Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The Freestyle Flash glucose monitoring (Flash GM) is a new technology suitable for children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Clinical accuracy, safety and user acceptability of the Flash GM has been demonstrated in a recent study. In 2017 the UK Association of children’s diabetes clinicians (ACDC) launched national guidelines for training healthcare professionals in delivering Flash GM to children with T1DM.

Objective: To evaluate patient glycaemic control and quality of life (QoL) scores following the use of the Flash GM with provision of education and support on the use of the Flash GM.

Methods: Fifty-three children with T1DM were started on Freestyle Flash GM for a minimum of 3 months. Patients and parents were provided with key education and support on the use of the Flash GM using the ADCD guidelines prior to starting the Flash GM and on fortnightly bases. The Peds QL 3.2 diabetes questionnaire was used to assess the QoL scores of patients and parents before and after the use of the Flash GM.

Results: Fifty-three children (34 boys and 19 girls) with a mean age at diagnosis of 7.8 years and a mean diabetes duration of 4.4 years were evaluated. The mean HbA1c 3 months after starting the Flash GM showed significant improvement when compared with mean HbA1c values at 12, 6 and 3 months before starting the Flash GM (HbA1c 59.17 mmol/mol vs 62.23 mmol/mol, P value 0.009; 59.29 mmol/mol vs 62.14 mmol/mol, P value 0.009; 58.72 mmol/mol vs 65.34 mmol/mol P value 0.009 respectively). The Peds QL 3.2 scores demonstrated significant improvement in patients QoL following the use of Flash GM (P value 0.01).

Conclusion: Our findings provide promising support for the use of the Flash GM in children with T1DM. Flash GM technology associated with appropriate Flash GM education at the initiation of the technology and regular support from healthcare professionals improves overall glycaemic control and QoL in children with T1DM.