Frequency of flash glucose monitoring and glucose metrics: real-world observational data from Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: This real-world data study analyzed glucose metrics from FreeStyle Libre(®) flash glucose monitoring in relation to scanning frequency, time in range (TIR) and estimated A1c (eA1c) in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Anonymized reader data were analyzed according to scanning frequency quartiles, eA1c categories (<7%,≥7%‒≤9% or>9%) and TIR categories (<50%,≥50%‒≤70% or>70%). Sensors, grouped by reader, were required to have≥120 h of operation. Differences in scanning frequency, eA1c, TIR, time in hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and glucose variability (standard deviation [SD] and coefficient of variation [CV]) were analyzed between groups. RESULTS: 6097 readers, 35,747 sensors, and 40 million automatic glucose measurements were analyzed. Patients in the highest scanning frequency quartile (Q4, mean 32.0 scans/day) had lower eA1c (8.47%), greater TIR (46.4%) and lower glucose variation (SD 75.0 mg/dL, CV 38.2%) compared to the lowest quartile (Q1, mean 5.2 scans/day; eA1c 9.77%, TIR 32.8%, SD 94.9 mg/dL, CV 41.3%). Lower eA1c and higher TIR were associated with greater scanning frequency, lower glucose variability and less time in hyperglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: Higher scanning frequency in flash glucose users from Saudi Arabia is associated with lower eA1c, higher TIR, lower glucose variability and less time in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13098-022-00831-y.