Researchers tested whether combining a special blood sugar monitor with personalized coaching could help people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes improve their health. Over 8 weeks, 110 people used a continuous glucose monitor (a small device that tracks blood sugar all day) along with personalized digital coaching from a health expert. The results were encouraging: people’s blood sugar control improved, they exercised more, and they ate healthier foods. The people who had the most unstable blood sugar levels saw the biggest improvements. This suggests that combining real-time feedback with personalized coaching is a promising way to help people manage their diabetes.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Does combining a continuous blood sugar monitor with personalized health coaching help people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes control their blood sugar better and live healthier lives?
  • Who participated: 110 adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who were already part of a chronic disease management program. The study lasted 8 weeks.
  • Key finding: People who used the blood sugar monitor with coaching improved their blood sugar control significantly. Those with the most unstable blood sugar saw the biggest improvements, with their HbA1c (a measure of average blood sugar over 3 months) dropping from 7.39% to 6.82%. People also exercised more and made healthier food choices.
  • What it means for you: If you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, using a continuous blood sugar monitor combined with personalized coaching may help you control your blood sugar better and build healthier habits. However, this is a short-term study, so we need more research to see if these benefits last over time.

The Research Details

This was a prospective cohort study, which means researchers followed the same group of people over time and measured what happened to them. All 110 participants received the same intervention: a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and personalized digital health coaching for 8 weeks. A continuous glucose monitor is a small device worn on the skin that measures blood sugar levels throughout the day and sends real-time alerts when levels get too high or too low.

Researchers measured several things before and after the 8-week program: fasting blood glucose (blood sugar when you haven’t eaten), HbA1c (average blood sugar over 3 months), body weight, physical activity levels, and eating habits. They also divided participants into three groups based on how much their blood sugar bounced around during the day (called glycemic variability). This helped them see if the intervention worked better for people with more unstable blood sugar.

The personalized digital coaching component provided real-time feedback based on the CGM data, helping people understand how their food choices and activities affected their blood sugar levels.

This study design is important because it shows what actually happens when people use these tools in real life. By dividing people into groups based on blood sugar stability, researchers could see whether the intervention helps some people more than others. This information helps doctors figure out who might benefit most from this type of treatment.

This study has several strengths: it measured multiple important health markers, included real-world participants from a disease management program, and used objective measurements (blood tests) rather than just asking people about their health. However, there are some limitations to consider: the study was relatively short (8 weeks), there was no control group that didn’t receive the intervention to compare against, and we don’t know if the benefits lasted after the program ended.

What the Results Show

All three groups of participants showed improvements in blood sugar control after the 8-week program. The most impressive results came from people with the most unstable blood sugar levels (the highest variability group). This group’s HbA1c dropped from 7.39% to 6.82%, which is a meaningful improvement that suggests better long-term blood sugar control. Their fasting blood glucose (blood sugar when you wake up) also improved significantly.

Physical activity increased noticeably in the group with the most unstable blood sugar, with a statistically significant improvement (p = 0.005, meaning there’s only a 0.5% chance this happened by random luck). All three groups reported eating healthier foods after the intervention. These lifestyle changes are important because they’re often the foundation of managing diabetes well.

The fact that people with the most problematic blood sugar patterns benefited the most suggests that the continuous monitoring and personalized coaching were particularly helpful for people who struggle with blood sugar stability. This could be because seeing real-time feedback helps them understand exactly which foods and activities affect their blood sugar the most.

Beyond the main blood sugar improvements, the study found that all participants reported better eating habits across all three groups. This suggests that the combination of seeing real-time blood sugar data and getting personalized coaching helps people make better food choices naturally, without needing strict diets. The increase in physical activity was most pronounced in the group with the highest blood sugar variability, suggesting that real-time feedback may be particularly motivating for people who struggle with blood sugar control.

Previous research has shown that continuous glucose monitors can help people with type 1 diabetes manage their condition better. This study extends that finding to type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, which is important because these conditions are much more common. The addition of personalized digital coaching appears to enhance the benefits of monitoring alone, suggesting that feedback without guidance may be less effective. This aligns with other research showing that combining technology with human coaching produces better results than technology alone.

This study has several important limitations. First, it only lasted 8 weeks, so we don’t know if people maintained these improvements over months or years. Second, there was no comparison group—all participants received the intervention, so we can’t be sure the improvements came from the monitor and coaching rather than just paying more attention to their health. Third, the study doesn’t tell us how much the continuous monitor costs or whether insurance covers it, which affects whether people can actually use it. Finally, we don’t know if these results would apply to people from different backgrounds or with different types of diabetes complications.

The Bottom Line

If you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, talk to your doctor about whether a continuous glucose monitor combined with digital health coaching might help you. This approach appears to be most beneficial if your blood sugar levels are unstable or hard to control. Start with realistic expectations: the study showed improvements over 8 weeks, but we need longer studies to know if these benefits last. Work with your healthcare team to make sure this approach fits your specific situation and goals. Confidence level: Moderate—this is promising evidence from a well-designed study, but we need more research before making strong recommendations.

This research is most relevant for people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who struggle with blood sugar control or have unstable blood sugar levels. It may be particularly helpful for people who are motivated to use technology and willing to engage with digital coaching. People with type 1 diabetes should talk to their doctor, as they may already be using CGM devices. This research is less relevant for people with well-controlled diabetes using their current approach, though they might still benefit from trying it. Healthcare providers should consider this approach for patients who aren’t reaching their blood sugar goals with current treatments.

Based on this study, you might expect to see improvements in blood sugar control within 4-8 weeks of starting continuous monitoring with coaching. Changes in physical activity and eating habits may appear within the first 2-4 weeks as you learn how different foods and activities affect your blood sugar. However, the biggest benefits typically come after 8+ weeks as these new habits become automatic. Remember that everyone responds differently, and some people may see faster improvements than others.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your daily blood glucose readings (if using a CGM), physical activity minutes, and meals eaten. Set a specific goal like ‘increase daily steps by 20%’ or ’eat vegetables at 2 meals per day’ and monitor progress weekly. Log how you feel and your energy levels to connect behavior changes with outcomes.
  • Use the app to log meals before eating and check how they affect your blood sugar 2 hours later. Set daily activity reminders and track steps or exercise minutes. Create a simple food preference list of meals that keep your blood sugar stable, and use the app to plan meals from this list. Share weekly progress summaries with your health coach or doctor.
  • Weekly: Review average blood glucose readings and identify patterns (which foods/activities cause spikes). Monthly: Check progress on physical activity goals and dietary improvements. Quarterly: Compare HbA1c results and overall blood sugar stability. Use the app to track trends over time and celebrate improvements, while identifying areas that still need work.

This research describes a promising short-term intervention for blood sugar management, but it should not replace medical advice from your doctor. Continuous glucose monitors and digital coaching programs may not be appropriate for everyone, and costs and insurance coverage vary. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new diabetes management approach, especially if you take insulin or other blood sugar medications. This study lasted only 8 weeks, so long-term benefits are unknown. Individual results may vary based on your specific health situation, medications, and ability to engage with the program.