Over the past two years, the impact of COVID-19 has been detrimental to people with chronic conditions — including those living with diabetes. Despite the best efforts of diabetes care teams, it has been difficult to ensure people with diabetes have optimal access to the care they need. Interruptions in access to comprehensive diabetes care—including regular appointments with health care providers for education, medication review and refills, and to discuss management—have been known to occur. of the disease, its risks and complications — can lead to increased morbidity and mortality.
With more than five million Canadians currently living with diabetes — a number that is expected to continue to rise over the next decade — it’s important that people know regarding the tools available to them to help them take control of their health. and better manage their disease in order to live well and prevent complications.
Time in Target is a measurement of the percentage of time a person with diabetes spends with their blood glucose (blood sugar level) within a target range. Although this target varies from person to person, the goal is to spend as much time as possible in this interval (to achieve a high Time in Target). Time in Target can be tracked by wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), a device that measures blood sugar every few minutes during the day and night. Over a 14 day period, the thousands of blood glucose readings can be compiled into a graph reflecting the time spent in target, above and below. For most people living with diabetes, the goal is to achieve a Time Within Target of less than 70% and a Time Below Target of greater than 4%.
Monitoring and managing diabetes on a daily basis can feel isolated and a huge source of stress. That said, using a CGM and the data it generates, including Time in Target, can provide the information needed for a person to take control of their diabetes. By continuously measuring their glucose levels and recognizing patterns that affect their blood sugar levels, people with diabetes are able to minimize episodes of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, both of which can lead to serious complications, including blood vessel damage. blood, neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, heart attack or stroke.
“Time in Target is a user-friendly tool for people with diabetes that continuously measures the time spent within the range of their recommended target blood sugar levels,” explains Dr. Alice Cheng, endocrinologist and associate professor. “The continuous glucose monitoring device generates reports connected to an online server, which the doctor can review with patients in real time, in person or remotely. It is also possible to compare recent data with previous periods to see if things are moving in the right direction. »
Compared to the traditional A1C blood test which measures the average amount of glucose in the blood over a period of two to three months, Time in Target can be measured at home on a daily basis. People living with diabetes experience different energy levels, moods and overall quality of life when they are “on target” and not “out of range”. Time in Target can reflect these differences in a way the A1C cannot.
“Time in target and A1C are complementary. While A1C gives a high-level overview, Time in Target allows for greater accuracy,” says Dr. Cheng. “A1C is a measure of average blood sugar over a longer period of time, which doesn’t tell if a person’s levels have fluctuated a lot or if they have stayed within the target range. This means that someone who fluctuates a lot can have the same average A1C as someone who doesn’t. »
It is important for people with diabetes to talk to their health care team to set Time in Target goals that work for them and to understand how to interpret that time. These goals differ from person to person and may depend on their general health, age and pregnancy.
Once goals are set, it’s important to wear the SGC often and strive to form positive daily habits to increase time in target. By dint of using the data provided by their CGM, people with diabetes naturally develop a fine observation and understanding of the trends that influence their time spent in the target.
With the right tools like Time in Target, they can feel empowered to effectively monitor and manage their glucose levels to live well with diabetes.
To learn more regarding the Time in Target program, talk to your healthcare team or visit frdj.ca.
This content was provided by Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc. for commercial purposes.
This content was produced by Le Devoir’s special publications team in collaboration with the advertiser. Le Devoir’s editorial team had no role in the production of this content.
