Long Term CGM Treatment in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Treated With Insulin Injections

A keystone in preventing diabetic complications in patients with type 1 diabetes is good glycaemic control. Frequent self-measurements of blood glucose (SMBG) levels have been an essential part of insulin dosing before meals. However, in recent years continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has become a treatment option to inform the patient when glucose levels may be too high or low. In some countries, including Sweden, CGM is reimbursed only when combined with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusions (CSII) in patients with very poor glycaemic control or a history of repeated severe hypoglycaemia in adults with type 1 diabetes. This is based on existing clinical trial data showing a beneficial effect on HbA1c when CGM is combined with CSII. However, despite the fact that the majority of adults with type 1 diabetes are treated with multiple daily insulin injections (MDI), studies on the effect of CGM in patients with type 1 diabetes treated with MDI are sparse. Therefore, the investigators initiated the CGMMDI trial, an ongoing, cross-over clinical trial including 161 MDI patients receiving CGM over 6 months, followed by conventional therapy over six months, with a four-month wash-out period in-between treatment. Evaluations include glycaemic control, hypoglycaemia, quality of life, fear of hypoglycaemia, treatment satisfaction, physical activity, and safety. From a research or regulatory standpoint, long-term data on treatment effects are expected to a greater extent today than in previous years, due to various reasons, e.g., to evaluate any sustained beneficial effects over time, or long-term patient safety. Accordingly, follow-up of treatment in an extension phase after randomized diabetes trials have become more common over time, especially where many novel glucose-lowering treatments are concerned. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to evaluate long-term effects of CGM in patients with type 1 diabetes treated with MDI. Patients who consent in an extension phase over 1 year of the CGMMDI trial will receive CGM, and evaluations will be performed on sustained glycaemic control effects, hypoglycaemia, glycaemic variability, quality of life, fear of hypoglycaemia, treatment satisfaction, physical activity, and safety.