A remote continuous glucose monitor (CGM) monitoring service that’s led by community pharmacists may help improve glycemic metrics for patients with diabetes, according to research published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.1 The authors said the program could improve diabetes control and reduce long-term diabetes-related health complications.
The prevalence of diabetes has been increasing in the United States and now represents a significant public health concern. Over 38 million people in the country—or around 11% of the population—have diabetes.2 Although CGM technology is known to improve glycemic control and has been rapidly adopted, the prevalence of use is still below 50%.3 Cloud-based CGM monitoring platforms represent a new way for health care professionals to remotely monitor patients, but certain barriers have so far restricted their use.
Key Takeaways
- Published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, this study explores the impact of pharmacist-led remote continuous glucose monitor (CGM) monitoring services on diabetes management, shedding light on a novel approach to improving patient outcomes.
- Patients enrolled in these programs experienced significant enhancements in glycemic control metrics, including reduced time above range, increased time in range, and improved average glucose levels, showcasing the effectiveness of pharmacist-led interventions.
- The study underscores the feasibility of integrating remote CGM monitoring into community pharmacy practices, highlighting the potential for scalability and sustainability of such programs with further research and optimization.
“Community pharmacists routinely dispense and provide education on CGM devices,” the authors wrote. “There have been numerous studies proving that diabetes education programs at community pharmacies have a positive impact on patients’ diabetes control. However, the use of remote CGM monitoring has been traditionally reserved for ambulatory care or primary care clinics, and there is a lack of significant data supporting remote CGM monitoring in the community pharmacy.”
A team of investigators from the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy and Kroger Health conducted a study to evaluate the clinical impact of a community pharmacist-led remote CGM monitoring service on patients’ glycemic metrics. The prospective feasibility study took place at 2 pharmacies within a single large community pharmacy chain from November 2022 through June 2023.
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Before the study began, the pharmacists involved completed an online CGM training module provided by the American Pharmacist’s Association. Two different cloud-based CGM platforms were used: Dexcom Clarity and FreeStyle LibreView. The study cohort included 36 adult patients who were identified through prescription dispensing reports for CGM devices in the pharmacy management system.
As part of the remote service, a pharmacist evaluated and recorded glycemic data from each patient at least every 2 weeks. If patient metrics reached certain criteria, the pharmacist would contact them via telephone. The pharmacist also reviewed medications, medication adherence, and provided medication therapy management services, including recommending dosage adjustments, initiation or discontinuation, and new CGM devices.
