Intermittent Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Type 2 Diabetes Is Preferred: A Qualitative Study of Patients' Experiences.
Bente Elisabeth Bendixen, Ane Wilhelmsen-Langeland, Kirsten Lomborg and 4 others
PMID 40116013WHAT IT FOUND
People with type 2 diabetes found that continuous glucose monitoring was a learning tool that showed how food, walking, and daily choices changed glucose.
Many preferred intermittent access during illness, vacations, or disrupted routines, because continuous use could feel stressful.
Key findings
01Participants described CGM feedback, used as an add-on to the concentrated group intervention, as helping them see how foods and a 15-minute walk changed glucose.
02Many preferred intermittent CGM use, especially during illness, vacations, or disrupted routines, rather than continuous monitoring when control was satisfactory.
03Some described stress, guilt, or feeling controlled by CGM data, including alarms, glucose spikes, and frequent checking.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The follow-up interviews included only 9 participants. CGM was an add-on to a concentrated group intervention delivered by an interdisciplinary team, so the contribution of CGM alone cannot be separated. Participants had not used CGM before the intervention, so early reports may reflect novelty. The study reports experiences, not measured glucose control or clinical outcomes. The research team had extensive diabetes care expertise, which may have shaped interpretation.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest. Abbott Rapid Diagnostics AS, Norway, did not participate in the study. Funding came from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Helse i Hardanger, and the Dam Foundation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that CGM use improves glucose control or should be continuous for all. This study reports experiences from 14 participants, with 9 followed up, and includes no measured clinical outcomes; some participants found continuous use stressful.