Use of Continuous Glucose Monitors by People Without Diabetes: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

Klonoff DC, Nguyen KT, Xu NY, Gutierrez A, Espinoza JC, Vidmar AP (2023) Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
cgm
Title and abstract of Use of Continuous Glucose Monitors by People Without Diabetes: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

Key Takeaway

Review establishes four clinical use cases for CGM in non-diabetics: metabolic diseases, wellness optimization, elite athletics, and early disease detection

Summary

This comprehensive review examines the emerging role of continuous glucose monitoring in people without diabetes. The authors identify specific populations who may benefit and establish frameworks for clinical and wellness applications of CGM technology.

Methods

  • Design: Narrative review of CGM literature
  • Scope: Non-diabetic applications of CGM
  • Focus areas: Clinical utility, wellness applications, athletic performance
  • Analysis: Evidence synthesis across multiple use cases
  • Framework: Development of clinical use case categories

Key Results

- Identified four primary use cases for CGM in non-diabetics:

1. Metabolic diseases with insulin-glucose dysregulation 2. Metabolic diseases without primary glucose pathology 3. Health and wellness optimization 4. Elite athletic performance - Real-time feedback effectively modifies eating behavior - CGM reveals subclinical metabolic dysfunction before standard tests - Personalized nutrition insights unavailable from other methods - Short-term use (weeks to months) most appropriate for healthy individuals - Growing evidence supports wellness applications

Figures

Limitations

  • Narrative review (not systematic)
  • Limited long-term outcome data for non-diabetic use
  • Cost-effectiveness not fully established
  • Psychological impacts not comprehensively addressed
  • Clinical significance of glucose variability in healthy people uncertain
  • Regulatory landscape still evolving

Related Interventions

Related Studies

Source

View on PubMed →

DOI: 10.1177/19322968221110830