Glucose sensor with predictive alarm for hypoglycaemia: Improved glycaemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Aim: Hypoglycaemic events are linked to microvascular and macrovascular complications in people with type 1 diabetes. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of glucose sensor [real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM)] with predictive alarm (PA) in reducing the time spent below the range (%TBR <70 mg/dl) in a group of adolescents with type 1 diabetes (AwD).Materials and Methods: This was a crossover, monocentric and randomized study. RT-CGM was set with Alarm on Threshold (AoT) at 70 mg/dl) or PA for hypoglycaemia (20 m before threshold). Twenty AwD were enrolled and randomized to either a PA/AoT or AoT/PA treatment sequence, in a 1:1 ratio. The two groups (PA vs. AoT) were compared using two-way repeated measures ANOVA taking account of the carryover effect.Results: AwD using PA for hypoglycaemia spent less time in severe hypoglycaemia (%TBR2 <54 mg/dl; 0.32 +/- 0.31 vs. 0.91 +/- 0.90; p < .02) and hypoglycaemia (%TBR <70 mg/dl; 1.68 +/- 1.06 vs. 2.90 +/- 2.05; p < .02), with better glycaemia risk index (51.3 +/- 11.0 vs. 61.5 +/- 12.6; p <= .01).Conclusion: The use of RT-CGM with PA for hypoglycaemia technology in AwD using multiple daily insulin injection treatment could significantly reduce the risk of having hypoglycaemic events resulting in an improved quality of glucose control.