The FreeDM2 clinical trial found that real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) significantly improves blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes who use basal insulin, compared to traditional finger-prick testing.
Study Details
- Published in: The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology on 23 April 2026. Findings also presented at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in Liverpool.
- Led by: Dr Emma Wilmot, University of Nottingham/University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, and Dr Lala Leelarathna, Imperial College London/Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
- Participants: 303 adults with type 2 diabetes on basal insulin, randomly assigned to either real-time CGM or finger-prick monitoring.
- Duration: 16-week self-management period, followed by 16 weeks of clinician-supported care.
Results
- CGM users had significantly greater reductions in HbA1c (the key measure of long-term blood glucose) at both 16 and 32 weeks.
- Benefits were seen in both the self-management phase and the clinician-guided phase.
- In phase 1, improvements occurred without new medications, suggesting participants used CGM data to make meaningful lifestyle changes.
Context
- Type 2 diabetes makes up ∼90% of diabetes cases globally. High blood glucose increases risk of blindness, amputations, heart disease, and early death.
- CGM uses a small arm sensor that sends glucose readings to a phone/reader, with alarms for high/low levels. It’s less painful than finger-pricks and gives 24/7 data.
- While CGM is standard care for type 1 diabetes in the UK, its role in type 2 has been uncertain, limiting access.