Adults with type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin spent approximately five additional hours daily within their target blood sugar range when using continuous glucose monitors, according to a large clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
CGM Users Gain Five Hours of Target Blood Sugar Daily
Wearable glucose monitoring devices traditionally serve patients receiving insulin. This leaves millions managing type 2 diabetes through other regimens without real-time tracking.
Researchers tested these devices on 283 adults across 22 U.S. primary care practices. The participants were followed for 26 weeks, as detailed by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Individuals using the monitors achieved better glycemic control than those receiving standard care alone.
| Metric | Continuous Monitoring Group | Routine Care Group |
|---|---|---|
| Average HbA1c Change | Fell from 8.8% to 7.2% | Fell from 8.7% to 8.0% |
| Achieving HbA1c Below 7% | Nearly twice as many users | Standard routine care baseline |
Users of the Dexcom G7 experienced a nearly 1% greater reduction in HbA1c levels than patients receiving routine care. This figure followed adjustments for individual risk factors. The result was reported by Reuters and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
97% of participants remained active users of the devices at the study’s end. Most checked their glucose data daily.
Trial Results Reflect Everyday Primary Care Settings
The trial exclusively enrolled patients in primary care practices rather than specialized endocrinology clinics. Researchers say the findings reflect settings where the vast majority of type 2 diabetes patients receive care.
This is the first large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CGM in adults with type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin.
The monitoring group showed an A1c improvement 0.9 percentage points higher than the routine care group. This exceeds standard thresholds for clinical significance.
Benefits remained consistent regardless of patient age, sex, race, ethnicity, body mass index, income, education, health insurance coverage, or concomitant use of glucose-lowering medications.
New Data May Expand Insurance Coverage
American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Care currently apply Level A evidence—the highest rating supported by rigorous clinical research—for continuous glucose monitoring primarily to patients using insulin.
Study leaders suggest these findings could prompt medical societies to reevaluate clinical pathways for patients before insulin therapy becomes necessary. Researchers clarified that improvements in sugar indicators do not necessarily prove a reduction in long-term disease complications.
Investigators hope the data will help strengthen national care guidelines and encourage expanded insurance coverage. This would widen access for millions of patients currently outside the scope of reimbursement policies. Tamara Oser noted the goal is to make this technology more accessible to the millions of patients who could benefit from it.
Authors suggest people with type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin should consult their primary care providers to discuss if CGMs are appropriate for their specific management plan.
Current Level A evidence for these devices remains limited primarily to those using insulin.
