Continuous Glucose Monitoring in People With Type 1 Diabetes on Multiple-Dose Injection Therapy: The Relationship Between Glycemic Control and Hypoglycemia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The inverse relationship between overall glucose control and hypoglycemia risk is weakened by the use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM). We assess the relationship between glucose control and hypoglycemia in people with type 1 diabetes using multiple-dose injection (MDI) regimens, including those at highest risk of hypoglycemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS CGM data from the intervention (rtCGM) and control (self-monitored blood glucose [SMBG]) phases of the Multiple Daily Injections and Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Diabetes (DIAMOND) and HypoDE studies were analyzed. The relationship between glucose control (HbA1c and mean rtCGM glucose levels) and percentage time spent in hypoglycemia was explored for thresholds of 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL) and 3.0 mmol/L (54 mg/dL), and ANOVA across the range of HbA1c and mean glucose was performed. RESULTS A nonlinear relationship between mean glucose and hypoglycemia was identified at baseline, with the steepest relationship seen at lower values of mean glucose. The use of rtCGM reduces the exposure to hypoglycemia at all thresholds and flattens the relationship between overall glucose and hypoglycemia, with the most marked impact at lower values of mean glucose and HbA1c. Exposure to hypoglycemia varied at all thresholds across the range of overall glucose at baseline, in the SMBG group, and with rtCGM, but the relationships were weaker in the rtCGM group. CONCLUSIONS Use of rtCGM can flatten and attenuate the relationship between overall glucose control and hypoglycemia, exerting its greatest impact at lower values of HbA1c and mean glucose in people with type 1 diabetes using MDI regimens and at highest risk of hypoglycemia.