A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has found that primary care clinics can effectively help patients begin using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), devices that track blood sugar levels in real time.
Published in BMC Primary Care, the study involved 76 primary care clinics across Colorado. The clinics explored two methods for introducing CGMs to their patients. Some practices utilized a self-guided approach, using educational tools developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Others referred patients to a virtual CGM initiation service, led by primary care-based healthcare professionals.
The study revealed that practices with in-house diabetes specialists were more likely to choose the self-guided approach, while those without such specialists preferred the virtual service. Despite this difference, most practices showed similar outcomes.
Kimberly Wiggins, the study’s lead author and an instructor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, emphasized the significance for diabetes patients, particularly those without easy access to specialists. “This demonstrates that new approaches can be developed to share resources like diabetes care experts, enabling patients to start using CGMs and later transition back to primary care,” Wiggins said.
A unique aspect of the study was its focus on “primary care helping primary care,” with all professionals involved in the virtual service based in primary care settings.
CGMs, which track blood sugar levels around the clock, reduce the need for finger-prick tests and offer insights into how diet, activity, stress, and medication affect blood sugar. This can lead to better health, fewer complications, and a higher quality of life. However, fewer than half of U.S. primary care doctors have prescribed a CGM.
Tamara Oser, senior author of the study and a professor at the University of Colorado, noted, “Our goal was to find practical ways for primary care clinics to offer CGMs, and both methods proved successful. Even clinics without diabetes experts were able to implement the remote option effectively.”
The study is particularly beneficial for individuals in rural areas, those facing insurance issues, or people with long wait times to see specialists. Oser added, “This approach expands access to life-changing technology for many people with diabetes, improving treatment for the 38 million Americans living with the condition.”
The research is part of a broader effort to make diabetes care more accessible and effective within primary care, reducing reliance on subspecialists. The findings aim to encourage wider use of CGMs, helping individuals manage their diabetes more effectively.
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