Background: Family members of older adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) regularly become part of the diabetes care team yet often lack knowledge about how to become involved to prevent hypo- and hyperglycemia. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) with data sharing could facilitate diabetes management among older adults with T1D and their family members.

Methods: Older adults with T1D (n=20) and their care partners (n=20) received a RT-CGM data sharing intervention called SHARE. SHARE included dyadic communication strategies, problem-solving strategies, and action planning. People with diabetes (PWD) wore the RT-CGM for 12 weeks while sharing their glucose data with a care partner. Feasibility data were obtained on intervention dose, implementation processes, satisfaction, and diabetes-related quality of life using RT-CGM. Descriptive statistics were used to examine feasibility, satisfaction, and demographic data.

Results: The SHARE intervention was feasible, had high self-reported satisfaction for PWD and their care partner, and high adherence (96±6.8%) with wearing the RT-CGM. We found broad improvements in diabetes-related quality of life using RT-CGM in PWD and their care partners. Although the majority of PWD were willing to share hyperglycemia data (55%), several chose not to. The majority of PWD were willing to talk about glucose numbers with a care partner (n=70%). For this feasibility study, the SHARE intervention was not targeted at improving glucose levels but rather on communication and problem-solving strategies. There were no significant trends in the RT-CGM data (e.g., time in range) between baseline and 12 weeks.

Conclusion: Older adults with T1D diabetes and their care partners identified the positives of RT-CGM with SHARE as having someone else aware of glucose levels and working together with a partner on diabetes self-management. SHARE may improve dyadic communication and problem-solving around glucose management in older adults.

Disclosure

N. A. Allen: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc. M. L. Litchman: Research Support; Self; Abbott Diabetes. J. Chamberlain: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Abbott Diabetes, Dexcom, Inc. E. Grigorian: None. E. Iacob: None. C. Berg: None.

Funding

University of Utah Center on Aging; University of Utah One U Caregiving Initiative; Dexcom, Inc.

© 2021 by the American Diabetes Association
2021
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