JMIR Formative Research (Apr 2022)

Medication Optimization Among People With Type 2 Diabetes Participating in a Continuous Glucose Monitoring–Driven Virtual Care Program: Prospective Study

  • Amit R Majithia,
  • David M Erani,
  • Coco M Kusiak,
  • Jennifer E Layne,
  • Amy Armento Lee,
  • Francis R Colangelo,
  • Robert J Romanelli,
  • Scott Robertson,
  • Shayla M Brown,
  • Ronald F Dixon,
  • Howard Zisser

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2196/31629
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 4
p. e31629

Abstract

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BackgroundThe Onduo virtual care program for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) includes a mobile app, remote lifestyle coaching, connected devices, and telemedicine consultations with endocrinologists for medication management and prescription of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) devices. In a previously described 4-month prospective study of this program, adults with T2D and baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥8.0% to ≤12.0% experienced a mean HbA1c decrease of 1.6% with no significant increase in hypoglycemia. ObjectiveThe objective of this analysis was to evaluate medication optimization and management in the 4-month prospective T2D study. MethodsStudy participants received at least 1 telemedicine consultation with an Onduo endocrinologist for diabetes medication management and used RT-CGM intermittently to guide therapy and dosing. Medication changes were analyzed. ResultsOf 55 participants, 48 (87%) had a medication change consisting of a dose change, addition, or discontinuation. Of these, 15 (31%) participants had a net increase in number of diabetes medication classes from baseline. Mean time to first medication change for these participants was 36 days. The percentage of participants taking a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist increased from 25% (12/48) to 56% (n=27), while the percentages of participants taking a sulfonylurea or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor decreased from 56% (n=27) to 33% (n=16) and 17% (n=8) to 6% (n=3), respectively. Prescriptions of other antidiabetic medication classes including insulin did not change significantly. ConclusionsThe Onduo virtual care program can play an important role in providing timely access to guideline-based diabetes management medications and technologies for people with T2D. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03865381; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03865381