THE ACCEPTABILITY OF CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING IN A NATIONAL DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM PILOT INTERVENTION

Abstract

Prediabetes is a widespread and ever-increasing metabolic condition involving dysglycemia. Failure to treat prediabetes can lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes, and both prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes can present multiple negative health consequences for afflicted individuals. Common approaches to prevention and management of prediabetes involve lifestyle modification, specifically regular physical activity at a minimum of 150 minutes per week, and modest weight loss of 5-10% body fat. These are the primary outcome measures of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recognized intervention designed to educate those affected by prediabetes on the topics of diet and physical activity to help slow and reverse the deterioration of participants’ glycemic health. However, these goals are often not met, increasing the likelihood that the affected individual’s condition progresses to Type 2 diabetes. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a method of biological feedback, typically prescribed to those affected by persons with insulin-dependent Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. CGM allows the user to track their glucose levels continuously for a period of up to 10 days, and in doing so, the user can make more informed decisions about their behavior to benefit their glycemic health and self-efficacy towards their condition. A brief one-hour CGM intervention was introduced to a cohort of 13 NDPP participants affected by prediabetes in a pilot study to understand the acceptability of integrating CGM into the NDPP. Participant surveys and focus groups were administered to understand experiences of participants and gauge acceptability. There was overwhelming support for further use of CGM in the NDPP, and participant responses reflected an enriched experience while using CGM and a greater understanding of the interplay between diet, physical activity, and glycemic control as a result of CGM.