Blog - Diabetes Treatment
Can I Use CGM for Type 2 Diabetes?
Monitoring your blood sugar levels is an important part of looking after your overall health when you’re living with type 2 diabetes. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) is one of the ways to see where your glucose levels are at, empowering you to make choices that help you manage your glucose and lower your HbA1C over time.1,2
rtCGM is a good option for those living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who are looking for a way to check their glucose levels without routine finger pricks* and get better insight into what’s affecting their glucose so they can take control of their diabetes management with more confidence.
You may have heard that rtCGM is recommended for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The major international diabetes organizations recommend the use of real-time CGM for all adults with diabetes (T1D and T2D) on multiple daily injections/CSII and basal insulin only with the highest level of evidence3,4,5 (ADA, AACE, EASD consensus guideline). In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines suggest that all people living with T1D be offered rtCGM to help them manage diabetes.6 However, the NICE guidance is a bit different for those living with type 2 diabetes.
Is rtCGM right for me if I’m living with type 2 diabetes?
When it comes to managing T2D, everyone has different requirements for their treatment and self-management routines. For those who need to keep a close eye on their glucose levels, rtCGM provides a new level of convenience and peace of mind. rtCGM is also a great option for those living with T2D who need extra support with everyday diabetes management, such as those living with disabilities or elderly people with reduced independence. You can speak to your healthcare professional (HCP) about whether adding rtCGM to your diabetes management plan is a good fit for your needs.
Under some conditions, NICE recommends rtCGM for children and young people living with T2D who may or may not require insulin therapy,7 as well as adults living with T2D who require multiple daily insulin injections.8 Some of these conditions include:
- Unable to engage in capillary blood glucose monitoring (CBGM) due to their mental health or if they’re living with a learning disability or cognitive impairment.
- Need to take glucose readings at least eight times a day.
- Experience frequent, severe hypoglycaemia.
- Adults who are regularly unable to identify the symptoms of hypoglycaemia (known as hypo unawareness).
rtCGM is also a recommended option for people living with T2D on insulin therapy who are pregnant. NICE states that rtCGM should be offered to pregnant women if they’re experiencing frequent hypoglycaemia or have challenges keeping glucose levels stable.9
Benefits of rtCGM for Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes management is about maintaining both your health and your quality of life. Caring for diabetes is a demanding 24/7 job that requires a lot of energy and attention. rtCGM can simplify glucose monitoring and provide information that makes it a little easier to make treatment decisions with the help of your HCP. Here are just a few key benefits that rtCGM offers people living with T2D:
1. Make proactive treatment decisions
When you’re keeping an eye on your glucose levels using BGM, you can only measure your blood glucose level the moment you prick your finger* and take a reading. This can make it difficult to figure out if you should prepare to treat a hypo or if something you’ve just eaten is about to cause a spike in your glucose levels. People who are hypo unaware or experience hypoglycaemia at night may find it hard to know when and how best to treat lows.
rtCGM systems can make it easier to see where your glucose levels are at, and where they’re headed, so that you can take steps to manage them. Dexcom rtCGM Systems provide glucose reading up to every five minutes, giving you insight into what’s going on in your body much faster than performing a finger prick* and waiting for the readings with a blood glucose meter (BGM). Dexcom G6 and G7 rtCGM Systems also offer a predictive Urgent Low Soon alert that can let you know up to 20 minutes before a serious low of 3.1 mmol/L, even at night.† All Dexcom rtCGM systems allow you to set custom alerts that notify you whenever your glucose is higher or lower than your target glucose range—generally between 4-7 mmol/L before meals and under 8.5mmol/L two hours after meals.10
2. Manage insulin with more confidence
People living with T2D using insulin therapy have to balance their glucose levels with insulin. This requires them to not only keep an eye on their glucose levels, but take the time to assess whether they need to give themselves insulin and calculate dosages based on their BGM reading or carbohydrate count. With real-time glucose readings from an rtCGM system, it’s simpler to view your glucose levels in the moment so you can quickly determine how much insulin you need and see how your dosing decisions impact your overall glucose management.
rtCGM systems such as the Dexcom G6 can also be integrated with insulin pumps to create what’s known as an automated insulin delivery (AID) system. Currently available hybrid close loop (HCL) systems can deliver basal insulin, also called “background insulin” —which is the steady stream of insulin that helps level out glucose in the body throughout the day— automatically adjusted based on Dexcom G6 data offering a little less calculation here.11
3. Improve your diabetes management habits
It’s not always easy to pinpoint what’s making your glucose levels go up and down throughout the day or what has the greatest impact on your HbA1C over time. rtCGM can help you get a better idea of what may be causing highs and lows, giving you the chance to make adjustments to your diabetes management plan based on hard data.
With Dexcom rtCGM Systems, you can see how your glucose levels are changing in real time and see up to 24 hours of glucose readings at a glance on a compatible smart device or receiver.† Dexcom rtCGM Systems can be used with Dexcom Clarity, an app that allows you to view glucose data over days, weeks, months, and even years—and share it with your HCP. This allows you to spot patterns in your glucose levels, so you can figure out how your routines affect your glucose management.
4. Remotely monitor your loved one’s glucose levels
rtCGM enables caregivers of people living with T2D to remotely monitor an individual's glucose levels throughout the day and night—whether they’re in the same room or across the country. Remote monitoring is especially helpful for kids who are at school or out with friends. It also works well for elderly people or adults who depend on others for care.
The Dexcom Follow app allows you to share your Dexcom G6 or G7 data with up to 10 followers.‡ These people can receive glucose data wherever they have a wifi connection, even if they are miles away.
5. Support your health during pregnancy
Keeping your glucose levels stable throughout pregnancy is critical for the health of you and your child.9 Pregnancy is tough on the body and it’s likely that you’ll experience shifts in the way your body feels day-to-day. rtCGM systems, including Dexcom rtCGM Systems, can give you a direct view into your glucose levels, so you don’t have to guess whether you’re going high or low.12
Pregnancy comes with changes to your self-care routine and a new set of health guidelines to keep in mind. Using rtCGM can relieve you of the stress of looking after your glucose levels because you don’t need to remember to perform BGM readings or worry about pricking your fingers throughout the day,* freeing you up to focus on your family and taking care of yourself.
How people Living with T2D Can Access rtCGM
Managing T2D is about taking care of your health and ensuring that you have the resources you need to thrive. Dexcom rtCGM Systems can help you understand your glucose levels and take proactive action to keep them in range, so you can feel your best more often. Talk to your HCP about whether a Dexcom rtCGM System could help you support your diabetes management.
References:
* If your glucose alerts and readings from your Dexcom CGM device do not match symptoms or expectations, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions.
† For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility
‡ Internet connectivity required for data sharing. Following requires the use of the Dexcom Follow App on a compatible smart device. Followers should always confirm readings on the Dexcom CGM App or receiver before making treatment decisions.
1 Oser TK, et al. Personal Continuous Glucose Monitoring Use Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Clinical Efficacy and Economic Impacts. Curr Diab Rep. 2021 Dec 9;21(11):49. doi: 10.1007/s11892-021-01408-1.
2 Beck RW, et al. Continuous glucose monitoring versus usual care in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving multiple daily insulin injections: A randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(6):365-374.
3 ElSayed NA, et al. Standard of care in Diabetes 2023: 7. Diabetes Technology. Diabetes Care. 2023;46(Supplement_1):S111-S127. doi: 10.2337/dc23-S007.
4 Samson SL, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Consensus Statement: Comprehensive Type 2 Diabetes Management Algorithm – 2023 Update. AACE CONSENSUS STATEMENT. 2023;29(5):P304-340. doi: 10.1016/j.eprac.2023.02.001.
5 Davies MJ, et al. Management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes, 2022. A consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetologia. 2022;65:1925–1966.
6 Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG17]. Updated August 17, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/Recommendations
7 Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG18]. Updated May 11, 2023. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng18/chapter/Recommendations
8 Type 2 diabetes in adults: management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG28]. Updated June 29, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/Recommendations
9 Diabetes in pregnancy: management from preconception to the postnatal period: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG3]. Updated December 16, 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3/chapter/Recommendations
10 Blood Sugar Level Ranges. Diabetes.co.uk. Updated January 25, 2023. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
11 Adjusting Basal and Bolus Insulin Doses. Diabetes.co.uk. Updated January 25, 2023. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/adjusting-basal-bolus-insulin-doses.html
12 Herrero, T et al. Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Pregnancies Complicated by Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;131(1):124S. doi:10.1097/01.AOG.0000533522.16220.a6
* If your glucose alerts and readings from your Dexcom CGM device do not match symptoms or expectations, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions.
† For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility
‡ Internet connectivity required for data sharing. Following requires the use of the Dexcom Follow App on a compatible smart device. Followers should always confirm readings on the Dexcom CGM App or receiver before making treatment decisions.
1 Oser TK, et al. Personal Continuous Glucose Monitoring Use Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Clinical Efficacy and Economic Impacts. Curr Diab Rep. 2021 Dec 9;21(11):49. doi: 10.1007/s11892-021-01408-1.
2 Beck RW, et al. Continuous glucose monitoring versus usual care in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving multiple daily insulin injections: A randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(6):365-374.
3 ElSayed NA, et al. Standard of care in Diabetes 2023: 7. Diabetes Technology. Diabetes Care. 2023;46(Supplement_1):S111-S127. doi: 10.2337/dc23-S007.
4 Samson SL, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Consensus Statement: Comprehensive Type 2 Diabetes Management Algorithm – 2023 Update. AACE CONSENSUS STATEMENT. 2023;29(5):P304-340. doi: 10.1016/j.eprac.2023.02.001.
5 Davies MJ, et al. Management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes, 2022. A consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetologia. 2022;65:1925–1966.
6 Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG17]. Updated August 17, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/Recommendations
7 Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG18]. Updated May 11, 2023. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng18/chapter/Recommendations
8 Type 2 diabetes in adults: management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG28]. Updated June 29, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/Recommendations
9 Diabetes in pregnancy: management from preconception to the postnatal period: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG3]. Updated December 16, 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3/chapter/Recommendations
10 Blood Sugar Level Ranges. Diabetes.co.uk. Updated January 25, 2023. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
11 Adjusting Basal and Bolus Insulin Doses. Diabetes.co.uk. Updated January 25, 2023. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/adjusting-basal-bolus-insulin-doses.html
12 Herrero, T et al. Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Pregnancies Complicated by Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;131(1):124S. doi:10.1097/01.AOG.0000533522.16220.a6