Date of Award

5-2022

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

First Advisor

Julie Solberg

Keywords

Type II Diabetes; Continuous Glucose Monitoring; CGM

Abstract

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), approximately 36 million Americans have a diagnosis of type II diabetes (T2D). Among these patients with T2D, nearly forty percent have glycated hemoglobin A1c (Hgb A1c) values above the target goal of 7%. Many patients with T2D utilize self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) systems to monitor day-to-day fluctuations in blood glucose values. However, SMBG systems can be cumbersome and may result in lower patient compliance. With many patients struggling to achieve their target Hgb A1c, methods to improve glycemic control are needed to prevent long-term diabetes-related complications. This literature review aims to investigate the benefits of initiating continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in patients with T2D receiving various treatment regimens. A literature review was performed using electronic search databases PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase from May 5 to September 15, 2021. Keywords were diabetes mellitus, type 2, type 2 diabetes, cgm, continuous blood glucose monitoring, Freestyle Libre, and Dexcom. The search yielded around 387 articles. Exclusion criteria consisted of specific articles which focused on specific patient populations including type I diabetes (T1D) rather than T2D, along with pregnant, hemodialyzed, inpatient, and elderly patients with T2D. A total of 13 research articles were reviewed. Current literature suggests that initiating CGM in patients with T2D results in significant reductions in Hgb A1c, regardless of treatment regimen. Given the prevalence of T2D, applying this research with clinical application could help patients achieve their target Hgb A1c and subsequently reduce the risk of long-term diabetes-related complications.

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