Continuous glucose monitoring assessment of metabolic control in east African children and young adults with type 1 diabetes: A pilot and feasibility study

Background For individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in East Africa and other low‐income regions, the last decade has seen substantial gains in access to insulin and trained healthcare providers, yet metabolic control remains poor. Methods The objective was to determine the feasibility of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and to gather baseline metabolic data for future power analysis in Ugandan and Kenyan youth with T1D using a Freestyle Libre Pro blinded CGM. Results Of 78 participants recruited, four sensors fell off and six patients did not return, leaving 68 evaluable subjects. Average age was 16 ± 5 (range 4‐26) years, 43% female. Average diabetes duration was 7 ± 5 years, insulin dose 0.9 ± 0.3 U/kg/d, and number of fingerstick glucose levels per day 2.1 ± 1.1. All were on human insulin. Point‐of‐care HbA1c was 10.9 ± 2.7% (96 ± 30 mmol/mol). Mean number of sensor days was 13 ± 3; >90% wore the sensor for ≥10 days. Mean glucose was 231 ± 86 mg/dL (12.8 ± 4.8 mmol/L). Only 30 ± 19% of time was spent in the target range (70‐180 mg/dL; 3.9‐10 mmol/L), and 7 ± 8% of time was spent in hypoglycaemia (glucose