Decreasing hypoglycemia unawareness in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus after continuous glucose monitoring: tools for self-care

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a public health problem that causes early and late complications. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has become the main technological tool for real-time glycemic control and has the potential to prevent complications. However, its use has not spread in low- and middle-income countries. We present the experience in the management of a patient with type 1 diabetes with hypoglycemia unawareness in whom the use of real-time CGM achieved both: less hypoglycemic episodes and optimization of insulin regimen. The benefit of real-time CGM in addition to the use of analog insulins and diabetes education resulted in better metabolic control. CGM is a useful tool to consider in patients with hypoglycemia unawareness and to minimize the risk of complications in the future.

Keywords

• diabetes mellitus type 1
• technology
• education
• blood glucose self-monitoring
• hypoglycemia