Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring as a Tool for Behavioral Change in Type 2 Diabetes

The estimated number of people in the United States with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in 2022 was over 37.3 million, with an estimated increase of 3% annually. The estimated cost of medical care for these patients was $327 billion in the United States in 2017 (Center for Disease Control, 2022). Due to the significant economic burden of diabetes, effective patient-clinician partnerships are imperative. Current first-line treatment for T2DM includes dietary changes, lifestyle modification to increase physical activity, diabetes self-management education, and pharmacologic therapy. This review of current science explores the research on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for T2DM and the benefits of CGM use, assessing whether this wearable device might be an effective tool for behavioral modification in conjunction with standard treatment.