Effectiveness of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Basal Insulin.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in adults 65 years old and older with type 2 diabetes (T2D) using basal without bolus insulin. Research Design and

Methods

Using data from the MOBILE randomized trial comparing CGM versus blood glucose meter (BGM) monitoring for T2D treated with basal insulin, the treatment effect in participants ≥65 years (range: 65-79 years, N = 42) was compared with the treatment effect in participants <65 years (range: 33-64 years, N = 133).

Results

For participants ≥65 years old, mean change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was -1.08% in the CGM group and -0.38% in the BGM group (adjusted mean difference = -0.65% [95% confidence interval (CI) -1.49 to 0.19]). In contrast, the adjusted mean difference in HbA1c between treatment groups was -0.35% [95% CI -0.77 to 0.07] in the <65 years age group. For time in range 70-180 mg/dL (TIR), mean adjusted treatment group difference was 19% (95% CI 4 to 35, P = 0.01) in ≥65 years old participants and 12% (95% CI 4 to 19, P = 0.003) in those <65 years old. Comparable treatment group differences favoring the CGM group were observed in both the ≥65 and <65 years age groups for mean glucose and less time >180, 250, and 300 mg/dL. Hypoglycemia was low in both groups with little difference between treatment groups in both age groups.

Conclusions

In this study of adults with T2D treated with basal insulin without bolus insulin, participants ≥65 years old using CGM had a greater increase in TIR and a reduction in hyperglycemia than those using BGM and the benefit appeared to be at least as great as that observed in younger adults.