GPs should be prescribing continuous glucose monitors for their diabetes patients

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-07-07 01:00

International

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Diabetes patients who get a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) through their primary doctor are seeing improvements to their health, according to international researchers, who say the devices need to be used more in GP clinics rather than just through specialists. CGMs are wearable devices for diabetes patients that provide alerts when blood sugar levels are outside the target range and data that can be used by doctors to help diabetes management. The researchers studied 8,502 patients with diabetes including 2,392 who were prescribed a CGM by their primary doctor. After a year, the patients prescribed the CGM saw larger decreases in blood sugar levels. CGM patients also had a lower risk of recurrent hospitalisations and emergency department visits, the researchers say. They say increased adoption of CGMs in GP clinics could help make more effective diabetes care more accessible.