CGM for Metabolic Health

April 21, 2023

What Is Continuous Glucose Monitoring?

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) track glucose levels throughout the day and night by using a sensor inserted under the skin.¹ Current CGMs are most commonly used by individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes,, with CGMs indicated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in outpatients with diabetes using insulin and in select outpatients not using insulin.² Although more research is needed, recent studies are calling for the wider use of CGMs as they may offer metabolic benefits in individuals with prediabetes, gestational diabetes, and non-diabetics.

What Are the Potential Metabolic Benefits of Using CGM?

Prediabetes – The use of CGMs in individuals with prediabetes or increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus may allow early diabetes screening, allowing diagnosis and treatment to occur earlier in the disease progression.²

Gestational Diabetes – Using CGMs during pregnancy can help with the management of pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes as well as gestational diabetes.² The use of CGM in high-risk individuals may also allow prediction of gestational diabetes.

Obesity – Obesity is the biggest risk factor for developing T2DM and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.² CGMs has the potential of acting as a tool for weight management, providing data to improve behavioral and lifestyle changes. The data can be used to inform the timing, portion, and quality of food consumed. Some evidence has shown that CGMs can improve body mass index and waist circumference in overweight or obese individuals.³

Improving Health & Wellness – Recent research suggests CGM can inform healthy non-diabetics individuals to engage in behavior that promotes metabolic health.² By seeing how certain foods, physical activity, and sleep levels affect blood glucose levels in real-time, the user may be able to engage in healthier behaviors (eg, avoiding processed foods or emotional eating, increasing physical activity, portion control) that can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.^2,3

References:
1. Lee I, Probst D, Klonoff D, Sode K. Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems: Current Status and Future Perspectives of the Flagship Technologies in Biosensor Research. Biosens Bioelectron. 2021;181:113054. doi:10.1016/j.bios.2021.113054
2. Klonoff DC, Nguyen KT, Xu NY, Gutierrez A, Espinoza JC, Vidmar AP. Use of Continuous Glucose Monitors by People Without Diabetes: An Idea Whose Time Has Come? J Diabetes Sci Technol. Published online July 20, 2022:19322968221110830. doi:10.1177/19322968221110830
3. Holzer R, Bloch W, Brinkmann C. Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Healthy Adults—Possible Applications in Health Care, Wellness, and Sports. Sensors. 2022;22(5):2030. doi:10.3390/s22052030

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