Annika Agni
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Melissa Dejonckheere
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Department of Family Medicine / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 3 – 1:40pm – 2:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Annika Agni, Melissa DeJonckheere, PhD, Yu Kuei (Alex) Lin, MD
Presenter: 72
Abstract
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are popular devices to support diabetes self-management, and were expected to minimize hypoglycemia (or low blood glucose) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, why people with T1D continue to experience hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL), including the more dangerous level 2 hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dL), while using CGMs remains unclear. In this study, we investigate barriers to hypoglycemia self-management and how it overlaps with diabetes technology usage to illuminate the remaining challenges in minimizing hypoglycemia in CGM users and to inform future intervention development to address these challenges. We employ a convergent mixed methods study approach (quantitative and qualitative) and recruit adults with T1D using real-time CGMs for at least six months. Purposive sampling was conducted to recruit groups categorized based on three different percentage ranges of time spent in level 2 hypoglycemia: 0 %, 0.01 % - 0.99 %, and >= 1%; 10 participants each group; total n=30. To date, 9 participants have been interviewed via video calls (35 – 75 minutes) after CGM data collection. Preliminary findings reveal that most participants feel confident in managing hypoglycemia and rely on their CGMs for hypoglycemia self-management. While CGM graph and trend arrow features were reported to greatly assist self-management, reports on CGM alarms were mixed with attitudes of frustration and usefulness by a number of participants. Common barriers toward hypoglycemia self-management leading to delay in treatment included lack of available or ideal treatment, insulin misdosages, and discomfort of drawing unwanted attention with treating hypoglycemia in public. Some participants noted issues with CGM data accuracy, such as false hypoglycemia alerts due to device compression, which have led to hesitation to administer treatment. Behavioral interventions could be developed to target and address these attitudes for improving hypoglycemia self-management and minimizing hypoglycemia in this population.
Biomedical Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Interdisciplinary, Public Health, Social Sciences
