Patients using a certain device in order to monitor their blood-sugar concentration manage their Type 1 diabetes much better than if they keep track the usual way of puncturing their fingers, according to the findings of a multicenter clinical trial financed by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

These findings were released yesterday in Rome, at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual conference and are to be published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.

322 patients aged 8 to 72 participated in the trial. All of them were given intensive therapy for Type 1 diabetes, a disease which is deadly if patients aren’t receiving treatment with exogenous insulin replacing the missing hormone, or a functional substitute for the destroyed pancreatic beta cells.

The study lasted 26 weeks. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Some used a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and others used regular blood-sugar monitoring. The age of the people represents an important aspect scientists took on account. Three age groups have been made so as the patients be followed separately depending on their age: 8 to 14 years; 15 to 24; and 25 or more.

Enhancement in blood sugar control was most noticeable for CGM patients 25 years of age and more, whose HbA1c levels fell (which means they improved) during the trial with an estimated 0.53%. There was also an improvement in secondary measurements, measurements that were considerably better in CGM patients. Enhancement in HbA1c happened without a raise in hypoglycemia, which is the concern when trying to increase glucose control, Science Daily reported.