The use of continuous glucose monitoring in people living with obesity, intermediate hyperglycemia or type 2 diabetes

A global trend towards increased obesity, intermediate hyperglycemia (previously termed prediabetes) and type 2 diabetes, has prompted a range of international initiatives to proactively raise awareness and provide action-driven recommendations to prevent and manage these linked disease states. One approach, that has shown success in managing people already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, is to use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices to help them manage their chronic condition through understanding and treating their daily glucose fluctuations, in assocation with glucose-lowering medications, including insulin. However, much of the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus is founded in the delayed detection both of type 2 diabetes mellitus itself, and the intermediate hyperglycemia that precedes it. In this review, we provide evidence that using CGM technology in people at-risk of intermediate hyperglycemia or type 2 diabetes mellitus can significantly improve the rate and timing of detection of dysglycemia. Earlier detection allows intervention, including through continued use of CGM to guide changes to diet and lifestyle, that can delay or prevent harmful progression of early dysglycemia. Although further research is needed to fully understand the cost-effectiveness of this intervention in people at-risk or with early dysglycemia, the proposition for use of CGM technology is clear.