A significant share of Canadians with diabetes struggle to keep their glucose levels in check, a worrying trend given the growing prevalence of diabetes in the country.
Roughly 75 per cent of Canadians who use insulin to manage their diabetes — and 40 per cent of those who don’t — aren’t hitting their glucose targets, said Chris Goguen (pictured right), lead for access and partnership at Dexcom Canada, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Healthy Outcomes Conference.
Roughly 2 million working Canadians have diabetes, he added, and 15 per cent of the population as a whole lives with the condition, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed.
Glucose management is crucial for people with diabetes: maintaining the appropriate blood sugar target range reduces risks of long-term complications, including eye, kidney and nerve diseases, as well as short-term effects such as hypoglycemia-related fatigue, nausea, dizziness and difficulty concentrating. In the workplace, hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia can impact someone’s ability to work and, in safety-sensitive industries such as transport or manufacturing, represent a safety risk.
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But staying in range is a challenging endeavour, said Goguen, noting there are 50 different factors that influence someone’s glucose levels, including sleep, food and anxiety. Unsurprisingly, half of patients experience stress about their glucose management, according to Diabetes Canada.
“They’re just continuously struggling, coping with the complications and the anxiety that they are not hitting their targets. If you looked at claims data for mental-health claimants, . . . you’ll see this significant [overlap] of people who have challenges with stress, depression and diabetes.”
Connected diabetes self-management technologies can help plan members manage their glucose levels and reduce that stress. Dexcom’s continuous glucose monitor, a body-worn sensor with a small filament that sits in the user’s interstitial fluid, is able to read someone’s glucose levels and provide predictive alerts so they can take action before experiencing an issue, said Sarah Blunden (pictured left), senior medical affairs manager, also speaking during the event.
Studies have found continuous glucose monitoring lead to a reduction in A1C levels and decreased frequency of both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. It has also contributed to lowering patients’ cardiovascular risk, blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as improved mental health.
Blunden, who’s also a dietitian and certified diabetes educator, said the tool has helped patients see the impact of certain lifestyle choices on their glucose levels in real time and make positive changes, such as eating a more nutritious breakfast, going for a walk or taking their medications as prescribed.
Goguen said patients are able to share their glucose data and alerts with others, facilitating more informed conversations with health-care providers about their care and for family members to keep track of how their loved one is doing. The monitor can also be linked to a smart watch, food app and other activity trackers.
Read more coverage of the 2024 Healthy Outcomes Conference.