Removing barriers to management of adults with type 2 diabetes on insulin using continuous glucose monitoring in UK primary care practice: An expert consensus

Aims

This expert consensus reviews the reality of primary care clinical management of people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on non-intensive insulin therapy, with an emphasis on the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for effective care in this participant group. Here, we identify key unmet needs for skills and systems development within this frontline healthcare setting, along with major challenges and opportunities associated with managing these changes effectively.

Methods

The authors participated in two primary care consensus panels held on 28 November 2023 and on 21 May 2024. The focus for these expert panels was to understand the unmet needs within primary care to manage adults with T2D treated with non-intensive insulin therapy and incorporating the use of CGM systems. A Delphi Survey was undertaken among a wider group of Primary Care Diabetes Technology Network members in the United Kingdom, to understand prevalent attitudes to management of adults with T2D on insulin and using CGM in primary care. Based on these activities, a series of consensus statements were tested in a second Delphi Survey.

Results

The activities described, involving primary care healthcare professionals (HCPs) with expertise in diabetes management, identified a series of training and educational needs within UK general practice that are central to skills development for the care of adults with T2D on insulin therapy and the application of CGM technology. Potential barriers to effective primary care management of people with T2D using CGM devices were identified. Areas of concern included confidence in national and local guidelines for the management of T2D using CGM systems, lack of experience on the part both of HCPs and people with T2D, clinical workflows and systems, as well as inbuilt resistance to change among primary care teams. However, the expert group were clear that the goal of providing care for people with T2D on non-intensive insulin therapy using CGM technology as standard of care could be met (94.3%, n = 33). This will deliver clinical benefits for people with T2D, and improvements to clinical workflows in primary care. Cost-savings to the health service were also identified as an outcome.

Conclusions

The need to adapt to the management of people with T2D on insulin therapy puts significant pressure on current workflows and skills for primary care teams. Steps in overcoming these immediate pressures, to ensure effective clinical management of people with T2D, are discussed, along with a series of consensus statements that identify the key areas of change to manage. Ultimately, the great majority of expert primary care HCPs were confident or very confident that using CGM technology will become the standard of care for people with T2D treated with insulin in primary care.