Initiating continuous glucose monitoring is associated with improvements in glycemic control and reduced health care resource utilization for people with diabetes in a large US-insured population: A real-world evidence study.

Objective: To examine the real-world impact of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use on glycemic management and health care resource utilization (HCRU) in people with diabetes in a large US-insured population.

Methods: This retrospective observational study used Aetna administrative claims data from a cohort of fully insured commercial and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with diabetes and with coverage for medical and pharmacy benefits. The index date was the first CGM pharmacy or medical claim observed between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. Change in hemoglobin A1c was calculated using values from 3 months before and the latest values 10-12 months after the index date. HCRU was measured 12 months before and after the index date. Data were analyzed by the following patient groups: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes (T2D) on intensive insulin therapy, T2D on basal-only insulin therapy, and T2D not on insulin therapy.

Results: Data from 7,336 patients (74% T2D, mean age 57 years, 42% Medicare-insured, 54% male, 56% White) were analyzed. Beneficiaries with available A1c data (n = 1,063) showed a significant improvement in A1c after CGM initiation (-0.7%, P < 0.0001), including -0.9% change in the T2D not on insulin group (n = 264). For the overall cohort, the number of patients with diabetes-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits decreased significantly by 67% and 40%, respectively (P < 0.0001 for both).

Conclusions: This study showed that CGM use was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in A1c and reduced HCRU, suggesting potential for population-level clinical benefits, especially for patients not using insulin.