Journal Article
Reimagining continuous glucose monitors as a tool for primary prevention to combat type 2 diabetes and associated cardiometabolic disease in low- and middle-income countries
Calderón, B.
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López, T.
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Soto, M.
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Cepeda-Marte, Jenny L.
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Polanco Lima, Kristy M.
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Yudkin, J. S.
| Fecha de publicación | Revista | DOI |
16 de septiembre de 2026 | Diabetes Technology and Obesity Medicine |
Resumen
Prediabetes substantially increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a rapidly growing global health and economic challenge that disproportionately affects low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Conventional prevention strategies based on delayed biomarkers and generalized lifestyle advice have shown limited effectiveness. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), traditionally used for diabetes management, offer a promising preventive approach by providing real-time, personalized feedback that links behaviors to glycemic responses. However, evidence supporting CGM use in prediabetes remains limited, and technical, behavioral, and equity-related challenges must be addressed. Scalable implementation models for LMICs, including intermittent CGM use, digital health integration, community health worker support, and household engagement within chronic care frameworks, should be tailored to local resource constraints. Repositioning CGMs as preventive tools could provide a cost-effective strategy to reduce the growing T2DM burden if implementation overcomes barriers related to infrastructure, workforce capacity, and equitable access.