Rapid glucose shifts were uncommon in healthy adults, clarifying what constitutes normal glycemic fluctuation. The study, published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, evaluated glucose rate-of-change using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data.

Data from 153 nondiabetic adults wearing a CGM sensor for up to 10 days were analyzed. RoC values were calculated over multiple time intervals, and patterns were compared across age groups and between daytime and nighttime periods to characterize normative ranges.

Over 15-minute intervals, participants spent a median 1.4% of time rising faster than +2 mg/dL/min and 1.0% of time falling faster than −2 mg/dL/min. RoC values were slower when measured over longer time windows and faster during rising phases than falling phases. Daytime periods demonstrated quicker changes than nighttime periods, with modest differences observed across age groups.

These findings suggest ±2 mg/dL/min over 15 minutes as a physiological reference for glucose RoC in healthy adults.