Remote glucose monitoring and HbA1c improvement among persons with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus type 2: A multi-center community-based study

Abstract

Aims

Remote monitoring can support patients with Type II diabetes. Still, evidence for improved glucose outcomes in broad community practice patients is extremely limited. We examined remote glucose monitoring in newly diagnosed patients with diabetes to identify its impact on diabetes outcomes.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study of all adults (age 18–75) with newly diagnosed Type II diabetes February 2020–December 2021 in a large integrated health system, we compared HbA1c (units: percentage, %) outcomes in remote monitoring users to non-users in their first year with diabetes, using propensity-weighted analyses.

Results

Among 35,958 patients, patients age 45+ (vs. age 18–34), who were Asian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic (compared to White), living in more deprived neighborhoods, not using the patient portal, or with baseline HbA1c ≤ 8 were significantly (p < 0.001) less likely to use remote glucose monitoring. After adjustment, remote monitoring use was associated with a 23 % (95 % CI: 17–29 %) higher rate of reaching the HbA1c ≤ 8 % (vs. non-users). In patients starting with HbA1c > 8, remote glucose monitoring use was associated with 0.93 % greater absolute improvement in HbA1c value (vs. non-users, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Remote glucose monitoring was associated with improved HbA1c among newly diagnosed patients with Type II diabetes.