Glucose Monitors Help Non-Insulin Type 2 Patients
In a six-month trial, adults with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin saw their A1c fall more with continuous glucose monitors than with routine care.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Diabetes
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Should health insurers cover continuous glucose monitors for people with type 2 diabetes who don't use insulin?
A study published October 14, 2026, in the New England Journal of Medicine found that continuous glucose monitors helped adults with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin. The trial followed 283 adults for six months, and A1c levels in the monitor group dropped from 8.8% to 7.2%, relevant to the roughly 20 million U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin.
Why it matters
The findings extend the case for continuous glucose monitoring beyond people who take insulin, a group that has long had the clearest access to the devices. The results add evidence that real-time glucose feedback may help people manage blood sugar through meals, activity and medication routines.
This randomized controlled trial assigned 283 adults with type 2 diabetes, none using insulin, to either continuous glucose monitors or routine care over six months. A1c dropped from 8.8% to 7.2% in the monitor group, compared with 8.7% to 8.0% in the routine care group, and monitor users gained about five additional hours per day in target glucose range.
The players
New England Journal of Medicine
A leading medical journal that publishes major clinical trials and research on diabetes and other conditions.
American Diabetes Association
The leading U.S. diabetes organization that publishes clinical practice guidelines for diabetes prevention and management.
The details
A tiny sensor worn on the arm or belly measures the sugar level in the fluid just under the skin. The sensor wirelessly transmits results to a smartphone or other device, giving people real-time feedback on how meals, physical activity, medications and other behaviors affect their blood sugar. That continuous feedback, rather than occasional finger-stick checks, is what the study tested.
Timeline
October 14, 2026: Study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
2026: American Diabetes Association guidelines already recommend continuous glucose monitors for people with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin.
Six months: Length of the trial follow-up period.
Health Landscape
Continuous glucose monitoring has historically been concentrated among people who use insulin, where the evidence base was strongest. This trial extends randomized evidence to adults with type 2 diabetes who take other medications, which matches the American Diabetes Association's 2026 guideline position.
Adults with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin may find continuous glucose monitors worth discussing with their doctor, especially if they want more real-time insight into how food and activity affect blood sugar. Coverage varies by insurer, and the new findings could prompt broader coverage decisions over time.
The takeaway
Real-time glucose feedback showed measurable benefit for non-insulin users in this trial, adding evidence for a tool the American Diabetes Association already recommends. If you have type 2 diabetes and are not using insulin, ask your physician whether a continuous glucose monitor could fit your care plan.
Further reading
Explore more on Diabetes coverage, including how monitoring tools fit into everyday blood sugar management.
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Should health insurers cover continuous glucose monitors for people with type 2 diabetes who don't use insulin?
