Changes in the utilization of blood glucose test strips in patients using intermittent‐scanning CGM (iscCGM) in Germany

AIM: To compare the daily consumption of blood glucose test strips (BGTSs) prior to and after the initiation of intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring (iscCGM). METHODS: This study included 1343 adults (>/=18 years) with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D; mean age 51.4 years; 39.1% women) from the IMS Disease Analyzer database with an initial prescription of iscCGM in Germany between January 2015 and July 2018 (index date). We compared the average daily BGTS consumption after the index date versus prior to the index date. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between predefined variables and the probability of no longer using BGTSs after the index date. RESULTS: The mean (SD) daily BGTS consumption per patient decreased from 2.7 (3.0) prior to the index date to 1.4 (2.4) after the index date, and was similar in patients with T1D and those with T2D, in women and men, and across different age groups, as well in patients treated in diabetologist practices and those treated in general practices. In total, 40% of patients continued to use BGTSs, and 30% used them at least once daily. Male sex and glycated haemoglobin concentration (<6.5%), as well as less frequent use of BGTSs prior to the index date, were positively associated with non-use of BGTS after the index date. CONCLUSION: The daily consumption of BGTS was greatly reduced after the initiation of iscCGM use in patients with diabetes. However, some patients still used BGTSs in addition to iscCGM.