An algorithm guiding patient responses to real-time-continuous glucose monitoring improves quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impact on quality of life (QoL) of an algorithm guiding the responses of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII)-treated type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients using real-time (RT)-continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixty CSII-treated T1D participants (13-70 years old, glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] ≤ 9.5%), including adult and adolescent subgroups, were randomized in age-, gender-, and HbA1c-matched pairs. Phase 1 was an open 16-week multicenter randomized controlled trial; Group A received CSII/RT-CGM with the algorithm, and Group B received CSII/RT-CGM without algorithm. Phase 2 was the 16-32-week follow-up study; Group A returned to usual care (CSII without RT-CGM), and Group B was provided with algorithm at 16 weeks. QoL was assessed by DQOL (adults) and DQOLY (adolescents) questionnaires at baseline, 16 weeks, and 32 weeks. Higher scores (range 1-5) indicate poorer QoL. Analysis was by analysis of variance (between group for baseline-16 weeks) and paired two-tailed t tests (within group for baseline and 32 weeks) with significance at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: Withdrawals left 28 of 30 patients in Group A and 27 of 30 patients in Group B at 32 weeks. In Phase 1, QoL in Group A (2.16 [0.44] baseline to 1.86 [0.40] at 16 weeks) improved compared with Group B (2.03 [0.47] to 2.03 [0.50]) (P = 0.002). Change in QoL correlated with changes in HbA1c (R = 0.36; P = 0.007). In Phase 2, Group A QoL was better at 32 weeks compared with baseline (2.16 [0.44] vs. 2.02 [0.43]) (P = 0.04) but was not in Group B (2.03 [0.47] vs. 1.99 [0.51]) (P = not significant).

CONCLUSIONS: An algorithm guiding CSII-treated T1D responses to RT-CGM improved QoL, which persisted post-RT-CGM withdrawal. Algorithm provision at RT-CGM initiation was required to benefit QoL.