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NICE guidance - continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people

Last edited 4 Apr 2022

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people

Offer real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) to all children and young people with type 1 diabetes, alongside education to support children and young people and their families and carers to use it

Offer intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM, commonly referred to as 'flash') to children and young people with type 1 diabetes aged 4 years and over who are unable to use rtCGM or who express a clear preference for isCGM

Offer children and young people with type 1 diabetes a choice of rtCGM device, based on their individual preferences, needs, characteristics, and the functionality of the devices available. See box 1 for examples of factors to consider as part of this discussion

When choosing a continuous glucose monitoring device:

use shared decision making to identify the child or young person's needs and preferences and offer them an appropriate device
if multiple devices meet their needs and preferences, offer the device with the lowest cost.
- Box 1 factors to consider when choosing a continuous glucose monitoring device

accuracy of the device
whether the device provides predictive alerts or alarms and if these need to be shared with anyone else, for example a parent or carer
whether using the device requires access to particular technologies (such as a smartphone and up-to-date phone software)
how easy the device is to use and take readings from, including for people with limited dexterity (taking into account the age and abilities of the child or young person and also whether the device needs to be used by others)
fear, frequency, awareness and severity of hypoglycaemia
psychosocial factors
the child or young person's insulin regimen or type of insulin pump, if relevant (taking into account whether a particular device integrates with their pump as part of a hybrid closed loop or insulin suspend function)
whether, how often and how the device needs to be calibrated, and how easy it is for the person to do this themselves
how data can be collected, compatibility of the device with other technology, and whether data can be shared with the person's healthcare provider to help inform treatment
how unpredictable the child or young person's activity and blood glucose levels are and whether erratic blood glucose is affecting their quality of life
whether the choice of device will impact on the child or young person's ability to attend school or education, or to do their job
whether the child or young person takes part in sports or exercise when glucose levels will need additional management
whether the child or young person has situations when symptoms of hypoglycaemia cannot be communicated or can be confused, for example during exercise
clinical factors that may make devices easier or harder to use
frequency of sensor replacement
sensitivities to the device, for example local skin reactions
body image concerns

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) should be provided by a team with expertise in its use, as part of supporting children and young people to self-manage their diabetes.

Advise children and young people with type 1 diabetes who are using CGM (and their families or carers) that they will still need to take capillary blood glucose measurements (although they can do this less often). Explain that is because:

they will need to use capillary blood glucose measurements to check the accuracy of their CGM device
they will need capillary blood glucose monitoring as a back-up (for example when their blood glucose levels are changing quickly or if the device stops working).

Provide them with enough test strips to take capillary blood glucose measurements as needed

If a person cannot use or does not want rtCGM or isCGM, offer capillary blood glucose monitoring

Monitor and review the child or young person's use of CGM as part of reviewing their diabetes care plan, and explain to them the importance of continuously wearing the device

If the child or young person is not using their CGM device at least 70% of the time:

ask if they are having problems with their device
look at ways to address any problems or concerns to improve their use of the device, including further education and emotional and psychological support.

Notes:

subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)
- has proven benefit in type 1 diabetes (2)
  - various designs (3,4)
    - subcutaneous monitoring
      - involves the subcutaneous insertion of a glucose sensor attached to a transmitter that sends signals to either an insulin pump or a hand-held meter
      - worn for 7 days
      - sensor inserted into subcutaneous abdominal fat
      - devices generally require regular calibration and blood glucose testing about twice a day
      - subcutaneous glucose levels change more slowly than plasma glucose, and this may be an important limitation, particularly if glucose levels are changing rapidly
        subcutaneous glucose levels, therefore, have a short time lag, compared with blood glucose measurements, and measurements may not always match blood glucose. Nevertheless, when worn regularly (changed every 7 days), they improve outcomes in terms of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia
        patients can be alerted to hypo - and hyperglycaemia, and take early action to correct blood glucose levels
      - some CGM devices if used with particular insulin pumps will shut the pump off if a low glucose level is identified and thus is designed to prevent hypoglycaemia
    - a non-invasive CGM device uses the principle of Raman spectroscopy where a painless pulse of monochromatic light is transmitted into the skin, and the scattered light is detected for the determination of glucose levels (4)
      - device can be worn on the abdomen like a band and measures blood glucose levels every five minutes
      - sensor transmits data to a smartphone which is also enabled with alarms during periods of glucose excursion
flash glucose monitoring (FGM)
- FreeStyle Libre, is the first FGM system - note that FGM technology is sometimes referred to as intermittent continuous glucose monitoring (iCGM)
  - uses a wired glucose oxidase enzyme co-immobilized on an electrochemical sensor that is worn on the arm for up to 14 days (5)
    - patch sensor is about the size of a coin and has a short filament (4 mm long) that must be inserted into the subcutaneous tissue of the upper arm
    - FGM system does not require calibration with patient's SMBG
    - availability of glucose data is only on demand; in FGM, the glucose values are not constantly shown, and people can obtain real-time interstitial glucose values by placing a "reader" in proximity to the sensor
    - data are transferred from the sensor to the reader and recorded automatically every 15 min
      - also trends for the previous 8 h can be seen on the screen
    - the glucose change trend is indicated using an arrow
      - there are no alarms (in contrast to CGM) when defined values are exceeded or expected to be exceeded in the following minutes
    - FGM lacks connectivity with CSII devices
    - glucose values, which can be downloaded at any time, are presented in a simple form and include the Ambulatory Glucose Profile (AGP), which combines all the data from the sensor over a period of 14 days and gives a summarized visual display of glycaemic patterns
    - FGM is accurate, with reported overall mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of 11.4% for sensor results and stable over 14 days of use when compared with capillary BG reference values, and unaffected by body mass index, age, type of DM, clinical site, insulin administration, or A1C (5)
    - use of FGM has been associated with improvement in glucose control in both uncontrolled T2 and T1DM, and maintained for up to 24 weeks of using the device (5)
      - in well-controlled patients with T1DM, the use of FCGM reduced the time spent in hypoglycaemia by 38% at 6 months (intervention group) versus controls (SMBG) (5)

Reference:

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