Impact of CGM on Lifestyle Modifications and Diabetes Self-Management Practices

Background: Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have significantly advanced diabetes management by providing real-time (RT) blood glucose insights, improving glycemic control, and reducing the risks of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The study aims to investigate CGM's impact on lifestyle and self-management, psychosocial factors, and quality of life.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the Dammam Medical Complex in Saudi Arabia from September to October 2024 in accordance with ethical guidelines and was approved by the Ministry of Health institutional review boards. A sample size of 231 was calculated, including adult diabetic participants (aged> 18) who used CGM systems for at least 6 months. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data on lifestyle modifications, self-management, psychosocial factors, treatment satisfaction, and diabetes-related distress.

Results: Females were predominant (51.90%), and the majority were aged 18-29 years (61.90%), with a median weight of 65.00 kg.  41.56% of participants had used CGM for 6-12 months, with most participants using the FreeStyle Libre CGM (96.10%) and following a multiple-daily-injection regimen (89.18%).   90.48% reported healthier diet choices and increased physical activity after using CGM, with high ratings for ease of use (96.10%), comfort (83.98%), and meaningful information (89.16%). Identified as a significant predictor of lower satisfaction with CGM, T1DM was predominant among participants (p < 0.0001). Despite being positively correlated with lower diabetes-related distress, improved self-management, glucose monitoring, and quality of life (p < 0.001), CGM’s reliability remains a concern (54.11%).

Conclusion: Findings demonstrate the positive impact of CGM use on lifestyle modifications, self-management practices, and quality of life among individuals with diabetes. However, concerns about CGM reliability persist, and satisfaction levels vary significantly by type of diabetes. Overall, CGM use supports better diabetes management and lifestyle changes. However, further improvements in device reliability and tailored support for different patient groups are necessary.