Significant gaps remain in continuous glucose monitor (CGM) access, awareness, and education among people with type 2 diabetes, according to a new report by Dexcom.
Dexcom released its State of Type 2 report ahead of the 2026 European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) congress, taking place from 28 September to 2 October in Milan, Italy.
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The CGM specialist’s report surveyed around 2,500 people with type 2 diabetes and over 800 healthcare professionals (HCPs) across eight countries, including the US, Germany, Italy, and the UK.
55% of respondents with type 2 diabetes reported having little knowledge of CGM use as an option for managing their condition. Meanwhile, 90% of surveyed US HCPs cited coverage limitations as a top barrier to uptake, with 53% of HCPs in the other seven surveyed countries citing reimbursement as a top uptake barrier.
Contrasting the uptake gap to CGM users, the report demonstrated that people with type 2 diabetes who use a CGM manage their condition more effectively.
Among CGM users, 94% said they managed their diabetes more independently, with 91% using the data to inform treatment decisions. Dexcom highlighted that the numbers demonstrate that when CGM reaches people with type 2 diabetesand is supported by education and care team engagement, it “fundamentally transforms” how their condition is managed.
On the HCP side, 89% said CGM use helps people with type 2 diabetes assess treatment adherence between appointments, while more than half of current CGM users reported following their treatment plan more closely since adoption.
CGM and GLP-1 awareness rising but challenges remain
Only 43% of surveyed HCPs said they were aware of CGM and glucagon-like peptide-1s (GLP-1s) as complementary tools for type 2 diabetes management.
Noting that the opportunity for convergence between CGMs and GLP-1s is significant and largely underutilised, Dexcom’s report found that 37% of people with type 2 diabetes were aware of GLP-1s as a complementary tool, up from 21% in 2024.
However, 72% of people with type 2 diabetes were unaware that CGMs and GLP-1s could be used in tandem. Meanwhile, 58% of people with type 2 diabetes who used GLP-1s reported pairing a CGM with their medication, but only 27% of type 2 non-insulin users reported doing so, despite growing clinical evidence regarding improved clinical outcomes when CGMs are paired with GLP-1s.
In a closing statement on the report findings, Jake Leach, Dexcom’s president and CEO, said: “The 2026 Dexcom State of Type 2 Report builds on last year’s finding that CGM is the foundation of successful type 2 diabetes management.
“This year’s data reinforces that truth and reveals exactly where the barriers remain: not in clinical efficacy, but in awareness and access for all people with type 2 diabetes”.
