Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Primary Care: Multidisciplinary Pilot Implementation Study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is crucial for assessing glycemic trends and guiding diabetes treatment.
• Increasing patient access to CGM in primary care settings is a key challenge.
• A multidisciplinary team approach can empower primary care physicians (PCPs) to interpret and utilize CGM data effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating CGM into primary care.
• To assess a multidisciplinary model involving clinical pharmacists and diabetes educators for CGM implementation.
• To determine if PCPs can successfully manage CGM interpretation and patient care adjustments.

Main Methods:

• PCPs received standardized training on CGM interpretation.
• Patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated HbA1c or hypoglycemia concerns were enrolled.
• Physician extenders (PharmD, CDCES) managed CGM device placement, education, and data review, collaborating with PCPs for care plan adjustments.

Main Results:

• Mean time in range significantly increased by 28.06% (43.25% to 71.31%, P<.001).
• Proportion of patients achieving ≥70% time in range rose from 23.81% to 57.14% (P<.001).
• Average HbA1c decreased by 2.37% (9.68% to 7.31%, P<.001).

Conclusions:

• Integrating CGM into primary care via a multidisciplinary team is feasible and effective.
• This approach enhances patient access to CGM and improves glycemic control.
• The model supports PCPs in utilizing CGM for better diabetes management outcomes.