Evidence Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Methodol. Mar 20, 2024; 14(1): 90316
Published online Mar 20, 2024. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v14.i1.90316
Continuous glucose monitoring metrics in pregnancy with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Mohammad Sadiq Jeeyavudeen, Mairi Crosby, Joseph M Pappachan
Mohammad Sadiq Jeeyavudeen, Metabolic Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
Mairi Crosby, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University Hospitals of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, United Kingdom
Joseph M Pappachan, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Preston PR2 9HT, United Kingdom
Joseph M Pappachan, Faculty of Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, United Kingdom
Joseph M Pappachan, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
Co-first authors: Mohammad Sadiq Jeeyavudeen and Mairi Crosby.
Author contributions: Jeeyavudeen MS and Crossby M substantially contributed to the conception of the work and performed literature search, interpretation of relevant literature, article drafting, revision and Figure preparation and share the first authorship; Pappachan JM contributed to the literature search and revision of the article critically for important intellectual content; All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. Jeeyavudeen MS and Pappachan JM are highly experienced clinicians specializing in the management of diabetes during pregnancy. Their extensive clinical work in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) has significantly influenced the care of pregnant patients with diabetes. Both Jeeyavudeen MS and Pappachan JM have contributed to the field through numerous publications related to T1DM and are active members of the national societies and working group for diabetes management in pregnancy, reflecting their commitment to improving clinical practices and guidelines. In addition, Crossby M's role in the team is characterized by a strong focus on systematic reviews, demonstrating an enthusiasm for comprehensive, evidence-based approaches. Crossby M’s work in synthesizing research findings complements the clinical insights provided by Jeeyavudeen MS and Pappachan JM, collectively forming a comprehensive approach to T1DM management in pregnancy. This integration of clinical expertise and research-based knowledge ensures that patient care is both effective and aligned with the latest scientific advancements.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have nothing to declare.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Joseph M Pappachan, MD, FRCP, Academic Editor, Consultant Endocrinologist, Professor, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sharoe Green Lane, Preston PR2 9HT, United Kingdom. drpappachan@yahoo.co.in
Received: November 29, 2023
Peer-review started: November 29, 2023
First decision: December 12, 2023
Revised: December 17, 2023
Accepted: January 16, 2024
Article in press: January 16, 2024
Published online: March 20, 2024
Processing time: 98 Days and 11.7 Hours
Abstract

Managing diabetes during pregnancy is challenging, given the significant risk it poses for both maternal and foetal health outcomes. While traditional methods involve capillary self-monitoring of blood glucose level monitoring and periodic HbA1c tests, the advent of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems has revolutionized the approach. These devices offer a safe and reliable means of tracking glucose levels in real-time, benefiting both women with diabetes during pregnancy and the healthcare providers. Moreover, CGM systems have shown a low rate of side effects and high feasibility when used in pregnancies complicated by diabetes, especially when paired with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump as hybrid closed loop device. Such a combined approach has been demonstrated to improve overall blood sugar control, lessen the occurrence of preeclampsia and neonatal hypoglycaemia, and minimize the duration of neonatal intensive care unit stays. This paper aims to offer a comprehensive evaluation of CGM metrics specifically tailored for pregnancies impacted by type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Continuous glucose monitoring; Pregnancy; Glycaemic control; Continuous glucose monitoring system

Core Tip: Intense glucose monitoring during pregnancy is crucial for the management of women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) to ensure optimal maternal and foetal health outcomes. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) techniques are revolutionising diabetes care in patients with T1DM in recent years owing to its higher efficacy, relatively easier use for younger generation for testing compared to the cumbersome finger-prick capillary self-monitoring of blood glucose, and the options for integration CGM to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump settings for simulating artificial pancreas. Understanding the CGM metrics is highly important for the correct management of these new technological advancements, which is the theme of this clinical update review.