Community teams should encourage older people with diabetes to use CGM technology, expert claims

A consultant is calling for community diabetes teams to support older people living with the condition by showing them the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring.

Dr Giuseppe Maltese, Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology and Specialist in Geriatric Medicine at Surrey Downs Health and Care, outlined that older adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are less at risk of having hypoglycaemia if they are using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device.

During his presentation today at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference, Dr Maltese also highlighted that CGM can improve glycaemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes technology used in the community include the Freestyle Libre 2 and Dexcom 1, the session revealed.

According to research, older adults with diabetes have a greater risk of hypoglycaemia, especially if they are treated with hypoglycaemic agents such as sulfonylureas, meglitinides and insulin.

Speaking at the conference, Dr Maltese also identified the importance of screening for cognitive impairment in older people with diabetes as it can pick up early signs of dementia.

Globally one in five people aged between 65 and 99 live with diabetes (136 million). It is projected that the number of people older than 65 with diabetes will reach 195.2 million by 2030 and 276.2 million by 2045.