Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has become a cornerstone of care for many people with diabetes who use insulin, providing real-time glucose data that can guide treatment decisions and help reduce hypoglycemia. Increasingly, however, clinicians are asking whether the technology should be used earlier in the course of type 2 diabetes — even among patients who are not treated with insulin.

Emerging research indeed suggests glucose monitors may offer benefits beyond insulin management, including improved glycemic awareness and increased willingness to make lifestyle changes.

Several recent studies evaluating CGM in adults with type 2 diabetes treated with oral medications or non-insulin injectables have reported modest improvements in glycemic outcomes. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics analyzed randomized trials of CGM in adults with type 2 diabetes not using insulin and found that it was associated with improved glycemic control and increased time in range compared with standard self-monitoring of blood glucose.

Similarly, a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reported that both real-time and flash CGM were associated with modest but statistically significant reductions in A1c among adults with type 2 diabetes, although most studies included relatively short follow-up periods.

More recently, a systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2025 in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology reported that CGM use in non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes was associated with improvements in glycemic metrics including, A1c and time in range, supporting its potential role as a tool for guiding lifestyle and nutrition changes.

A Clinical Tool — and a Behavioral One

These improvements include reductions in A1c of about 0.5% and increased time spent within the target glucose range, said Manikya Kuriti, MD, endocrinologist at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Kentucky, and clinical professor of endocrinology at the University of Pikeville, Pikeville, Kentucky. Over time, improved glycemic control may reduce the risk for complications and hospitalizations associated with diabetes.

Beyond glycemic metrics, clinicians say CGM can also serve as a powerful behavioral tool.

“I definitely use CGM in non-insulin patients both for managing their blood sugar levels and for encouraging behavioral engagement,” Kuriti said. By providing real-time data on glucose trends in relation to diet and physical activity, the technology can help patients better understand how daily choices influence glucose levels.

The behavioral component may be one of the most powerful aspects of CGM, according to Betyshia Belardo, MD, family medicine and obesity medicine physician who focuses on metabolic health at a private practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

“In many cases it functions most powerfully as a behavioral engagement tool,” Belardo said. “Patients can see how certain meals affect their glucose patterns or how a short walk after dinner may lower their blood sugar.”

This type of immediate feedback can help patients connect lifestyle decisions with metabolic outcomes in ways that periodic A1c testing cannot.

Similarly, Alexandra De Lellis, NP, nurse practitioner at Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said CGM frequently helps patients visualize how daily habits affect their glucose patterns.

“Seeing their glucose patterns in real time can be a powerful motivator for meaningful lifestyle changes,” she said.

CGM data can also help clinicians identify patterns that might not be visible through traditional testing. De Lellis noted that glucose monitoring may be particularly useful in situations where A1c measurements may be less reliable, such as in patients with anemia.

Are Improvements Durable?

Although short-term studies suggest CGM can improve glycemic metrics in non-insulin-treated patients, an important question is whether those improvements persist once monitoring stops.

Short-term or intermittent CGM use has been studied as an educational strategy, with patients wearing sensors for several days or weeks to identify glucose patterns and guide behavioral changes.

According to Kuriti, the effect varies significantly between individuals.

“This approach is highly individualized because blood sugar variability is influenced by many factors, including other health conditions, medications, and stress,” he said.

Belardo said even temporary monitoring can help patients better understand their metabolic responses.

“Many patients develop a clearer understanding of how their bodies respond to certain foods,

 meal timing, and physical activity,” she said. Some patients are able to sustain lifestyle changes after the device is removed, while others benefit from periodic CGM use to reinforce those habits over time.

Still, the benefits are not always sustained.

“In some cases, short-term or intermittent CGM use can lead to lasting behavioral improvements,” De Lellis said. “However, there are also situations where the benefits diminish once the device is discontinued.”

Potential Downsides

Despite growing interest in expanding CGM, clinicians say the technology is not without potential drawbacks.

One challenge is the large volume of data generated by continuous monitoring.

“Patient education is crucial, especially during the first weeks of using a CGM,” Kuriti said. Patients may initially feel overwhelmed by the amount of information and need guidance to interpret glucose trends appropriately.

Clinicians must also emphasize that patients should not adjust medications without professional guidance.

Some individuals may also experience anxiety related to constant glucose visibility or become concerned about normal fluctuations in glucose levels.

Other potential issues include alarm fatigue, sleep disruption from compression-related false low readings, and overtreatment of suspected hypoglycemia when symptoms are not present.

“Patients should understand how to recognize false readings, when to confirm results with a fingerstick, and when to contact their clinician,” De Lellis said.

Cost and insurance coverage remain additional barriers for many patients, Belardo noted.

However, when paired with appropriate education and clinician oversight, she said CGM can be a valuable tool for supporting diabetes management and improving patient engagement.

The experts cited in this article had no reported disclosures.