Detection and Management of Early Glucose Abnormalities in Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

With advances in technology, it is now possible to detect the emergence of glucose abnormalities in cystic fibrosis with improved sensitivity, and from a very early age. These abnormalities are increasingly recognized as predictors of clinical decline, raising the possibility that early intervention may slow or prevent this deterioration. In this chapter, we will review the available literature on methods of detecting glucose abnormalities in cystic fibrosis (random and fasting glucose, HbA1c, oral glucose tolerance testing, and continuous glucose monitoring), and detail their advantages and possible limitations in the interpretation of glycemic data. We will also discuss treatment outcomes of early intervention, prior to the diagnosis of diabetes as currently defined.