Intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring compared with blood glucose monitoring is associated with lower HbA1c and a reduced risk of hospitalisation for diabetes-related complications in adults with type 2 diabetes on insulin therapies – published online 26/10/2024

David Nathanson, Katarina Eeg‑Olofsson, Tim Spelman, Erik Bülow, Mattias Kyhlstedt, Fleur Levrat‑Guillen, Jan Bolinder

Intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) improves glucose management in individuals with type 1 diabetes; however, evidence regarding its effectiveness in type 2 diabetes is limited, and studies linking CGM use to reduced CVD risks in the type 2 diabetes population have been limited in size and scope, although increased time in range has been correlated with some markers of CVD. In this issue, Nathanson et al (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-024-06289-z) demonstrate that use of isCGM devices in adults with type 2 diabetes on insulin therapy is associated with improved glycaemic management and reductions in HbA_1c, with a greater improvement in HbA_1c among those with suboptimal glucose management. Users of isCGM devices also saw significant reductions in hospitalisations for CVD events, including acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and stroke. The authors conclude that adults with type 2 diabetes on insulin therapy may benefit from isCGM or CGM and that isCGM/CGM may be cost-effective as it reduces the risk of complications.