Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Continuous Glucose Monitors on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Kevin K Cheng1, Maxine F Vera Cruz2, Tracy S Tylee3
1Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
Background:
Current guidelines suggest utilizing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to improve hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in patients with diabetes. Financial cost remains a barrier to implementation. Medicare coverage criteria include all patients with diabetes treated with at least one injection of insulin per day, while Washington Medicaid is more restrictive. There remains a paucity of literature examining effectiveness of CGMs on clinical outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes with lower incomes.
Methods:
This is a single-center, retrospective, observational study including adults with type 2 diabetes receiving institutional financial assistance for CGMs. A cohort with no CGM use is included for comparison. The primary outcome is change in HbA1c approximately three months after CGM implementation from baseline. Secondary outcomes include mean differences in number of antidiabetic agents and changes in insulin dose prior to and after CGM implementation.
Results:
Among the CGM cohort, most patients were of Hispanic ethnicity (77%) and a majority had no insurance (77%). The average HbA1c prior to CGM implementation was 8.3% and three months post-CGM was 7.7%, with a mean difference of -0.6% (P = .004). There were no statistically significant differences in the average number of antidiabetic agents, total daily dosages of insulin, or mean differences in the number of emergency room visits or hospitalizations prior to and post-implementation of a CGM.
Conclusion:
Overall, there is a statistical and clinical improvement in HbA1c before and after implementation of CGMs in patients with type 2 diabetes who meet Medicaid criteria for CGM coverage receiving financial assistance.
Related Concept Videos
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

