Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is increasingly used in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management, although its effects on emotional well-being and quality of life remain uncertain. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Endocrinology evaluated patient-reported outcomes associated with CGM use compared with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG).
The analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified through PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through April 2026. Data from 9 RCTs involving 1,453 adults with T2DM were pooled to compare CGM with SMBG.
Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated using four validated measures: the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ), World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and EuroQol Five-Dimensional Questionnaire (EQ-5D).
Findings
- All five studies evaluating DTSQ outcomes favored CGM over SMBG, although the magnitude of improvement varied substantially across studies and heterogeneity was extremely high (I²=98.9%), limiting pooled interpretation.
- No statistically significant differences were observed between CGM and SMBG for diabetes distress measured by DDS (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.98 to 0.17).
- Psychological well-being measured by WHO-5 did not differ significantly between CGM and SMBG groups (SMD, 0.08; 95% CI, -0.09 to 0.25).
- Health-related quality of life assessed by EQ-5D was similar between CGM and SMBG groups (SMD, 0.22; 95% CI, -0.20 to 0.64).
Current evidence suggests CGM may improve treatment satisfaction in adults with T2DM compared with SMBG, although substantial heterogeneity limits confidence in this finding. The effects of CGM on diabetes distress, psychological well-being, and health-related quality of life remain uncertain and warrant further investigation.
