WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A retrospective study being presented at the 11th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) observed that use of Glytec’s Glucommander™ Outpatient for insulin therapy management combined with blood glucose self-testing at least twice a day resulted in better patient outcomes, including a 3.0% absolute reduction in A1c and virtually no hypoglycemia (0.003%) less than 54 mg/dL.
The study, led by renowned diabetologist and researcher, Dr. Bruce Bode, included patients prescribed insulin therapy for type 1 or type 2 diabetes whose baseline A1c was greater than 9%. Blood glucose self-testing was performed using cellular-enabled meters, and data was transmitted directly to the Cloud, allowing Glucommander™ Outpatient to formulate personalized insulin dose recommendations.
Joseph Johnson, a physician assistant who provided care to the study patients, explained: “With Glucommander™, patients don’t have to wait for an onsite visit to receive an insulin dose adjustment. It’s done virtually, which means the process is more timely and patients aren’t left guessing whether they’re administering the right dose at the right time. Glucommander™ removes a lot of the stress and anxiety patients experience when they’re put on insulin, especially those who are new to insulin or new to MDI [multiple daily injections]. Patients whose treatment is guided by Glucommander™ have greater peace of mind, they’re more confident that their insulin therapy is working, and as a result, they’re more engaged. They also get to goal much quicker.”
For purposes of measuring outcomes, the study population was divided into two cohorts: those who tested their blood glucose twice a day or more, and those who tested their blood glucose less than twice a day. Among the former, average A1c was 10.5% at baseline and 7.5% at three months, and among the latter, average A1c was 10.4% at baseline and 8.9% at three months, indicating that more frequent blood glucose self-testing directly correlates to greater reductions in A1c.
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Outcomes with Glucommander™ Outpatient |
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| Patient Cohort |
Average A1c at Baseline |
Average A1c at 3 Mos |
Absolute A1c Reduction |
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| Blood Glucose Self-Testing >= 2 Times/Day | 10.5% | 7.5% | 3.0% | ||||||
| Blood Glucose Self-Testing < 2 Times/Day | 10.4% | 8.9% | 1.5% | ||||||
The authors concluded that Glytec’s Glucommander™ Outpatient delivered a statistically significant benefit to ALL study patients, even those who tested less than twice a day, but noted that future research should examine whether use of continuous glucose monitoring devices, or CGM, may serve to improve outcomes among patients who experience difficulty achieving more frequent blood glucose self-testing.
“Glucommander™ is a huge benefit not only for patients, but for providers, too,” Johnson said. “The automation saves our diabetes educators hours of time they otherwise have to spend visually scanning paper-based blood glucose logs looking for patterns that dictate an insulin dose adjustment.”
He added: “I would really like to see this system in the hands of primary care providers, given many are reluctant to start patients on insulin, especially MDI, without first sending them to an endocrinologist. However, with fewer and fewer endocrinologists to support a growing population of patients with diabetes, this is fast becoming problematic, whereas with Glucommander™, it’s very easy and efficient for providers to initiate insulin therapy and manage it long term.”
About Glytec
Glytec is the pioneer of personalized digital therapeutics, enabling best practices for inpatient and outpatient insulin management. The company’s patented and FDA-cleared software-as-a-medical-device solutions improve the safety and health of people with diabetes and make insulin a more effective medication option for the millions unable to achieve their treatment goals. Glytec combines evidence-based decision support technologies with expert clinical services to optimize insulin therapies in the hospital and at home, leading to reductions in hypoglycemia and other complications as well as avoidable ED visits, hospitalizations, readmissions and drug waste. The company has offices in Waltham, Massachusetts and Greenville, South Carolina. For more information visit www.glytecsystems.com.
