The Role of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Quality of Life and Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder caused by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin, leading to the need for exogenous insulin to maintain glycemic control. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has become a pivotal piece of technology in treating T1D. The purpose of this clinical review is to analyze the role of CGM in improving glycemic control and quality of life in T1D patients. Methods: PubMed was searched with a specific search strategy using key terms “continuous glucose monitoring,” “type 1 diabetes,” “quality of life,” “glycemic control,” and “hbA1c.” Operators and filters narrowed results to 4 relevant, quality articles for review within the last 5 years. Results: One of the meta-analyses compared HbA1c levels and fear of hypoglycemia in patients with CGM versus SMBG. The systematic review showed improvements in self-management of glucose levels and confidence in patients managing their diabetes with CGMs. Two of the meta-analyses showed reduced episodes of hypoglycemia and HbA1c levels in patients with CGMs vs SMBG. Discussion: The articles reviewed generated similar results. Findings from all articles suggest that CGM provides a higher quality of life and improved glycemic control versus SMBG in patients with T1D. Future research should aim to include larger, long-term studies to better understand the benefits of CGM to optimize its incorporation further into diabetic care.