IntroductionThe aim of this study was to find out the evolving role of professional continuous glucose monitoring (PCGM) on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the frequency of hypoglycemia.MethodsThis was a 3-month, prospective study conducted among patients (aged 15–24 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus who attended a diabetes clinic [Diabetes Treatment Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia] due to recurrent unexplained hypoglycemia unawareness episodes between July 2014 and December 2014. The respondents were purposively and conveniently selected and they were asked to wear the PCGM device (iPro®2; Medtronic MiniMed, Inc., Northridge, CA, USA) for 5 days. The PCGM results were collected by the diabetic educator and reviewed by the treating physician on the same day as removal of the device. Clinical and demographic data were also collected.ResultsOverall, 56 patients were included in the study. The mean (±SD) age of the study cohort was 18.1 ± 1.82 years and 27 (48.2%) patients were male. Compared with baseline, non-significant but positive differences were observed in HbA1c levels in both male and female patients and in those who were older (aged 20–24 years). Similar results were observed in the frequency of hypoglycemia and a significant change was observed for female patients (P < 0.05). Compared with baseline, a significant positive difference was observed in patients’ overall frequency of hypoglycemia by the end of the study (P < 0.001).ConclusionsProfessional continuous glucose monitoring is a valuable tool for detecting episodes of hypoglycemia and may help to decrease HbA1c levels and reduce the frequency of hypoglycemia.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13300-015-0120-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Diabetes prevalence is on the rise in the Middle East. In countries of the Gulf region—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—prevalence rates are among the highest in the world. Further, Egypt now ranks as one of the top 10 countries in the world for high number of people with diabetes. Medical nutrition therapy is key to optimal management of diabetes. Patient adherence to nutritional guidance depends on advice that is tailored to regional foods and cultural practices. In 2012, international experts created a transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (tDNA) for broad applicability. The objective of this current project was to adapt the algorithm and supportive materials to the Middle East region. A Task Force of regional and global experts in the fields of diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disorders met to achieve consensus on Middle East-specific adaptations to the tDNA. Recommendations, position statements, figures, and tables are presented here, representing conclusions of the tDNA-Middle Eastern (tDNA-ME) Task Force. Educational materials can be used to help healthcare professionals optimize nutritional care for patients with type 2 diabetes. The tDNA-ME version provides evidence-based guidance on how to meet patients' nutritional needs while following customs of people living in the Middle Eastern region.

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