CGM > CGM Success Story: Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services (NEON)
At Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services (NEON), over 30% of patients have diabetes. The use of CGM helped both patients and providers improve diabetes outcomes and manage diabetes collaboratively. In February of 2022, NEON was approached by Molina, which equipped NEON with CGM devices. The CGM program proceeded in three phases:
Training
Contact
Educate
NEON Director of Pharmacy and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at NEOMED M. Sreshta, RPh. M.S. CDCES, assembled a number of case studies to measure the impact of implementing CGM on NEON patients. Results showed a consistent reduction in A1C levels after CGM implementation.
In case studies, individual patients also experienced notably improved outcomes as a result of CGM.
Case Study #1
This patient, a 63-year-old male, had an A1C level of 11.6 before starting CGM. He was on glargine and metformin. A CGM device was placed and the patient start a GLP 1 agonist (Trulicity). The patient also immediately altered diet and lifestyle. The patient was monitored remotely on a weekly basis. Medication was adjusted as needed, including a weekly reduction in insulin. In three months, the patient’s A1C had been reduced to 6.7%. Insulin use was discontinued.
Case Study #2
This patient, a 42-year-old female, had a BMI over 40 with a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Before CGM implementation, she had Type 2 diabetes over 12 years with an A1C of 9.8%. She had a poor diet and occasionally used finger sticks. She was on glargine and glipizide. A CGM device was placed. Glipizide was discontinued, and a GLP 1 agonist was added. The patient was monitored remotely every week. She made significant lifestyle changes. After three months, the patient’s A1C had been reduced to 7.5%. Her weight had also been reduced by over 35 pounds.
The success of implementing CGM at NEON may have been a result of a wide variety of factors, including the usefulness of CGM, weekly monitoring, having a champion for CGM, CGM gold carding, and partnering with industry. Takeaways include:
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The following peer-reviewed literature explores the success of CGM in managing diabetes.
Maria Ida Maiorino et. al; Effects of Continuous Glucose Monitoring on Metrics of Glycemic Control in Diabetes: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Diabetes Care 1 May 2020; 43 (5): 1146–1156.
https://doi.org/10.2337/dc19-1459
Funtanilla VD, Candidate P, Caliendo T, Hilas O. Continuous Glucose Monitoring:
A Review of Available Systems. P T. 2019 Sep; 44(9):550-553.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6705487/
Mathias P, Mahali LP, Agarwal S. Targeting Technology in Underserved Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Effect of Diabetes Practice Transformations on Improving Equity in CGM Prescribing Behaviors. Diabetes Care. 2022 Oct 1;45(10):2231-2237.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9649356/