Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), long a staple in insulin-treated diabetes care, is now demonstrating unequivocal benefits for individuals with type 2 diabetes treated without insulin. A recent retrospective cohort study of over 52,000 adults analyzed the effect of CGM use together with multiple oral and injectable anti-diabetes drugs.

The results showed that patients on CGM had a significantly larger HbA1c decrease than those not on CGM. On average, CGM-treated patients had a –0.28% larger HbA1c reduction, illustrating better glucose control over time. Notably, the advantage existed regardless of the class of non-insulin treatment, implying that CGM adds value over and above pharmacotherapy alone.

When used in combination with sulfonylureas, DPP-4 inhibitors, and GLP-1 receptor agonists, use of CGM was linked to even greater HbA1c reductions. Authors propose that real-time CGM feedback allows patients to gain a better insight into the impact of diet, exercise, and medications on their glucose, and as a result, to make more informed choices and improve compliance.

These findings advocate for widening the use of CGM to a larger population of individuals with type 2 diabetes. Although historically left for those on intensive insulin therapy, data increasingly suggest that CGM is an effective intervention in increasing self-management, decreasing therapeutic inertia, and ultimately improving outcomes.

As rates of diabetes continue to increase worldwide, the more widespread incorporation of CGM into non-insulin treatment approaches may be a huge leap forward in personalizing and optimizing diabetes management.