Date

8-2021

Department

School of Nursing

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Chair

Sharon Kopis

Keywords

CGMs, T2DM, Hemoglobin A1c, Continuous glucose monitors, adults, Type 2 Diabetes

Disciplines

Education | Nursing

Abstract

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are used to measure a patient’s glucose levels every few minutes around the clock. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK), CGMs are mostly used by Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients, but research has shown that Type 2 DM patients can benefit from them as well (Ida et al., 2019; NIDDK, 2017). Glucose levels can change over hours or days, and seeing the trends by using a CGM will help patients make more informed decisions about the food they eat and how much they exercise, and the type and amount of medication they take (NIDDK, 2021). The use of CGMs allows more control over a patient’s disease process and promotes better health maintenance. The final outcome of using CGMs is lowering hemoglobin A1c levels. When glucose is monitored continuously, trends can be seen, hyperglycemic episodes, which may require a medication adjustment or an increase in exercise regimen, will be seen. This is especially beneficial for those who are hypoglycemic unaware, as food or glucose can be given to bring glucose levels to normal. Each of these adjustments keeps the glucose in the body at a more stable level, and ultimately, HbA1c levels will become lower as well.

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