Insights from a large observational database of continuous glucose monitoring adoption, insulin pump usage and glycemic control: the CareLink™ database.

OBJECTIVE: The CareLink™ (Medtronic, Inc., Northridge, CA) database houses data from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin pumps, and blood glucose (BG) meters. This study examined CGM usage and its relationship to insulin delivery and glycemia in CareLink users with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

METHODS: Users whose CareLink accounts contained =120 days of pump and glucose readings within a 180-day interval were further selected and stratified based on the frequency of CGM use and adequacy of glycemic control; correlations between these variables were sought.

RESULTS: The proportion of subjects with pre-specified favorable glycemic parameters rose with increasing sensor use (p<0.001). These subjects administered more and smaller boluses, gave a higher proportion of their total daily dose (TDD) of insulin as boluses, and maintained lower TDDs than those with pre-specified less-favorable glycemic parameters (all p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: A favorable dose effect of CGM use was evident. CGM data facilitates smaller and more frequent bolus dosing, allowing for improved glycemic control.