Why Type 2 Diabetes Patients Love CGMs — and What Still Gets in the Way

What Was Studied and Why It Matters

Checking blood sugar is a daily reality for millions of people living with type 2 diabetes — but traditional fingerstick testing can be painful, inconvenient, and easy to skip. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) offer a less burdensome alternative, automatically tracking glucose levels throughout the day. While research has shown CGMs improve blood sugar control and quality of life, less is known about how everyday patients in primary care settings actually experience them.

A 2025 study published in JMIR Diabetes set out to fill that gap. Researchers at a large academic health system in Southwest Ohio spoke directly with 16 adults with type 2 diabetes who were already using CGMs through their primary care providers. Most participants were Black women on Medicare or Medicaid — a group often underrepresented in diabetes technology research.

What the Researchers Found

Six key themes emerged from the interviews and focus group:

• Understanding their risk: Participants were motivated to use CGMs because they understood the seriousness of uncontrolled diabetes.
• Trust in CGM data: Many participants said they trusted CGM readings more than traditional fingerstick glucometers, finding the continuous data more reassuring and informative.
• Ease of use matters: When CGMs were simple to apply and read, people stuck with them. Confusion around alarms or data interpretation created frustration.
• Comorbidities add burden: Managing diabetes alongside other health conditions made using technology harder — a challenge unique to this study's population.
• Receivers over smartphones: Many participants relied on a physical CGM receiver rather than a smartphone app, often due to older phone models or limited data plans.
• All participants recommended CGMs to others — a powerful endorsement from people with real-world experience.

What This Means for Real Patients

The good news: people with type 2 diabetes who use CGMs find real value in them. The technology helps them see patterns in their blood sugar and feel more in control of their health.

The challenge: getting started and troubleshooting problems — like confusing alarms or not knowing how to act on the data — remains a barrier. Patients need clearer education and ongoing support, especially those managing multiple health conditions.

If you're using a CGM or considering one, having reliable access to your supplies is just as important as having the device itself. MDS Diabetes makes it easy to get CGM sensors, receivers, and related diabetes supplies delivered to your door, so staying consistent with monitoring doesn't have to be a hassle.

Bottom Line

Adults with type 2 diabetes in primary care settings genuinely value CGMs and would recommend them — but better education, tailored troubleshooting support, and easier access to supplies are needed to help more patients benefit fully. If you're already using a CGM, you're making a smart choice for your health; make sure your supply chain is as reliable as your device.