Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Data Sharing to Encourage Collaboration Among Older Adults With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Care Partners: Qualitative Descriptive Study

BACKGROUND: Persons with diabetes use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to self-manage their diabetes. Care partners (CPs) frequently become involved in supporting persons with diabetes in the management of their diabetes. However, persons with diabetes and CP dyads may require more communication and problem-solving skills regarding how to share and respond to CGM data. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of persons with diabetes and CPs who participated in the Share “plus” intervention, which addresses dyadic communication strategies, problem-solving, and action planning to promote sharing of CGM data among the dyad. METHODS: Ten dyads participated in the Share “plus” telehealth intervention. Participants were interviewed during and after the Share “plus” intervention. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data. RESULTS: During postsession interviews, dyads described feeling a sense of shared responsibility yet viewed the persons with diabetes as ultimately responsible for the disease. Additionally, dyads shared that communication patterns improved and were able to recognize the negative aspects of previously established communication patterns. Dyads reported communication focused on hypoglycemia episodes while also differing in the frequency they reviewed CGM data and set alerts. Overall, dyads expressed positive reactions to the Share “plus” intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Share “plus” was helpful in promoting positive CGM-related communication among dyads and encouraged more CP support. CPs play an important role in supporting older adults with type 1 diabetes. Communication strategies help support dyad involvement in CGM data sharing and self-management among persons with diabetes.