Stepwise approach to continuous glucose monitoring interpretation for internists and family physicians
Abstract
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use has expanded rapidly in recent years among people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In concert with the globally increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, the majority of whom receive diabetes care from internists or family physicians rather than specialists, it is becoming increasingly incumbent upon physicians within internal medicine and family practice to interpret and utilize CGM data in real-world clinical practice. It is therefore of paramount importance that internists and family physicians have access to the tools which will enable them to (1) interpret CGM data, and (2) utilize CGM data to guide therapeutic modifications for their patients with type 2 diabetes. Given the limited amount of time available to internists and family physicians to address multiple complex topics in a typical office visit, a pragmatic, simple, and systematic approach to CGM interpretation is crucial. This article aims to provide internists and family physicians with a simplified and systematic approach to CGM interpretation that can be easily and efficiently implemented in a brief office visit.
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Injection therapy is used by more than 80% of people with insulin-requiring diabetes.
“As injection therapy is used by more than 80% of people with insulin-requiring diabetes, there is a clear need for intuitive, integrated systems to help multiple daily injection (MDI) patients interpret CGM data into actionable management steps to reduce the burden of demanding self-care directives and support telemedicine (3, 6, 10-13).”
From Observed Glycemic and Psychosocial Benefits in the Prospective Bigfoot Unity Real World Study: A 6-Month Analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [12]
There is a clear need for intuitive, integrated systems to help MDI patients interpret CGM data into actionable management steps to reduce the burden of demanding self-care directives and support telemedicine.
“As injection therapy is used by more than 80% of people with insulin-requiring diabetes, there is a clear need for intuitive, integrated systems to help multiple daily injection (MDI) patients interpret CGM data into actionable management steps to reduce the burden of demanding self-care directives and support telemedicine (3, 6, 10-13).”
From Observed Glycemic and Psychosocial Benefits in the Prospective Bigfoot Unity Real World Study: A 6-Month Analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [12]
Primary care staff and providers need additional training to be comfortable with CGM technology.
“primary care staff and providers need additional training to be comfortable with the technology [ 16 ]”
Provider education is critical to optimize prescribing, use, and overcoming provider discomfort with technology.
“Additionally, provider education [ 16 ] is critical to optimize prescribing, use, and overcoming provider discomfort with technology [ 58 ].”
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- Authors
- Szmuilowicz, E. D., & Aleppo, G.
- Affiliations
- Northwestern University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Szmuilowicz, Emily D.
- Venue
- Postgraduate Medicine
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2022-08-18
- Volume
- 134
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 743-751
- ISSN
- 0032-5481 (ISSN-L)
- 1941-9260
- OpenAlex
- W4289986339
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 6
- FWCI
- 4.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Postgraduate Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine at Northwestern University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Education
- Keywords
- continuous glucose monitoring, type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes, internists, general practitioners, primary care, diabetes management, office visits, stepwise approach
- MeSH terms
- Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Physicians, Family, Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring
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