Real-World Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data from a Population with Type 1 Diabetes in South Korea: Nationwide Single-System Analysis

Diabetes Technol Ther. 2024 Jun;26(6):394-402. doi: 10.1089/dia.2023.0513. Epub 2024 Apr 26.

Abstract

Background: We used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data to investigate glycemic outcomes in a real-world population with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from South Korea, where the widespread use of CGM and the nationwide education program began almost simultaneously. Methods: Data from Dexcom G6 users with T1D in South Korea were collected between January 2019 and January 2023. Users were included if they provided at least 90 days of glucose data and used CGM at least 70% of the days in the investigational period. The relationship between CGM utilization and glycemic metrics, including the percentage of time in range (TIR), time below range (TBR), and time above range (TAR), was assessed. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Samsung Medical Center (SMC 2023-05-030). Results: A total of 2288 users were included. Mean age was 41.5 years (57% female), with average uploads of 428 days. Mean TIR was 62.4% ± 18.5%, mean TBR <70 mg/dL was 2.6% ± 2.8%, mean TAR >180 mg/dL was 35.0% ± 19.3%, mean glucose was 168.1 ± 35.8 mg/dL, mean glucose management indicator was 7.2% ± 0.9%, and mean coefficient of variation was 36.7% ± 6.0%. Users with higher CGM utilization had higher TIR (67.8% vs. 52.7%), and lower TBR <70 mg/dL (2.3% vs. 4.7%) and TAR >180 mg/dL (30.0% vs. 42.6%) than those with low CGM utilization (P < 0.001 for all). Users whose data were shared with others had higher TIR than those who did not (63.3% vs. 60.8%, P = 0.001). Conclusions: In this South Korean population, higher CGM utilization was associated with a favorably higher mean TIR, which was close to the internationally recommended target. Using its remote data-sharing feature showed beneficial impact on TIR.

Keywords: Global health; Glycemic control; Real-time continuous glucose monitoring; Time in range; Type 1 diabetes.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring* / statistics & numerical data
  • Blood Glucose* / analysis
  • Continuous Glucose Monitoring
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / blood
  • Female
  • Glycemic Control / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Insulin / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin