All Children Deserve to Be Safe, Mothers Too: Evidence and Rationale Supporting Continuous Glucose Monitoring Use in Gestational Diabetes Within the Medicaid Population

• Published in: Journal of diabetes science and technology Vol. 18; no. 5; p. 1198
• Main Authors: Levy, Carol J, Galindo, Rodolfo J, Parkin, Christopher G, Gillis, Jacob, Argento, Nicholas B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Continuous Glucose Monitoring; Diabetes, Gestational - blood; Diabetes, Gestational - diagnosis; Diabetes, Gestational - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Medicaid; Pregnancy; United States - epidemiology; United States; GDM; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes; gestational diabetes; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; CGM; Medicaid; continuous glucose monitoring; insurance coverage
• ISSN: 1932-3107
• DOI: 10.1177/19322968231161317

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disease of pregnancy that threatens the health of several million women and their offspring. The highest prevalence of GDM is seen in women of low socioeconomic status. Women with GDM are at increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes, including increased rates of Cesarean section delivery, preeclampsia, perineal tears, and postpartum hemorrhage. However, of even greater concern is the increased risk to the fetus and long-term health of the child due to elevated glycemia during pregnancy. Although the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been shown to reduce the incidence of maternal and fetal complications in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, most state Medicaid programs do not cover CGM for women with GDM. This article reviews current statistics relevant to the incidence and costs of GDM among Medicaid beneficiaries, summarizes key findings from pregnancy studies using CGM, and presents a rationale for expanding and standardizing CGM coverage for GDM within state Medicaid populations.