CGM Use Tied to Five Extra Hours Daily in Target Glucose Range for Type 2 Diabetes
In a New England Journal of Medicine clinical trial, adults with type 2 diabetes who did not take insulin and used continuous glucose monitors spent roughly five more hours per day in their target blood sugar range than those who received usual care. Almost twice as many monitor users also achieved an A1c under 7%, and the average A1c difference between groups was 0.9 percentage points. The 26-week study enrolled 283 adults from 22 U.S. primary care practices.
The trial followed 283 adults with type 2 diabetes who were not using insulin across 22 U.S. primary care sites for 26 weeks. It is described as the first large randomized multicenter test of CGM effectiveness and safety in this group. Sensors worn on the body track glucose around the clock, revealing how meals, exercise, and daily routines affect readings.
Participants using monitors gained about five more daily hours in their target glucose range. Nearly twice as many reached an A1c below 7%, and the between-group A1c gap averaged 0.9 percentage points—a difference considered clinically meaningful. Current American Diabetes Association guidance rates CGM evidence highest for insulin users but more limited for non-insulin patients.
If these findings are adopted, adults with type 2 diabetes not on insulin—especially those managed in primary care—could gain a practical tool for daily glucose feedback. Wider CGM use may prompt more discussions about coverage, costs, and access, potentially affecting patients, clinicians, insurers, and device makers. It may also shift care toward prevention of complications, though benefits depend on patient engagement, follow-up, and affordability.