Continuous Glucose Monitoring Research Expands Beyond Diabetes to Adults With Prediabetes

Prediabetes is a metabolic condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but do not yet meet the diagnostic criteria for type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes have an increased risk of developing diabetes, making early identification and lifestyle intervention important.

Traditional monitoring often relies on fasting blood glucose, HbA1c and oral glucose tolerance testing. These measurements provide useful information, but they do not show every glucose fluctuation that occurs throughout the day.

Continuous glucose monitoring devices use a small sensor placed under the skin to measure glucose levels in the fluid surrounding cells. The technology can provide information about glucose changes after meals, during sleep and during physical activity.

The newly reported review maps research into the use of continuous glucose monitoring among adults with prediabetes. It examines measures such as glucose variability and time in range, which may help researchers understand metabolic patterns that are not always visible through occasional blood tests.

However, continuous glucose monitoring is not yet established as a routine screening requirement for every person with prediabetes. Further studies are needed to determine whether using these devices improves long-term diabetes prevention.