Expert Assembly Spearheaded by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology Calls for Expanded Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Technology in the Care of People With Diabetes

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 12:14 pm EST

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A consensus conference convened by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) this past weekend advocated for expanded use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in the management of diabetes.

The diverse cross-section of diabetes care thought leaders included scientific and medical societies, patient advocacy groups, government, insurance, and pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers.

The key conclusions concerning CGM use in diabetes include the following:

• Robust data support benefits in many people with diabetes, particularly those with type 1 diabetes
• Technological advances have improved reliability and accuracy
• Use has reduced hypoglycemia while improving control of blood glucose, ensuring patient safety
• Data suggest benefits in other patient populations, such as patients with type 2 diabetes on intensive insulin therapy
• Studies are needed to demonstrate the value of CGM technology in other patient populations
• Access should be expanded to all patient populations with proven benefits

“This conference was a necessary and critical step to help ensure that persons with diabetes who can benefit from CGM technology gain access to the best clinical care possible,” said Dr. Vivian Fonseca, FACE and Chair of the Consensus Conference. “By incorporating the practical knowledge and insights of experts across the diabetes care spectrum, we are in a position to advance this cause considerably.”

Conference participants tackled the full spectrum of CGM-related topics during the Conference. Among the issues rigorously examined:

• Identification of patient populations who may benefit from personal and/or professional CGM use
• Standardization of CGM reporting to facilitate consistent interpretation in clinical practice
• Definition of a protocol for effective analysis of CGM data for clinical utilization
• Impact of using CGM to reduce healthcare costs associated with diabetes (e.g., severe hypoglycemic events)
• Strategies to remove barriers for successful use of CGMs by patients and healthcare providers for improved diabetes management
• Use of CGM in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment
• Use of CGM in the evolving healthcare environment, (e.g., the Patient-Centered Medical Home model, alternative payment)

A complete summary of the conference conclusions can be found online at the AACE here: http://media.aace.com/press-kit/2016-continuous-glucose-monitoring-consensus-conference-summary-statement.

“It’s crucial that we embrace the technological advances in diabetes management that enhance our capacity to provide the highest level of care to people with diabetes,” added AACE President Dr. George Grunberger, FACP, FACE. “Our Conference participants’ examination of the clinical and economic issues affecting expanded use of CGM was invaluable.”

A comprehensive white paper describing the necessary steps toward a concerted, collaborative effort necessary to addressing and overcome current barriers to optimal diabetes care will be published in a future issue of Endocrine Practice, AACE’s monthly, peer-reviewed medical journal.

Contact:

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)
Glenn Sebold, 904-353-7878 ext. 122
gsebold@aace.com

About the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) represents more than 6,500 endocrinologists in the United States and abroad. AACE is the largest association of clinical endocrinologists in the world. The majority of AACE members are certified in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism and concentrate on the treatment of patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders including diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiency, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. Visit our website at www.aace.com

About the American College of Endocrinology (ACE)

The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) is the educational and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). ACE is the leader in advancing the care and prevention of endocrine and metabolic disorders by providing professional education and reliable public health information; recognizing excellence in education, research and service; promoting clinical research and defining the future of clinical endocrinology. For more information, please visit www.aace.com/college.