Mona Elbalshy1, Sara Boucher1, Hamish Crocket2, Barbara Galland1, Craig MacKenzie3, Martin I de Bock4,5, Craig Jefferies6,7, Esko Wiltshire8,9, Benjamin J Wheeler1,10. 1. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand. 2. Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, Sport & Human Performance, University of Waikato, Dunedin, New Zealand. 3. Pharmacy Department, Southern District Health Board, Dunedin, New Zealand. 4. Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. 5. Department of Paediatrics, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand. 6. Paediatric Endocrinology, Starship Children's Health, Auckland, New Zealand. 7. Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand. 8. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. 9. Paediatrics and Child Health, Capital and Coast District Health Board, Wellington, New Zealand. 10. Paediatric Endocrinology, Southern District Health Board, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: MiaoMiao (MM) is a Bluetooth transmitter, which when paired with a smart phone/device, converts the Abbott FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system into a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Families are increasingly adopting DIY CGM solutions, but little is known about parent and child experiences with these add-on technologies. We aimed to explore experiences of families using MM-CGM including challenges faced and their advice to others who may choose to use the technology. METHODS: Between May and July 2019, we conducted 12 semistructured interviews (in person or via video conference) with parents of children (aged ≤16 years) with type 1 diabetes using MM-CGM. Interviews were audio recorded; professionally transcribed and key themes were identified through thematic analysis. RESULTS: Overall, parents used MM-CGM to proactively manage their child's blood glucose. In all participants, this led to a perceived decrease in frequency of hypoglycemia. Participants reported that the visibility and easy access to blood glucose readings, glucose trends, and customized alarms on parent's phones decreased their disease burden and improved their sleep quality. Common barriers to using MM-CGM included difficulty of the setting up process, connectivity issues, and lack of support from medical teams. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential feasibility of using a DIY CGM system like MM-CGM, which could be an empowering and cost-effective tool for enabling remote monitoring of blood glucose in real time.
BACKGROUND: MiaoMiao (MM) is a Bluetooth transmitter, which when paired with a smart phone/device, converts the Abbott FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system into a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Families are increasingly adopting DIY CGM solutions, but little is known about parent and child experiences with these add-on technologies. We aimed to explore experiences of families using MM-CGM including challenges faced and their advice to others who may choose to use the technology. METHODS: Between May and July 2019, we conducted 12 semistructured interviews (in person or via video conference) with parents of children (aged ≤16 years) with type 1 diabetes using MM-CGM. Interviews were audio recorded; professionally transcribed and key themes were identified through thematic analysis. RESULTS: Overall, parents used MM-CGM to proactively manage their child's blood glucose. In all participants, this led to a perceived decrease in frequency of hypoglycemia. Participants reported that the visibility and easy access to blood glucose readings, glucose trends, and customized alarms on parent's phones decreased their disease burden and improved their sleep quality. Common barriers to using MM-CGM included difficulty of the setting up process, connectivity issues, and lack of support from medical teams. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential feasibility of using a DIY CGM system like MM-CGM, which could be an empowering and cost-effective tool for enabling remote monitoring of blood glucose in real time.
Authors: Mona Elbalshy; Sara Boucher; Barbara Galland; Jillian J Haszard; Hamish Crocket; Esko Wiltshire; Craig Jefferies; Martin I de Bock; Paul Tomlinson; Shirley Jones; Benjamin J Wheeler Journal: J Diabetes Metab Disord Date: 2020-10-30
Authors: Mona M Elbalshy; Sara Styles; Jillian J Haszard; Barbara C Galland; Hamish Crocket; Craig Jefferies; Esko Wiltshire; Paul Tomlinson; Martin I de Bock; Benjamin J Wheeler Journal: Pediatr Diabetes Date: 2022-03-13 Impact factor: 3.409
Authors: Julia Lawton; Ruth I Hart; Barbara Kimbell; Janet M Allen; Rachel Elizabeth Jane Besser; Charlotte Boughton; Daniela Elleri; Julia Fuchs; Atrayee Ghatak; Tabitha Randell; Ajay Thankamony; Nicola Trevelyan; Roman Hovorka; David Rankin Journal: Diabetes Technol Ther Date: 2021-04-13 Impact factor: 6.118
Authors: Ruth I Hart; Barbara Kimbell; David Rankin; Janet M Allen; Charlotte K Boughton; Fiona Campbell; Carine de Beaufort; Elke Fröhlich-Reiterer; Julia Ware; Sabine E Hofer; Thomas M Kapellen; Birgit Rami-Merhar; Ajay Thankamony; Roman Hovorka; Julia Lawton Journal: Diabet Med Date: 2022-03-24 Impact factor: 4.213