Can Online Training Help Doctors Read CGM Data Better?

What This Study Found

A 2025 review published in BMJ Open looked at whether online learning tools — like e-learning platforms — can help healthcare providers better understand continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data for people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that e-learning did appear to improve knowledge and skills among doctors, nurses, and other clinicians. However, the overall quality of the available studies was low, making it hard to draw firm conclusions.

Why This Matters for People With Diabetes

If your doctor or diabetes care team uses a CGM to track your blood sugar, they need to know how to read and act on that data. A provider who feels confident interpreting CGM readings is better equipped to help you make smart decisions about your diet, activity, and medication.

This study highlights a real gap: many healthcare professionals don't get enough training on CGM technology. E-learning — online courses and modules they can take on their own schedule — could help fill that gap. But right now, the research isn't strong enough to say for certain how much it helps or for how long.

What the Researchers Did

The team followed strict guidelines (called PRISMA) to search seven major medical databases. They were looking for studies where healthcare providers used e-learning tools to improve their skills in managing type 2 diabetes, particularly around CGM interpretation. Out of thousands of records reviewed, only four studies met the quality bar for inclusion. Those four studies involved nearly 6,800 participants, including physicians, nurses, midwives, and medical residents.

What They Found — The Good and the Not-So-Good

On the positive side:

• One study reported a significant jump in knowledge about type 2 diabetes diagnosis and treatment after e-learning (p=0.001)
• Another found major improvements in diabetes care knowledge and skills (p<0.001)
• A third study found 84% of participants were satisfied with the e-learning experience and reported better self-confidence in their performance
• Flexibility and easy access were the most commonly cited reasons providers liked e-learning

On the challenging side:

• Time constraints were a major barrier — busy clinicians struggled to find time to complete training
• Some providers showed resistance to changing how they already do things
• The studies themselves had methodological weaknesses, including self-selection bias and a lack of blinding, which limits how much we can trust the results

What This Means in Plain Terms

The honest takeaway is that e-learning might help, but we don't yet have the high-quality clinical trials needed to say it definitely works — or to know the best way to deliver it. Researchers are calling for larger, more rigorous studies to settle the question.

For people living with type 2 diabetes, this is still encouraging news. Better-trained providers mean better care. And as CGM devices become more common tools in everyday diabetes management — including products available through mdsdiabetes.com — having a clinical team that knows how to use that data effectively becomes even more important.

Talk to Your Care Team

If you're using a CGM and feel like your provider isn't fully comfortable reading your data, it's okay to ask questions. You can also explore educational resources together. At mdsdiabetes.com, you'll find CGM supplies and support resources designed to make diabetes management clearer for both patients and providers.

Citation: Alanazi, Fellas, Bridge (2025). Enablers and barriers of e-learning utilising smart technologies in type 2 diabetes care for clinicians: a systematic review. BMJ Open. PMID: 41248385. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103328