Advancements in Diabetes Technology Are Outpacing the Evidence

Abstract

Diabetes technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) continue to evolve at an increasingly rapid pace. Seventeen new CGM devices have been introduced to the market during the past decade. The introduction of each new system is supported by well-designed randomized controlled trials and real-world retrospective and prospective studies. However, translation of the evidence into clinical guidelines and coverage policies often lags. This article reviews the major limitations of the current approach to clinical evidence assessment and presents a more appropriate method for evaluating rapidly evolving technologies such as CGM.

Keywords: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM); Person-reported outcomes (PRO); Randomized controlled trials (RCT); Real-world studies; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes.