Utilising a Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitor as Part of a Low Glycaemic Index and Load Diet and Determining Its Effect on Improving Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Metabolic Parameters of Overweight and Obese Young Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

A randomised controlled trial to measure the effects of integrating real-time continuous glucose monitor (rtCGM) into a low glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) dietary intervention on dietary intake, body composition and specific metabolic parameters was carried out. A total of 40 overweight young adults [(means ± SD) age: 26.4 ± 5.3 years, BMI: 29.4 ± 4.7 kg/m2] were randomised into an intervention and control groups for a period of eight weeks. Both groups received nutrition education on low GI and GL foods. The intervention group also received an rtCGM system to monitor their glucose levels 24 h a day. While controlling for physical activities and GI and GL nutrition knowledge, the results indicated that the rtCGM system further improved body weight, BMI, fat mass, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the intervention group (p < 0.05). This trial unveils the robustness of the rtCGM where non-diabetic overweight and obese young adults can benefit from this device and utilise it as a management tool for overweight and obesity and a primary prevention tool for type 2 diabetes, as it provides real-time and personalised information on physiological changes.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring in a Healthy Population: Understanding the Post-Prandial Glycemic Response in Individuals without Diabetes Mellitus

“…In a study of overweight young adults (n=40), demonstrated that the introduction of CGM led to an improvement in body weight, Body Mass Index, fat mass, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol after 8 weeks. [54] The GLYNDIET study, a 6-month randomized, parallel, controlled clinical trial conducted in 122 overweight and obese adults, showed a low-glycemic index and energy-restricted diet containing moderate amounts of carbohydrates was more effective than a high-glycemic index and low-fat diet at reducing body weight and controlling glucose and insulin. [55] During the first 12 weeks of the study, no significant differences in body weight were observed between groups, but at weeks 16, 20, and 24, decreases in BMI were higher in the low-glycemic index-diet group.…”

Adding a Brief Continuous Glucose Monitoring Intervention to the National Diabetes Prevention Program: A Multimethod Feasibility Study

“…CGMs are now available to be prescribed at the discretion of one's healthcare provider and can include reimbursement for populations without diabetes [ 22 ]. This may explain the recent emergence of CGM-based clinical trials for people without diabetes [ 23 , 24 ]. To date, however, there has been little behavioral intervention research conducted in people with prediabetes using CGM [ 25 ].…”