Can continuous glucose monitoring predict cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and worse clinical outcome?

Objective: To determine whether abnormal continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) readings (hypoglycemia/ hyperglycemia) can predict the onset of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) and/or clinical impairment (decline in BMI and/or FEV1) in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF). Methods: This was a longitudinal prospective cohort study involving CF patients without diabetes at baseline. The mean follow-up period was 3.1 years. The patients underwent 3-day CGM, performed oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and had FEV1 and BMI determined at baseline. OGTT, FEV1, and BMI were reassessed at the end of the follow-up period. Results: Thirty-nine CF patients (10-19 years of age) had valid CGM readings at baseline, and 34 completed the follow-up period (mean = 3.1 +/- 0.5 years). None of the study variables predicted progression to CFRD or were associated with hypoglycemic events. CGM could detect glucose abnormalities not revealed by OGTT. Patients with glucose levels = 140 mg/dL, as compared with those with lower levels, on CGM showed lower BMI values and z-scores at baseline-17.30 +/- 3.91 kg/m(2) vs. 19.42 +/- 2.07 kg/m(2); p = 0.043; and -1.55 +/- 1.68 vs. -0.17 +/- 0.88; p = 0.02, respectively-and at the end of follow-up-17.88 +/- 3.63 kg/m2 vs. 19.95 +/- 2.56 kg/m(2); p = 0.039; and -1.65 +/- 1.55 vs. -0.42 +/- 1.08; p = 0.039. When comparing patients with and without CFRD, the former were found to have worse FEV1 (in % of predicted)-22.67 +/- 5.03 vs. 59.58 +/- 28.92; p = 0.041-and a greater decline in FEV1 (-36.00 +/- 23.52 vs. -8.13 +/- 17.18; p = 0.041) at the end of follow-up. Conclusions: CGM was able to identify glucose abnormalities not detected by OGTT that were related to early-stage decreases in BMI. CGM was ineffective in predicting the onset of diabetes in this CF population. Different diagnostic criteria for diabetes may be required for individuals with CF.

Automated summary

Continuous glucose monitoring is effective in detecting glucose abnormalities in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. However, it is not a reliable predictor for the onset of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. Different diagnostic criteria may be required for patients with cystic fibrosis.