Telemonitoring With a Connected Glucose Meter Improves Glycemia Among People With Insulin-Treated Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Background: Delayed initiation and inadequate titration remain critical challenges to optimizing insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes (T2D). We aimed to study whether hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) can be lowered in people with insulin-treated T2D using telemonitoring.

Methods: This single-center study recruited adults with greater than or equal to six months of diabetes, greater than or equal to three months of insulin therapy, HbA1c ≥8.5% and ≤12.5%, and body mass index (BMI) ≤40 kg/m². All participants received a connected glucose meter and the accompanying smartphone application. Participants sent weekly blood glucose (BG) diary to their primary endocrinologist via email. Adjustments in insulin doses were communicated to the participants. HbA1c, proportion of BG readings in range (70-180 mg/dL, PIR), below range (<70 mg/dL, PBR) and above range (>180 mg/dL, PAR), and glycemic variability as the coefficient of variation (% CV) were measured at baseline, week 12, and week 24 and compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Friedman's ANOVA.

Results: We recruited 40 people (55% women). Mean age was 57.9 years, BMI 27.8 kg/m², and baseline HbA1c 9.8% (83.7 mmol/mol). Mean HbA1c improved by 1.7%, % CV reduced from 32.9% to 30.7%, PIR increased from 58.8% to 67.1% (all P <.01) by week 24, without any change in PBR. This was achieved with a 0.04 U/kg/d median increase in total daily dose of insulin and 0.9 kg weight gain over 24 weeks.

Conclusion: Telemonitoring and titration of insulin using a connected glucose meter resulted in significant improvements in glycemia, characterized by a reduction in HbA1c, increase in PIR, and reduction in glycemic variability without any increase in hypoglycemia.

Keywords: connected glucose meter; glycemic variability; insulin; insulin titration; telemonitoring; type 2 diabetes.

Figure 1.

Change in HbA1c.