Introduction and Objective: Young adults (YA) with T1D have high A1cs and inconsistently use continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) that can improve A1c. These risks may be mitigated when YA engage in social regulation (e.g., disclosing to others so that they get helpful social support). YA can involve others through CGM data sharing, with our early results (n=152) showing that sharing CGM data was associated with lower A1cs. We examine in the present study how disclosing to others (and not keeping secrets) and helpful and harmful support are linked to CGM data sharing and satisfaction with CGM data sharing. Methods: YA with T1D (n=255, M age=21.07, 56.1% female, 28.9% Hispanic, 86% CGM) enrolled in a clinical trial completed baseline measures of disclosure and secrecy to the person most involved in T1D, and of helpful and harmful support from family and friends. For those on a CGM, YAs indicated whether they shared their CGM data with others, whom they shared with, the ways they shared (e.g., showed blood glucose values from own device, shared and discussed BG values, gave access to CGM data, gave access to alerts) and satisfaction with CGM data sharing. Results: The majority (76.5%) of YAs reported sharing their CGM data. They reported data sharing with an average of 2.9 people over the past 3 months, with parents (52.9%) and romantic partners (36.2%) most frequently mentioned as share partners. CGM data sharing was associated with more disclosure and less secrecy to the person most involved in T1D (ps .01), and more helpful (p .05) but not harmful support from family and friends. Greater satisfaction with CGM data sharing was associated with greater disclosure, less secret keeping, more helpful and less harmful support (ps .01). CGM data sharing was associated with lower A1c (7.6 versus 8.5%, p .001). Conclusion: CGM data sharing occurs more frequently and is more satisfying when YAs engage in effective social regulation. As CGM data sharing is associated with lower A1cs, clinic support for CGM data sharing and social regulation could improve the use of CGMs during the high-risk time of young adulthood. Disclosure C.A. Berg: None. D. Wiebe: None. A. Marion: None. L.S. Mayberry: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (R01DK124719)
Berg et al. (Fri,) studied this question.