Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33224517›Full record

ArticleDigital health

Differences in glucose level between right arm and left arm using continuous glucose monitors.

Nicole Kim, Kevin Pham, Allen Shek, Jeremy Lim, Xiaohan Liu, Sachin A Shah

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Digital health. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 27% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Managing discordance between HbADiabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Nicole KimThomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, USA.
Kevin PhamThomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, USA.
Allen ShekThomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, USA.
Jeremy LimThomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, USA.
Xiaohan LiuThomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, USA.
Sachin A ShahThomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5850-1113
University of the Pacific · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundContinuous glucose monitoring (CGM) measures interstitial glucose levels through a sensor with a thin filament inserted under the skin. It is customary for patients to rotate sensor application sites between arms to minimize skin irritation. However, there is limited data regarding the degree of inter-arm differences with CGM technology.

methodsSelf-proclaimed right-handed (n = 5) and left-handed (n = 5) participants, regardless of concurrent comorbidities, were enrolled for CGM. Participants wore a FreeStyle Libre Pro sensor on each arm for a maximum of 14 days. Muscle mass and body fat analysis was conducted using a multi-frequency segmental body composition analyzer. Glucose levels from both arms were time-matched with the first 12 hours eliminated from analysis. Mean glucose and time in target range were compared between readings from the right and left arm.

resultsA total of 9830 paired glucose levels were included for analysis. In all participants (n = 10), mean glucose on the right arm was 89.1 mg/dL (SD, 19.9) and 85.3 mg/dL (SD, 19.3) on the left arm (P < 0.001). Glucose was out of target range (70-180 mg/dL) for 12.7% of the time in the right arm compared to 18.5% in the left arm (P < 0.001).

conclusionsIn a group of 10 nondiabetic and diabetic adults, there was a statistically significant difference in CGM readings between the right and left arms. Time in target range may differ based on arm selection when using a CGM. Arm dominance did not explain the inter-arm glucose level discordance.

Indexed as

blood glucose self-monitoringbody compositionContinuous glucose monitoringdiabetes mellitustime in range

Identifiers

PMID33224517
PMCPMC7658504
OpenAlexW3106023803

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.