<b>Objective:
</b>To
explore the effect of discontinuing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) after 8
months of CGM use in adults with type 2 diabetes treated with basal without
bolus insulin.
<p><b>Research
Design and Methods:</b> Multi-center trial with an initial
randomization to either real-time CGM or blood glucose monitoring (BGM) for 8
months, followed by 6 months in which the
BGM Group continued to use BGM (N=57) and the CGM Group was re-randomized
either to continue CGM (N=53) or discontinue CGM with resumption of BGM for
glucose monitoring (N=53). </p>
<p><b>Results:
</b>In the group that discontinued CGM,
mean time in range 70-180 mg/dL (TIR),
which improved from 38% prior to initiating CGM to 62% after 8 months of CGM,
decreased after discontinuing CGM to 50% at 14 months (mean change from 8 to 14
months = -12%, 95% CI -21% to -3%, P=0.01).
In the group continuing CGM, there was little change in TIR from 8 to 14
months (baseline 44%, 8 months 56%, 14 months 57%; mean change 8 to 14 months =
1%, 95% CI -11% to 12%, P=0.89). Comparing the two groups at 14 months, the
adjusted treatment group difference in mean TIR was -6% (95% CI -16% to 4%,
P=0.20).</p>
<p><b>Conclusions:
</b>In
adults with type 2 diabetes treated with basal insulin who had been using real-time
CGM for 8 months, discontinuing CGM resulted in a loss of about half of the
initial gain in TIR that had been achieved during CGM use.</p>