Patients’ and caregivers’ experiences of using continuous glucose monitoring to support diabetes self-management: qualitative study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12902-018-0239-1
• Publication Date: 2018-02-20T02:40:40Z
• Authors: J. Lawton; M. Blackburn; J. Allen; F. Campbell; D. Elleri; L. Leelarathna; D. Rankin; M. Tauschmann; H. Thabit; R. Hovorka
• Keywords: Diabetes management; Self-Monitoring; Self-Management; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) enables users to view real-time interstitial readings and provides information on the direction rate of change blood levels. Users can also access historical data inform treatment decisions. While clinical psychological benefits CGM are well established, little is known about how individuals use diabetes self-management. We explored participants' experiences using in order provide recommendations for supporting make optimal this technology. In-depth interviews (n = 24) with adults, adolescents parents who had used ≥4 weeks; were analysed thematically. Participants found an empowering tool because they could effortlessly, trend arrows enabled them see whether was rising or dropping at what speed. This predicative aided short-term lifestyle planning take action prevent hypoglycaemia hyperglycaemia. Having easy a continuous basis allowed participants develop better understanding insulin, activity food impacted glucose. described as motivating dietary changes break cycles over-treating provided more nuanced picture control than possible self-monitoring and, hence, background insulin doses mealtime ratios. However, while expressed confidence making immediate adjustments address impending hypoglycaemia, most needing expecting health professionals interpret determine alarms reinforce sense hypoglycaemic safety, some ambivalent views, especially those perceived signalling personal failure achieve glycaemic control. be motivational which fine-tune optimize their may benefit from psycho-social education, training and/or technological support appropriately.