Characterizing Continuous Glucose Monitoring Prescription Patterns Between 2020 and 2024: A Retrospective Study at a Single Primary Care Facility in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

Examine the factors associated with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device prescriptions in a primary care facility.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 1476 patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes receiving care at a single primary care facility between 2020 and 2024. We examined the associations between receiving a CGM prescription and demographic characteristics, health factors, de-identified physician information, and insurance status. We conducted univariate analysis using chi-square tests. Multivariate logistic regression models accounted for multiple factors predicting receiving a CGM prescription.

RESULTS

The average CGM prescription rate per physician was less than 4%. Various factors were significantly associated with receiving a CGM prescription. Notably, younger patients on insulin, with Type 1 diabetes, and higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) values were more likely to be prescribed a CGM device. Patients with nutritional and metabolic diseases or abnormal lab values were less likely to receive a CGM prescription.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings are similar to those of other CGM studies, which show that CGM prescriptions are significantly higher among patients who are younger and who have Type 1 diabetes. There is a need for future studies that aim to better understand CGM prescribing decision-making among PCPs to inform the development of targeted interventions to improve CGM prescribing rates for all eligible patients.