Practical guidance for treatment of patients with diabetes using flash glucose monitoring: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: Flash glucose monitoring (FGM) is a factory-calibrated, blood glucose measuring sensor system for patients with diabetes. We aimed to investigate the correlation between the sensor glucose (SG) value obtained using an FGM device and the traditional self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) value. METHODS: In 30 patients with diabetes under insulin treatment, SG and SMBG values were measured for 2 weeks, and the correlation between the values was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean number of accumulated measurements of SG values was 1223.2 ± 193.0, whereas that of the SMBG values was 49.2 ± 21.3. Although SG and SMBG values showed a favorable correlation (R(2) = 0.8413), SG values were lower than SMBG values by an average of 7.9 ± 29.8 mg/dL. The correlation patterns fell into four types: low type (SG values lower than SMBG values; n = 12), high type (SG values higher than SMBG values; n = 3), cross type (the slope of the two regression lines crossed at a certain measurement value; n = 14), and matching type (the values overlapped; n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of the characteristic correlation patterns between SG and SMBG values is indispensable for certified diabetes educators to provide appropriate treatment guidance to patients with diabetes.