Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT2106

Background and aims: Continuous Glucose monitoring (CGM) has become a standard practice in diabetes diagnostic. The resulting daily blood glucose profiles often resemble mountain landscapes, leading to the use of metaphors such as a "mountain and valley" to describe sharp rises and falls in blood sugar levels. These fluctuations are primarily influenced by dietary choices, activity levels, insulin balance and individual insulin sensitivity or treatment. In our clinical practice, wXe have observed that visual analogies, such as mountain comparisons, facilitate patients’ comprehension of CGM patterns. Notably, terms like "Matterhorn" and "Kilimanjaro" were recalled and referenced by patients in following consultations.

Materials and methods: We analyzed CGM curves, including basic glucose metrics (e.g., glucose variability), daily and meal-related patterns (e.g., fasting, postprandial, and nighttime trends), insulin effects, the influence of physical activity, and the occurrence of hypoglycemia, to identify patterns.

Results: Inspired by the Swiss mountains, our article visualizes the most common blood glucose profile patterns by comparisons with the world’s highest and most iconic peaks, which can empower patients to make informed lifestyle and treatment decisions.

Conclusion: This approach underscores the role of CGM as a pivotal tool, transforming abstract data into actionable insights for personalized care. Visual representations can help simplify the complexity of blood glucose patterns, making them more accessible and easier for patients to understand.

Mountain	Description of glucose	Possible causes
	Rising throughout the day, especially evening-time and declining at night	Carbohydrate/fast acting insulin imbalance
	Elevated blood glucose levels persisting throughout the day (plateau-shape)	Carbohydrate-rich diet with insulin imbalance or non-adherence to insulin treatment (e.g. fear of hypoglycemia)
	Elevated blood glucose levels after the evening meal, persisting throughout the night (U-shape)	Carbohydrate/insulin imbalance during the night, e.g. fear of nocturnal hypoglycemia or Intense physical activity during the day
	Alternating increase and decrease (peak-valley pattern)	Carbohydrate-rich meals, often followed by a rapid decline in blood glucose level
	No clear pattern or consistency in blood glucose levels	Inconsistent diet or incorrect carbohydrate estimation
	stable blood glucose levels	Good diabetes management

Conclusion: This approach underscores the role of CGM as a pivotal tool, transforming abstract data into actionable insights for personalized care. Visual representations can help simplify the complexity of blood glucose patterns, making them more accessible and easier for patients to understand.