AI Insight
This 12-week pilot feasibility study conducted across 11 community pharmacies in South Korea evaluated whether pharmacist-led diabetes management using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) combined with digital health tools could improve glycemic control in 30 adults with suboptimally controlled type 2 diabetes not using insulin. All participants completed the program, with 36.7% meeting the primary composite endpoint of HbA1c at or below 7.0%, a meaningful HbA1c reduction, and time in range above 70%. Overall, HbA1c decreased by 0.70% and time in range improved significantly, with no increase in hypoglycemic episodes, and longer diabetes duration was identified as an independent predictor of better response.
Why it matters
This study suggests that community pharmacies, when equipped with CGM technology and integrated digital health platforms, could serve as accessible and effective points of care for managing type 2 diabetes, potentially reducing the burden on clinical settings and improving outcomes for patients who do not require insulin therapy.
by Kyung-In Joung, Ji Won Hwang, So Young Seo, Kyeong Han Back, Yong Geun Jeon, Kwang Joon Kim
Many adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) managed without insulin continue to experience suboptimally controlled glycemia. This 12-week, single-arm pilot feasibility study was conducted across 11 community pharmacies in South Korea to evaluate the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of a community pharmacy-led diabetes management model using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) integrated with digital health platforms. Thirty adults with suboptimally controlled T2DM (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%) on stable oral regimens were enrolled. The intervention combined medication, exercise, and nutrition counseling using CGM (Abbott LibreView®) integrated with the national Personal Health Record system. The primary composite endpoint was defined as achieving all three at week 12: (1) HbA1c ≤ 7.0%, (2) meaningful HbA1c reduction (≥0.5% absolute or ≥10% relative), and (3) time in range (TIR, 70–180 mg/dL) >70%. Results showed that all 30 participants completed the program, with 36.7% achieving the primary composite endpoint. At week 12, HbA1c decreased by 0.70% (95% CI: –1.00 to –0.39; p < 0.001), TIR increased by 5.8 percentage points (p < 0.001), and time above range declined. Time below range remained stable, confirming safety. Improvements appeared from week 3 and were sustained, with longer diabetes duration independently predicting response (adjusted OR=1.24/year, p = 0.040). In conclusion, community pharmacy-led diabetes management using CGM, enabled by digital health integration, produced clinically meaningful and sustained glycemic improvements among adults with T2DM not using insulin. (Trial Registration: KCT0010933).