Emerging benefits and challenges of continuous glucose monitoring for broader diabetes management

Advances in continuous glucose monitoring technology are expanding beyond insulin users, offering new insights for type 2 diabetes management and health optimisation, but require effective patient education and awareness of potential drawbacks.

Continuous glucose monitoring is increasingly being positioned as a practical tool not only for people using insulin, but also for some patients with type 2 diabetes who want a clearer picture of how food, activity and stress affect glucose levels. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says CGMs provide real-time readings through a wearable sensor, transmitter and smartphone app or receiver, reducing reliance on repeated finger-prick testing.

In Medscape, Joseph Aloi, an endocrinologist at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, said the technology has helped transform diabetes care over the past two decades. He said studies have linked CGM use with better quality of life, lower HbA1c and, in some cases, fewer emergency department visits and admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis. He added that simply adding a sensor can reduce HbA1c by about 0.5 to 0.75 percentage points, with particular advantages for children and adolescents because it removes the burden of finger sticks and carrying a glucometer.

Scott Isaacs, an endocrinologist at Emory University School of Medicine and a past president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, told Medscape that CGMs can also be useful for people not taking insulin, where they often serve as an optional feedback tool rather than a medical necessity. He said the devices can build awareness and motivation by showing how daily habits influence blood sugar, although he noted that some users are drawn to the broader “biohacking” trend of tracking continuous data to improve nutrition, performance and wellbeing. Healthline has similarly reported that interest in CGMs among people without diabetes is rising, while evidence for long-term benefit in that group remains limited.

Clinicians interviewed by Medscape said the key to successful use is patient education. Isaacs described a simple routine of placing the sensor, pairing it with a phone and reviewing the app together in clinic, while Aloi said he often sends patients YouTube videos explaining insertion and use. The CDC and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases both note that CGMs work best when used consistently and can help reduce dangerous lows over time, but the devices are not for everyone. Isaacs said some patients become overly anxious about normal fluctuations, while Aloi pointed out that adhesive reactions, including allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, can be a problem.