Continuous glucose monitoring in older inpatients with type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment: an open single-arm feasibility study.

Authors

Busra Donat Ergin, Katharina Mattishent, Anne Marie Minihane, Richard Ian Gregory Holt, Helen Murphy, Ketan Dhatariya, Michael Hornberger

Published in

BMJ open. Volume 16. Issue 9. Pages e118196. Sep 11, 2026. Epub Sep 11, 2026.

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cognitive impairment are common long-term chronic conditions affecting older people in hospital. Cognitive impairment can complicate glucose monitoring and lead to diabetes-related emergencies in T2DM. Traditionally, point of care test measurements of capillary blood glucose are conducted in-hospital for T2DM while continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is not widely used.
To understand the feasibility, acceptability and tolerability of using CGM in older inpatients with T2DM and cognitive impairment.
32 older people (mean age=78.7±6.7 years) with comorbid T2DM and cognitive impairment (Abbreviated Mini-Mental Test ≤8/10 and Mini-Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination ≤22/30) were recruited within a tertiary care hospital in the UK. All participants were naive to CGM and were asked to wear blinded Dexcom G7 sensors for up to 10 days. Participants were asked about feasibility, acceptability and tolerability questions at the point of sensor removal.
29 participants (96%) reported no pain during CGM fitting. All participants (100%) agreed that they did not notice wearing the sensor, and it did not affect their day-to-day hospital activities. All participants (100%) found it 'very easy' or 'easy' to have the sensor fitted and wearing it for 10 days, with 27 participants (90%) finding CGM convenient. 17 participants (57%) reported favourable perceptions of the subcutaneous sensor sensation.
CGM use in older inpatients with T2DM and cognitive impairment is highly feasible and acceptable for patients. Future studies and trials are now needed to evaluate the clinical use of CGM for glucose monitoring in hospitalised or community-dwelling older individuals with T2DM and cognitive impairment.

PMID:
42731827
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Sep 2026.

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