Webinar Highlights: How Glycemia Risk Index (GRI) Is Shaping Diabetes Management

The Glycemia Risk Index (GRI) is changing the way we approach diabetes management at SweetSpot. Unlike traditional metrics like Time in Range (TIR), GRI provides a comprehensive view of a patient’s glycemic health by factoring in both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia risks. This holistic approach is helping clinicians prioritize the most critical areas of care for their patients.  

Read more about GRI, including how it is calculated, here. 

During a recent webinar we hosted with Dr. David Klonoff, the founder of the GRI metric, and Dr. Ralph Oiknine, SweetSpot’s Chief Medical Officer, who uses GRI in his own endocrinology practice, we discussed how GRI is transforming diabetes care.

This webinar will be available on-demand shortly. Please reach out to us if you would like a link when it is live. 

Here are five key takeaways from the webinar: 

1. GRI provides a more complete picture of glycemic health 

GRI is a compound metric that takes into account Time Above Range, Time Below Range, and glycemic variability. Created with input from 330 clinicians who ranked over 200 CGM tracings in terms of risk, it generates a percentile score of risk. For example, a GRI score of 49 means the patient is in the top 50 percentile of glycemic health. By combining these key factors into a single score, GRI provides a more comprehensive view of a patient’s glycemic health, helping clinicians identify risks beyond what Time in Range (TIR) alone can show. 

2. GRI is best used when seamlessly integrated into the clinical workflow  

The true value of GRI is realized when it’s incorporated into everyday clinical practices. When integrated into platforms like SweetSpot, GRI can serve as a powerful tool that provides quick, actionable, at-a-glance insights. It is a very helpful metric for clinical triage and enhances clinical decision-making by offering a clear view of what needs to be addressed in a patient's treatment plan. 

 

3. GRI allows for tailored care with risk stratification  

GRI’s ability to help clinicians stratify patients by risk enables more personalized care. By adjusting treatment based on the individual needs and GRI score of each patient, healthcare providers can deliver targeted interventions that address specific issues, whether it's hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or both. 

4. GRI empowers doctors to tracking progress over time 

GRI stands out for its ability to track patient progress over time by consolidating multiple data points into a single, easy-to-read grid. This allows providers to visualize month-over-month improvements. After interventions like new medications or insulin adjustment, for example, GRI clearly illustrates the impact of treatment adjustments, making it easier to assess progress and fine-tune care plans for better outcomes faster. 

5. GRI is an optimal tool for population health management  

For practices managing larger groups of patients, GRI is a valuable tool for population health management. It enables providers to evaluate overall trends and adjust strategies to improve glycemic management across patient populations, fostering better diabetes outcomes for all. 

Incorporating GRI into diabetes management empowers providers with deeper insights and a more nuanced understanding of each patient's glycemic health. By focusing on both the risks of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, GRI is ushering in a new era of personalized and effective diabetes care. 

This webinar will be available on-demand shortly. Please reach out to us if you would like a link when it is live. 

SweetSpot is the only diabetes-focused software that integrates GRI directly into its data dashboard. To learn more about how you can get involved with SweetSpot, reach out to us at info@sweetspot.health. 

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SweetSpot partners with endocrinology practices to provide virtual CGM monitoring and enhanced patient care.

SweetSpot combines a centralized software platform for managing diabetes device data, such as data from CGMs and insulin pumps, with wrap-around clinical support services. SweetSpot’s virtual team of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) perform monthly CGM data reviews and coordinate with providers and patients to facilitate treatment plan changes. By actively managing and remotely reviewing CGM data between patient visits, we ensure patients receive timely treatment adjustments to improve glycemic control and patient outcomes.

Additionally, SweetSpot’s automated capture of reimbursable care events optimizes CPT code utilization, unlocking new revenue streams for practices and making our partnerships both clinically effective and financially profitable.