Flash Glucose Monitoring (FGM) is associated with significant improvements in HbA1c but the impact on quality of life (QoL) stays unknown. This study aimed to examine the effect of FGM on glycemic control and QoL in a cohort of adults with Type 1 Diabetes.
We undertook a prospective, real-world, case-control study with a six-month follow up involving patients treated with multiple insulin injections. Individuals who started with a FGM system for the first time (cases) were compared with those who were using it previously (controls). The end points were metabolic outcomes and the scores of QoL questionnaires (EsDQUOL and Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-HFS-).
41 patients were included in the case group ( 61% women, mean age: 42,8 ±12,1 years, diagnosed for 1-53 years, mean HbA1c: 7,6% ± 1,2) and 23 patients in the control group (52% women, mean age: 42,8 ± 16,1 years, diagnosed for 1-40 years, mean HbA1c: 7,1% ± 0,7). EsDQUOL score improved in the case group (96,53 vs 83,58 after 6 months; p=0,005) but not in the control group. There were no significant differences in HbA1c or in the rest of the analyzed outcomes (Body Mass Index, dose of insulin/kg, rapid insulin percentage, severe hypoglycemias and HFS score).
FGM could improve QoL of patients with Type 1 Diabetes. Additional studies with a larger number of patients and a longer follow up are probably needed to observe changes in metabolic outcomes.