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. 2025 Aug;40(11):2624-2633.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-025-09458-x. Epub 2025 Mar 4.

A Qualitative Study of Older Adult Perspectives on Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Type 2 Diabetes

Molly L Tanenbaum  1 , Ilana Peterson  2 , Connie Uratsu  2 , Minnie W Chen  3 , Lisa Gilliam  3 , Andrew J Karter  2 , Anjali Gopalan  2 , Richard W Grant  2 , Esti Iturralde  2
Affiliations

A Qualitative Study of Older Adult Perspectives on Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Type 2 Diabetes

Molly L Tanenbaum et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may improve self-management and reduce hypoglycemia risk among individuals with diabetes. However, little is known about how older adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (T2D) experience and incorporate this technology into their daily lives.

Objective: To explore experiences, preferences, barriers, and questions related to using CGM among older adults with insulin-treated T2D with and without experience using CGM.

Design: Qualitative focus group study.

Participants: English-speaking older adults with T2D in a large, integrated healthcare delivery system. Groups included either experienced CGM users or adults who had not previously used CGM. Recruitment efforts prioritized individuals ≥ 75 years of age.

Approach: Transcripts were analyzed using the Framework Method to identify perspectives on CGM. Specific thematic categories were hypoglycemia-related benefits, general benefits, usefulness and ease of use concerns, and CGM questions.

Key results: The study included 26 participants: 17 (65%) were experienced CGM users, 58% were female; median age was 74 (range 62-88) years. Participants perceived and anticipated these CGM benefits: informing behavior changes, reducing in-the-moment hypoglycemia risk, improving awareness and decision-making, and strengthening clinician collaboration. Perceived CGM barriers included challenges with wearability and reliability, burdens to others, distrust of technology, sensory and learning challenges, insufficient clinician support or engagement, and access and payer hurdles. Despite these downsides, experienced users perceived CGM as a worthwhile alternative to daily fingerstick glucose checks. Non-users were able to formulate many usability questions, providing a snapshot of informational needs for this age group.

Conclusions: Older adults with insulin-treated T2D experienced or anticipated benefits from CGM for diabetes management. Findings indicate a need for tailored education and self-management support for older adults to learn and gain maximal benefit from this technology.

Keywords: Continuous glucose monitoring; Hypoglycemia; Older adults; Primary care; Type 2 diabetes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations:. Conflict of Interest:: The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest.

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