GCM (Constant Glucose Monitoring) Improves Treatment Satisfaction
- Patients can predict the glucose levels in the future;
- Patients are able to see the speed at which the glucose levels are rising or dropping;
- Patients were able to make adequate adjustments to their schedule according to the rise or drop in glucose levels;
- Patients developed a deeper understanding of how their activities affect glucose levels.
The participants were able to compare their experience with constant glucose monitoring with their previous experience of self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG). The results have shown more positive feedback on the utilization of GCM due to increased treatment satisfaction (Lawton et al., 2018). The increased treatment satisfaction was associated with more insightful information from the GCM, which allowed participants to see the indicator of blood glucose level and see arrows showing whether the levels were increasing or decreasing. In addition, the GCM showed the speed at which the blood glucose levels were changing. This allowed patients to make adjustments to their lifestyle and short-term schedule, such as meal consumption.
GCM Reduces Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia
- Informed decisions on time and length of activities;
- Reduced overcorrection activities;
- Alarms are able to signal the possible hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia;
- Mealtime ratios adjustments
Another benefit of using GCM was associated with the reduction of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. The result of reduction was achieved by the combination of four different factors. First of all, participants that used GCM were able to track the levels of blood glucose during various activities and receive information on how it changes. Hence, they could make informed decisions on, for example, stopping their walk earlier to avoid impeding hypoglycemia. Secondly, they were able to plan their meals intake as well as the content of their meal. Due to the ability to see dynamic changes in blood glucose levels, participants could learn about the best options and see how their actions are reflected on the GCM results (Singh et al., 2020). This information provided them with more security and reduced overcorrecting activities of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia (Lawton et al., 2018). Finally, the GCM system provided participants with alarms at times when the blood glucose levels needed to be addressed. This is more convenient than scheduled SMBG because it helps patients avoid hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in unexpected times, such as when they are asleep.
GCM Improves Overall Quality of Life of Diabetic Patients
- Increase in psychological security;
- A more mindful approach to mealtime and activities;
- Less burden for overcorrections;
- Less anxiety due to lack of information.
The use of GCM has resulted in the improved quality of life of diabetic patients. Besides reducing the chances of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, it has been associated with psychological benefits such as an increased sense of security (Lawton et al., 2018). This sense was achieved by the alarm system that notified patients whenever their blood glucose levels needed to be addressed. Moreover, having more information on their blood glucose levels empowered patients to make more informed decisions, which led to better treatment outcomes and reduced anxiety. Patients were able to learn healthy behavioral patterns and be motivated to stay devoted to their plan, which lessens the burden of being constantly in check with glucose levels snapshots. Finally, the insights provided by GCM insulin pumps helped both the patients and their caregivers because they eased the way of self-management of the disease.
References
Lawton, J., Blackburn, M., Allen, J., Campbell, F., Elleri, D., Leelarathna, L.,… & Hovorka, R. (2018). Patients’ and caregivers’ experiences of using continuous glucose monitoring to support diabetes self-management: Qualitative study. BMC endocrine disorders, 18(1), 1-10. Web.
Singh, L. G., Satyarengga, M., Marcano, I., Scott, W. H., Pinault, L. F., Feng, Z.,… & Spanakis, E. K. (2020). Reducing inpatient hypoglycemia in the general wards using real-time continuous glucose monitoring: The glucose telemetry system, a randomized clinical trial. Diabetes Care, 43(11), 2736-2743. Web.