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine use rapidly and dramatically increased for management of diabetes mellitus. It is unknown whether access to telemedicine care has been equitable during this time. This study aimed to identify patient-level factors associated with adoption of telemedicine for subspecialty diabetes care during the pandemic.

Methods

We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study using data from a single academic medical center. We used multivariate logistic regression to explore associations between telemedicine use and demographic factors for patients receiving subspecialty diabetes care between March 19 and June 30, 2020. We then surveyed a sample of patients who received in-person care to understand why these patients did not use telemedicine.

Results

Among 1292 patients who received subspecialty diabetes care during the study period, those over age 65 were less likely to use telemedicine (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.22-0.52, P < .001), as were patients with a primary language other than English (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31-0.91, P = .02), and patients with public insurance (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49-0.84, P = .001). Perceived quality of care and technological barriers were the most common reasons cited for choosing in-person care during the pandemic.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been disparities in telemedicine use by age, language, and insurance for patients with diabetes mellitus. We anticipate telemedicine will continue to be an important care modality for chronic conditions in the years ahead. Significant work must therefore be done to ensure that telemedicine services do not introduce or widen population health disparities.