Pharmacists and students could bridge the diabetes care gap with wider CGM access

Despite strong evidence and clinical endorsements, access to continuous glucose monitors remains uneven, especially among underserved populations. Pharmacists and student pharmacists are uniquely positioned to facilitate broader, more equitable utilisation of this vital technology in routine diabetes management.

Continuous glucose monitors have become a central part of diabetes care on paper, but access in day-to-day practice still lags badly behind the evidence. The American Diabetes Association now treats CGM use as integral for people with type 1 diabetes and for many with type 2 diabetes, yet Pharmacy Times says adoption remains uneven, especially outside specialist clinics. With diabetes affecting an estimated 40.1 million people in the United States, that gap matters. According to the publication, pharmacists and student pharmacists are well placed to help close it.

The case for wider use is strong. CGMs measure glucose in interstitial fluid and give patients continuous readings, allowing them to see how food, activity and medicines affect their levels across the day. Pharmacy Times says studies show they can lower HbA1c by roughly 0.5 to 0.9 percentage points, reduce swings in glucose and cut time spent in dangerous high or low ranges. The devices can also reduce the burden of repeated fingerstick testing and give clinicians a clearer picture for remote follow-up.

But use remains patchy. Pharmacy Times cites research showing that only 16.9% of insulin-treated patients received an initial CGM prescription from a primary care doctor. Other research points to a similar pattern: a study in JAMA Network Open found Black and Hispanic patients with type 1 diabetes were less likely than White patients to be prescribed CGMs, even after insurance was taken into account. In older adults with type 2 diabetes, Diabetes Care reported lower uptake among racial, ethnic and lower-income groups as well. Researchers and commentators have linked those gaps to provider bias, limited patient awareness, financial strain and weak support structures in routine care.

That leaves primary care, where most diabetes is managed, as a critical pressure point. Pharmacy Times notes that many patients never reach an endocrinologist, and a study it cites found only 38.6% of primary care physicians had ever prescribed a CGM. The article argues that pharmacists can step into that void by identifying eligible patients during medication reviews, supporting remote monitoring and helping clinicians build CGM into everyday diabetes management.

The barriers are not only clinical. Research summarised by PubMed Central and by a 2025 commentary in ScienceDirect highlights how low health literacy, digital access problems and socioeconomic hardship can keep underserved patients from using CGMs even when they might benefit most. Pharmacy Times says racial and ethnic inequities persist despite insurance coverage, and that language differences and mistrust of the health system can deepen the divide. It suggests practical fixes such as multilingual education materials, community outreach and better use of the American Diabetes Association’s patient education resources.

Cost and bureaucracy are another obstacle. Without insurance, Pharmacy Times says CGM supplies can cost about $100 to $300 a month, while prior authorisation rules, glucose-log requirements and medical necessity forms can delay treatment even for covered patients. The article points to hospital use of CGMs as one way to normalise the technology early, and says managed care pharmacists can help press for simpler approval standards. It also notes that manufacturer assistance programmes, including copay support from Abbott and Dexcom, can make a difference when pharmacists actively steer patients towards them.

Student pharmacists, the article concludes, have a particularly useful role because they often have the most time at the point of care. They can help identify candidates, source language-appropriate materials, support inpatient CGM pilots and guide patients through assistance programmes. Paired with continuing education, that hands-on work could help turn CGMs from an evidence-based option into a routine part of equitable diabetes care.