Feasibility of Inpatient Continuous Glucose Monitoring During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Early Experience

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have been explored in a few studies for non–intensive care unit (ICU) patients (1–3). During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) became a concern. On 1 April 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it would not object to the use of CGM systems to assist with COVID-19 patient monitoring (4). This study was conducted to explore the feasibility of using CGM in noncritically ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19.Non-ICU adult COVID-19–positive patients receiving subcutaneous insulin injection and point of care (POC) glucose testing (Accu-Chek Inform II) were eligible to participate. Exclusion criteria included unstable glucose levels (POC glucose 350 mg/dL) at entry, hypotension, significant edema, being on dialysis, being postsurgical or with planned surgery/computed tomography/MRI, and taking hydroxyurea, ascorbic acid, or acetaminophen >1 g every 6 h. Participants gave informed consent. The protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Illinois at Chicago.Dexcom G6 sensor was placed in the lower abdomen by the team physician. iPhone 5S was used as a receiver, placed at the patient’s door. The data were transmitted to the Dexcom Follow app in the smartphone at the nurses’ station and the investigator’s smart devices. Participants continued to …