title: Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring Facilitates Feelings of Safety in Older Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: Older adults with long-standing type 1 diabetes (T1D) have a higher risk for hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia unawareness. Hypoglycemia can be dangerous, even fatal. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) effectively supports diabetes management and well-being in adult and pediatric populations. Little is known about older adults and RT-CGM use. The purpose of this study was to identify why RT-CGM was important for diabetes management in individuals with T1D 65 years of age.
  
  
  
  A convenience sample of older adults with T1D participated in one of two online surveys about RT-CGM. Categorical data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A qualitative content analysis was conducted for open-ended responses.
  
  
  
  Participants (N = 22) included in this study were those using RT-CGM (n = 11) and those who were not using RT-CGM, but desired to do so (n = 11). Those using RT-CGM were less likely to experience severe hypoglycemia ( P = .02) or hypoglycemia resulting in a fall or inability to operate a motor vehicle ( P = .01) Three major themes were identified: (1) RT-CGM facilitates feelings of safety by preventing hypoglycemia, (2) RT-CGM improves well-being, and (3) access is a barrier to RT-CGM use.
  
  
  
  RT-CGM improves safety and well-being in older adults with T1D by preventing hypoglycemia and associated injury and worry. Older adults without access to RT-CGM experience more severe hypoglycemia events that negatively affect their safety and well-being. Improving access to RT-CGM in older adults is critical to improving health and safety, and demands more attention from stakeholders in diabetes care.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Litchman
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000523:psychology*; D003199:Computer Systems; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007332:Insulin Infusion Systems; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: continuous glucose monitoring; hypoglycemia; older adult; safety; type 1 diabetes