For decades, managing type 2 diabetes has relied heavily on medications, healthy eating, exercise, and regular blood sugar testing.
While these strategies remain essential, many people continue to struggle with keeping their glucose levels under control. A new study suggests that a small wearable device may make a significant difference, even for people who do not use insulin.
Researchers presented the findings at the 2025 American Diabetes Association annual meeting in New Orleans.
The study showed that continuous glucose monitoring, often referred to as CGM, helped adults with type 2 diabetes achieve better blood sugar control, spend more time in a healthy glucose range, and feel less stressed about managing their condition.
Type 2 diabetes affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. The condition develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or fails to produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal. If blood sugar remains elevated for many years, serious complications can develop, including heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and nerve damage.
One challenge in diabetes care is that blood sugar levels constantly change throughout the day. Meals, exercise, sleep, stress, illness, and medications can all affect glucose levels. Traditional finger-stick testing provides useful information but only captures a single moment in time.
Continuous glucose monitoring offers a more complete picture. A small sensor placed under the skin measures glucose levels every few minutes. The information is sent to a smartphone or monitoring device, allowing users to see how their blood sugar changes throughout the day and night.
The study was led by Dr. Tamara Oser and colleagues at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Researchers enrolled 283 adults with type 2 diabetes whose HbA1c levels were at least 7.5 percent. This level indicates that blood sugar control was not meeting recommended goals.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor or standard diabetes care. Both groups were followed for 26 weeks.
Many participants were already receiving modern diabetes treatments. Around 40 percent were taking incretin-based medications, while approximately 37 percent were using SGLT2 inhibitors. These therapies have become increasingly popular because they improve blood sugar control and can reduce the risk of certain complications.
Even with these medications, average HbA1c levels remained relatively high at the start of the study. Researchers wanted to determine whether access to continuous glucose information could provide additional benefits beyond medication alone.
After six months, the results showed clear advantages for people using CGM. Participants experienced substantially greater reductions in HbA1c compared with those receiving routine care.
The difference between groups was approximately 0.9 percentage points, a change that doctors consider meaningful because even modest reductions in HbA1c can lower the risk of long-term complications.
Another important finding involved time in range, a measurement that reflects how much time a person’s blood sugar remains within a target zone. The CGM group spent about five additional hours per day within the recommended glucose range compared with participants receiving routine care.
This improvement suggests that users were able to maintain more stable blood sugar levels throughout the day. Stable glucose levels are important because large swings between high and low blood sugar can increase symptoms and make diabetes more difficult to manage.
Researchers also found that the benefits extended beyond physical health. People using continuous glucose monitoring reported higher satisfaction with their glucose monitoring process. They also experienced lower levels of diabetes-related distress.
This psychological improvement is important because diabetes management can be mentally demanding. Many people feel frustrated, anxious, or overwhelmed by the constant need to make decisions about food, activity, medications, and monitoring. Access to real-time information may help people feel more confident and in control of their condition.
One reason CGM may be so effective is that it turns blood sugar management into a learning experience. Users can immediately observe how specific foods, exercise sessions, or lifestyle choices affect glucose levels. This feedback can help people make better decisions and build healthier habits over time.
The study could have implications for healthcare policy as well. Historically, insurance coverage for continuous glucose monitors has often focused on people who use insulin. The new findings suggest that many individuals with type 2 diabetes who are not taking insulin could also benefit substantially from this technology.
As with many clinical studies, it is important to note that several authors disclosed relationships with pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including Dexcom. Such disclosures help maintain transparency and allow readers to evaluate potential conflicts of interest.
Overall, the research provides compelling evidence that continuous glucose monitoring may improve both physical and emotional outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes who are not using insulin. The study’s randomized design strengthens the reliability of the findings.
However, future research should examine whether these improvements persist over many years and whether they reduce the risk of major complications. If confirmed, the results could help change diabetes care by making continuous glucose monitoring a standard option for a much larger group of patients.
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Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
