Better Continuous Blood Glucose Monitor for Earlier Diagnosis

CGMs are devices that measure blood glucose in more or less real time.

The sensors in these devices are stuck to the skin with an adhesive patch and take blood sugar readings without the need for regular finger testing.

These devices measure blood glucose throughout the day and track fluctuationsuch as blood sugar spikes after a meal or when blood sugar drops.

Readings taken can be viewed on a smartphone or other monitoring device.

In the new study, published May 24 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Healthscientists from Canada-based Klick Labs used CGM data to identify people with impaired glucose homeostasis, which is a precursor to prediabetes.

They found that one in five participants who were diagnosed as healthy by today’s medical standards actually had glucose metabolism that resembled that of people with prediabetes.

“For people with diabetes, blood sugar levels can go up and down like a wild roller coaster with steep drops and spikes,” study author Jaycee Kaufman, a researcher at Klick Labs, said in a statement. Press release.

In our study, “we found a similar pattern in patients with [impaired glucose homeostasis], even though these patterns looked more like gentle waves than dramatic peaks,” he said. “But intervention in this population could limit the likelihood of progression to full diabetes.”

For the study, a total of 384 participants were fitted with a CGM over a two-week period. During this time, a doctor diagnosed them as diabetic, pre-diabetic or healthy, according to guidelines described by the American Diabetes Association.

The researchers used a mathematical model to compare the participants’ data to data from the populations without diabetes, with prediabetes and with type 2 diabetes. From there, they categorized the participants into two groups based on their diabetes patterns. glucose homeostasis: effective or impaired.

If this work is supported by future clinical trials, it could provide a way to diagnose people with prediabetes earlier, when it is easier to intervene.

Dr. Kathleen Wynneendocrinologist at Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University in Columbus, said that by focusing on real-time data, researchers are able to identify people earlier in the disease process.

“In fact, they [could potentially] identify people earlier than our current methods,” she told Healthline. “That may be early enough to actually slow the progression of the disease.”

Additionally, by using CGMs, the researchers were able to analyze blood sugar spikes that occurred after a meal, said Wyne, who was not involved in the new study.

It could “identify those most at risk of progressing to glucose intolerance,” she said, “and even predict when they will progress to type 2 diabetes.”

According to Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention, more than one in three American adults – about 96 million people – have prediabetes. Of these, over 80% are unaware they have this condition.

“This means that only a small fraction of people at high risk for type 2 diabetes – as well as heart disease, strokeand some types of cancer — know that making lifestyle changes now is the best way to protect against future disease and disability,” Weisenberger said.

Prediabetes occurs when cells in the body do not respond normally to insulin. This hormone is produced by the pancreas and helps blood sugar enter the cells, where it is used as an energy source.

When cells become resistant to insulin, the pancreas reacts by producing more of this hormone. Eventually, the pancreas can no longer keep up and blood sugar levels rise. This increases the risk of health problems, as well as the development of type 2 diabetes.

Risk factors for prediabetes include:

• To live with obesity or overweight
• Be 45 or older
• Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
• Being physically active less than three times a week
• Being diabetic during pregnancy (Gestational Diabetes) or give birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome

Additionally, blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans have a higher risk of prediabetes.

Wyne said CGMs could provide useful information to people about their health. Data could also be collected and shared with their doctor, she said, who could help them decide what action to take.

“For many people who see the [information] will make it real,” she said, “and help them understand that their bodies can’t handle certain foods and/or certain portion sizes.

However, “people need to be prepared to use this data to learn how to be healthier in their food choices,” she added.

Some research shows that people with prediabetes who make a few healthy lifestyle changes can reduce their risk of developing diabetes by 40-70%.

These changes include losing a small amount of weight if you are overweight and increasing your physical activity.

According to the CDC, a small amount of weight is 5-7% of your body weight. For a 200 pound person, that’s 10 to 14 pounds.

THE Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2^n/a editing also recommends that people get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. Additionally, they should aim for muscle-strengthening activities two or more days a week.

Because prediabetes and diabetes are progressive conditions — which get worse over time if left unchecked — Weisenberger said it’s important “to act now and build the habits you need to to be coherent”.

Along with spending more time moving and less time sitting, she suggests eating balanced meals filled with non-starchy foods. vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, celery, peppers, tomatoes and zucchini.

She also recommends reducing your intake of what she calls “supplemental” foods, such as sweets, fried foods, and drinks with lots of added sugar.

“There are so many things you can do,” she said. “The list is lengthened increasingly.”