Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A Practical Overview for Primary Care Providers in Canada
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58931/cpct.2025.3349Abstract
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is transforming diabetes care, yet its use in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains underutilized in primary care. Given that most individuals with diabetes in Canada have T2DM and are managed primarily by primary care providers, the ability to interpret and apply CGM data is essential. This review provides an overview of CGM technology, key metrics, benefits and limitations, and offers practical tips for implementation in primary care.
References
Public Health Agency of Canada. Diabetes in Canada: Facts and figures from a public health perspective. Ottawa: Government of Canada, 2011 [Internet]. [updated 04 July 2021, cited 20 August 2025] Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/diabetes-canada-facts-figures-a-public-health-perspective.html
Kirkwood J, Ton J, Korownyk CS, Kolber MR, Allan GM, Garrison S. Who provides chronic disease management? Population-based retrospective cohort study in Alberta. Can Fam Physician. 2023;69(6):e127-e133. doi:10.46747/cfp.6906e127
Teo E, Hassan N, Tam W, Koh S. Effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring in maintaining glycaemic control among people with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials and meta-analysis. Diabetologia. 2022;65(4):604–619. doi:10.1007/s00125-021-05648-4
Bolinder J, Antuna R, Geelhoed-Duijvestijn P, Kröger J, Weitgasser R. Novel glucose-sensing technology and hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetes: a multicentre, non-masked, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2016;388(10057):2254–2263. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31535-5
Elbalshy M, Haszard J, Smith H, Kuroko S, Galland B, Oliver N, et al. Effect of divergent continuous glucose monitoring technologies on glycaemic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Diabet Med. 2022;39(8):e14854. https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.1485
Battelino T, Danne T, Bergenstal RM, Amiel SA, Beck R, Biester T, et al. Clinical targets for continuous glucose monitoring data interpretation: International consensus on Time in Range. Diabetes Care. 2019;42(8):1593–1603. doi:10.2337/dci19-0028
Seidu S, Kunutsor SK, Ajjan RA, Choudhary P. Efficacy and safety of continuous glucose monitoring and intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional evidence. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(1):169–179. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-1520
Uhl S, Choure A, Rouse B, Loblack A, Reaven P. Effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring on metrics of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024;109(4):1119–1131. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgad652
Aronson R, Brown RE, Chu L, Bajaj HS, Khandwala H, Abitbol A, et al. Impact of flash glucose monitoring in people with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with non-insulin antihyperglycaemic therapy (IMMEDIATE): a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2023;25(4):1024–1031. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14949
Lind N, Christensen MB, Hansen DL, Norgaard K. Comparing continuous glucose monitoring and blood glucose monitoring in adults with inadequately controlled, insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (Steno2tech Study): a 12-month, single-center, randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(5):881–889. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-2194
Wright EE, Roberts GJ, Chuang JS, Nabutovksy Y, Virdi N, Miller E. Initiating GLP-1 therapy in combination with FreeStyle Libre provides greater benefit compared with GLP-1 therapy alone. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2024;26(10):754–762. https://doi.org/10.1089/dia.2024.0015
Miller KM, Kanapka LG, Rickels MR, Ahmann AJ, Aleppo G, Ang L, et al. Benefit of continuous glucose monitoring in reducing hypoglycemia is sustained through 12 months of use among older adults with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2022;24(6):424-434. https://doi.org/10.1089/dia.2021.0503
Natale P, Chen S, Chow CK, Cheung NW, Martinez-Martin D, Caillaud C, et al. Patient experiences of continuous glucose monitoring and sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy for diabetes: a systematic review of qualitative studies. J Diabetes. 2023;12:1048–1069. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-0407.13454
Clark TL, Polonsky WH, Soriano EC. The potential impact of continuous glucose monitoring use on diabetes-related attitudes and behaviors in adults with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative investigation of the patient experience. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2024;26(10):700–708. https://doi.org/10.1089/dia.2023.0612
Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Working Group, Cheng A, Feig D, Ho J, Siemens R; Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Steering Committee. Blood glucose monitoring in adults and children with diabetes: update 2021. Can J Diabetes. 2021;45(7):580–587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2021.07.003
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee . Erratum. 7. Diabetes Technology: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care 2025;48(Suppl. 1):S146-S166. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(4):666. doi:10.2337/dc25-er04b
Messer LH, Berget C, Beatson C, Polsky S, Forlenza GP. Preserving skin integrity with chronic device use in diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2018;20(Suppl 2):S254–S264. https://doi.org/10.1089/dia.2018.0080
Brew-Sam N, Chhabra M, Parkinson A, Hannan K, Brown E, Pedley L, et al. Experiences of young people and their caregivers of using technology to manage type 1 diabetes mellitus: systematic literature review and narrative synthesis. JMIR Diabetes. 2021;6(1):e20973. https://doi.org/10.2196/20973
Abbott Laboratories. Freestyle Libre 14 day indications and important safety information [Internet]. Chicago: Abbott Laboratories; [cited 2025 Jul 15]. Available from: https://provider.myfreestyle.com/safety-information.html
Dexcom. Interfering substances and risks [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Jul 15]. Available from: https://www.dexcom.com/interference
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Canadian Primary Care Today

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.