CGM > CGM Success Story: Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services (NEON)

CGM Success Story: Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services (NEON)

How CGM Helped NEON Improve Diabetes Outcomes

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

  • Providers took CGM training.
  • NEON partnered with CGM industry.

Contact

  • NEON contacted patients provided.
  • NEON signed up patients for CGM at the pharmacy.

Educate

  • NEON provided extensive diabetes education to patients.
  • NEON provided education on CGM to providers on use and application of CGM.

CGM Results in Consistent Reduction in A1C

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.

Improved Individual Outcomes

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.


Takeaways from NEON’s Success

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:

  • Diabetes is a complicated disease and the current model of seeing patients once in three to six months may not be enough.
  • Patients need open communication channel for refills, appointments and problem solving.
  • Patients with limited education can also overcome this disease if the right approach is taken.

Want to learn more about how you can replicate NEON’s succes in your practice?

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Additional Reading

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/