Improving Glucose Control in Ugandan Children and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Using FreeStyle Libre 2 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Compared to Standard Testing

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating ways to improve care for children and young adults with type 1 diabetes in East Africa by studying how continuous glucose monitoring CGM affects blood sugar control. The study aims to see if using flash CGM technology helps patients keep their glucose levels within a healthy range more often. Another goal is to compare the cost of flash CGM with the usual method of checking blood sugar three times a day to see if the technology is affordable in less-resourced settings. The study lasts 12 months and starts with a 2-week period where participants wear a blinded CGM to confirm they can use the device. For the first six months, half the participants will use an unblinded FreeStyle Libre 2 CGM, which shows real-time glucose data to them and their healthcare providers to help adjust insulin. The other half will continue their usual care with fingerstick blood sugar checks three times daily while wearing a blinded CGM that does not display data. After six months, the control group switches to the unblinded CGM, and the first group continues using it to assess longer-term effects. Participants will receive monthly diabetes self-management education and attend monthly clinic visits to return used sensors and download data. Researchers will measure glucose time-in-range at six months and analyze the cost-effectiveness of CGM at one year. The study is open-label and randomized, enrolling children and young adults aged 4 to 26 years with type 1 diabetes who have been on insulin for at least a year. Data collected will help understand the impact of CGM technology in this population and setting.

Diabetes in African Youth