Satisfaction with continuous glucose monitoring in adults and youths with Type1 diabetes

Abstract

Aims To describe satisfaction with continuous glucose monitoring in Type1 diabetes; to correlate continuous glucose monitoring satisfaction scores with usage; and to identify common themes in perceived benefits and barriers of monitoring reported by adults, youths and the parents of youths in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation continuous glucose monitoring trials. Methods The Continuous Glucose Monitoring Satisfaction Scale questionnaire was completed after 6months of monitoring. Participants also answered open-ended queries of positive and negative attributes of continuous glucose monitoring. Results More frequent monitoring was associated with higher satisfaction for adults (n=224), youths (n=208) and parents of youths (n=192) (all P<0.001) in both the 'benefits' and 'hassles' sub-scales of the Continuous Glucose Monitoring Satisfaction Scale, but the greatest differences between the two groups involved scores on hassle items. Common barriers to monitoring use included insertion pain, system alarms and body issues; while common benefits included glucose trend data, opportunities to self-correct out-of-range glucose levels and to detect hypoglycaemia. Conclusions As frequent use of continuous glucose monitoring is associated with improved glycaemic control without increased hypoglycaemia it is important to overcome barriers, reinforce benefits and set realistic expectations for this technology in order to promote its more consistent and frequent use in individuals with Type 1 diabetes. © 2011 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2011 Diabetes UK.