Comparing clinical outcomes between two continuous glucose monitors: similar diabetes-related events, all-cause hospitalizations and HbA1c reductions in type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Objectives

We compared clinical outcomes after acquiring a FreeStyle Libre© Flash Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (FSL) or Dexcom (DEX) continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with intensive insulin therapy.

Design and Methods

This retrospective analysis of the IBM® MarketScan® Research Databases and IBM® Explorys® Electronic Health Records Database assessed differences in acute diabetes-related events (ADE), all-cause hospitalizations (ACH) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in T1D and T2D populations 6 months post CGM acquisition. Analyses were conducted in two study cohorts (Cohort 1, n = 7,494; Cohort 2, n = 678). Participants were T1D or T2D, age ≥ 18 years, treated with short or rapid-acting insulin and naïve to CGM, who acquired a CGM system. Users were propensity score matched on demographics and clinical factors.

Results

Cohort 1: Post-CGM ADE-free rates at 6 months ranged from 94.8 to 96.7% and ACH-free rates ranged from 90.4 to 95.4%, for both T1D and T2D groups, with no significant differences between CGM systems. Cohort 2: Significant HbA1c reductions were associated with use of the DEX and FSL devices in the T1D (-0.35% and -0.37%, respectively) and T2D (-0.73% and -0.79%, respectively) cohorts, both p < 0.001, with no significant differences in the magnitude of reduction between systems (T1D p = 0.99 and T2D p = 0.84).

Conclusions

Acquisition of the FSL and DEX systems was associated with similar rates of acute diabetes-related events and all-cause hospitalizations and similar HbA1c reductions in adults with T1D and T2D.