Diabetes Prime Time: Glycemic Variability, Continuous Glucose Monitoring, and Postprandial Glucose Management

Patients with diabetes on insulin replacement therapy have understandable concerns about hypoglycemia. However, clinicians focused on avoiding hypoglycemia are missing the other major factor in optimal glycemia management, glycemic variability (GV). Postprandial hyperglycemia is of particular concern. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can be used to identify GV in patients, and is becoming the standard of care for patients with diabetes. Once identified, clinicians need to be familiar with how to address GV by appropriate selection of newer insulin therapies that have a more predictable profile and rapid mode of action facilitating better coordination with carbohydrate intake with increased safety.

Learning Objectives
Upon proper completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
• Evaluate the implications of glycemic variability (GV) for patients with diabetes
• Assess the utility of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for patients with diabetes
• Develop insulin treatment strategies to address postprandial glucose (PPG) excursions for patients with diabetes