Diabetes Management Using Continuous Glucose Monitors and Remote Patient Monitoring in Underserved Populations

BACKGROUND \& RATIONALE: Medical Alumni Volunteer Expert Network (MAVEN) Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing social, racial, and economic inequities in the healthcare system through the power of telemedicine. The project recruits an experienced corps of volunteer medical specialists and connects them virtually with primary care providers (PCPs) at community health centers using a digital health platform. The services provided include medical consults, eConsults, mentoring, and Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs. Patients with diabetes seen in safety net clinics are more complex with a higher incidence of diabetes related complications and other chronic conditions. PCPs are often overwhelmed and frustrated with managing diabetes in these patients, especially with the lack of glucose data. Continuous glucose monitor (CGM) use provides a complete glucose picture leading to appropriate adjustment in treatment regimen. In addition, individuals wearing a CGM are more likely to modify their physical activity and eating habits based on the real time glucose levels from the CGM. MAVEN Project has been instrumental in enhancing diabetes management and improving patient outcomes in these safety net clinics, where 1 in 3 persons live in poverty and 63% identify as a racial/ethnic minority. Given our early success, it became quite apparent that there was an opportunity to develop an evidence-based diabetes care management program incorporating CGM and remote patient monitoring (RPM) that would improve diabetes outcomes in the underserved population with a potential for implementation in other safety net clinics across the country. PCPs at front line clinics have access to endocrinology expertise through MAVEN Project. Remote patient monitoring of CGM data is now possible as over 98% of the FQHCs offer telehealth services as compared to 48 % in 2018. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To determine if a sustainable diabetes care management program incorporating CGM and RPM can improve glucose levels and diabetes related distress in individuals with diabetes seen at safety net clinics. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: To determine if a sustainable diabetes care management program incorporating CGM and RPM can improve clinician and patient satisfaction. STUDY DESIGN: This is a single-arm prospective 24-week study with an optional 28 week extension designed to investigate the effect of a sustainable diabetes care management program incorporating CGM and RPM on improving glucose levels, diabetes related distress and patient satisfaction in individuals with diabetes seen at safety net clinics. PCP satisfaction will also be assessed. Patients from a clinic site not involved in the study will be used as case matched controls. All eligible subjects will start on CGM \& RPM. Participants will use "guided experiments "during the first 7 to 10 days to understand the effects of food and physical activity on their glucose levels., Participants will follow up with the diabetes primary care team in 10-14 days to review the glucose data. It is anticipated that about 20% of participants will require insulin and 80% will be on non-insulin treatment. Participants on insulin will continue real time CGM wear throughout the 52-week study. Participants not on insulin will wear real time CGM for the first 12 weeks and intermittently thereafter. All participants will be educated on the use of CGM to help manage their diabetes. The RPM dashboard will be reviewed weekly, and outreach made to participants with low time in range 70-180 mg/dl (TIR) or no sensor data. CGM and RPM data will be used to adjust the treatment regimen. CME will be provided by MAVEN Project on topics that are crucial for the PCPs to effectively manage diabetes. A PCP baseline educational needs assessment will be obtained to help guide the timing and necessity of the various CME sessions. Educational sessions will be provided for ancillary staff. Endocrinology expertise will be provided through e-consults to MAVEN endocrinologists for specific patient management questions. MAVEN Endocrinologists will provide additional support through biweekly meetings with the clinic diabetes champion and monthly study site meetings.