How Regular CGM Data Reviews Help Prevent Diabetes-Related Heart Complications

The impact of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in diabetes management is undeniable and continues to grow as new research highlights their benefits. While CGM use can improve glucose management and reduce the burden of diabetes for patients, the real opportunity lies in how frequently this data is reviewed.

Many endocrinology practices prescribe CGMs and check the data a few times a year during in-person visits. However, with the continuous stream of real-time glucose data, practices have the ability to intervene between appointments and make timely adjustments that can improve patient outcomes. Regularly reviewing CGM data not only enhances clinical decision-making but also empowers patients and helps prevent serious complications, including cardiovascular disease.

Below, we explore how consistent CGM data reviews can help to reduce the risk of diabetes-related heart complications.

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk

Diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, increases the risk of cardiovascular events by 2-4 times.1 Vascular complications like coronary heart disease, heart failure, and autonomic neuropathy not only increase the risk of mortality but also impact quality of life. 

The chronic hyperglycemia and insulin resistance associated with diabetes may contribute to lipid metabolism dysfunction, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.2 There’s also a disruption in endothelial (layer of cells that line the blood vessels) function in the presence of chronic hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, which can result in excess restriction of the vessels, atherosclerosis, and vascular inflammation.3

Furthermore, chronically high blood glucose can lead to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that increase arterial wall stiffness, further contributing to cardiovascular risk4.

These few things are just the tip of the iceberg. The glucose-cardiovascular risk association is complex. However, one thing is crystal clear — it’s essential to aggressively manage risk factors to improve outcomes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is where CGM use and frequent data reviews can provide a significant advantage for people with diabetes.

1. Regular CGM data reviews can reduce glucose variability

Glucose variability, or the large fluctuation of blood sugars, can impact cardiovascular risk. If a patient has a high percentage of variability, they are at greater risk for cardiovascular events.5 You can assess great differences in average glucose levels between follow-up visits by using HbA1c levels. However, it’s not a perfect test. 

Often people with high glycemic variability can have a stable or target HbA1c. But extreme lows and highs can average out to be within range. For example, 149 mg/dL is the average of 49 mg/dL (level 2 hypoglycemia) and a high of 249 mg/dL.

At first glance, this average may appear within range, but significant fluctuations during the day can go unnoticed — fluctuations that contribute to an increased risk of diabetes-related heart complications.6

CGM use can help reduce glucose variability in those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes by providing continuous, real-time data.7 But the true power of CGM lies not just in tracking these fluctuations — it’s in the frequency of reviews. Imagine the impact that regular, monthly reviews of CGM data could have on patient care. By consistently monitoring and addressing glucose trends in real time, providers can make more timely adjustments to care plans, helping to stabilize glucose levels and reduce cardiovascular risk more effectively.

2. Regular CGM data reviews can improve glucose levels

Staying within the target glucose range (70-180 mg/dL) for more than 70% of the time significantly reduces the risk of complications. In theory, it sounds simple—but anyone managing diabetes knows how challenging it can be, especially with limited daily glucose data points.

The 2025 Standards of Care in Diabetes includes the recommendations for CGMs to be offered to people with type 1 diabetes early on—as early as diagnosis.8 The standards also list the strong evidence for how CGMs are beneficial for type 2 diabetes and diabetes in pregnancy.

CGMs provide real-time data that offers a clearer picture of how daily choices affect blood sugar. Patients can see the impact of each meal, snack, and insulin dose, as well as how stress, physical activity, and other factors influence glucose levels. This immediate feedback empowers people with diabetes to make more informed choices and adjust their behavior accordingly. Its therefore no surprise that continuous glucose monitoring is associated with lower blood glucose levels and less frequent hypoglycemia (than fingersticks).9 

However, as mentioned, the real power lies in how often this data is reviewed. While CGMs provide valuable insights, regular monthly reviews of CGM data can amplify these benefits. By analyzing trends more frequently, providers can make timely adjustments to care plans, helping patients stay in range more consistently. Frequent data reviews can lead to better glucose management, fewer hypoglycemic events, and improved overall outcomes.

Even people with type 2 diabetes who are on less intensive treatments (non-insulin) have been shown to benefit from wearing a CGM.10  But without regular reviews, these benefits may not be fully realized.

3. Regular CGM data reviews support more informed treatment adjustments

One of the greatest advantages of CGM use is the provider’s access to real-time data, eliminating the guesswork often associated with paper logs—if the patient remembers to bring them. With continuous data at their fingertips, providers can make more accurate and timely adjustments to treatment plans.

A major barrier to tightening glucose management is hypoglycemia. Making dose adjustments and adding on medications often comes with a risk of lows, requiring careful monitoring. When making these treatment adjustments, you may opt for more frequent in-office follow-ups, but even so, you may have to wait weeks to see if what you’ve prescribed is working optimally.

This is where regular reviews of CGM data can make a critical difference. With access to real-time glucose trends, providers can remotely monitor patients and make timely, data-driven treatment adjustments. Monthly reviews of CGM data allow providers to identify patterns, titrate doses, and refine care plans more effectively—without waiting for the next in-person visit.

Frequent data reviews also enable providers to respond more quickly to hypoglycemia trends. CGM alerts notify patients when blood sugars are trending down and indicate the rate of change, allowing for faster intervention. By regularly analyzing this data, providers can take proactive steps to prevent hypoglycemia while minimizing the risk of hyperglycemia.11

CGM use improves glucose levels, decreases hypoglycemia events, and reduces glucose variability—all contributors to vascular complication risk. Pairing frequent CGM data reviews with regular interventions can be an effective way of reaching treatment goals and reducing the risk of all diabetes complications, including cardiovascular disease.

Remote CGM monitoring paired with regular data reviews and interventions offers significant benefits for people with all types of diabetes, but it requires the right infrastructure to be effective. SweetSpot removes all the barriers to implementing a strong remote CGM and insulin pump data management program, working alongside endocrinology practices to support more regular reviews of diabetes device data and adjust treatment plans throughout the year. Learn more by contacting SweetSpot at info@sweetspot.health.

References

1. Dal Canto E, Ceriello A, Rydén L, et al. Diabetes as a cardiovascular risk factor: An overview of global trends of macro and micro vascular complications. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2019;26(2_suppl):25-32. doi:10.1177/2047487319878371

2. Poznyak A, Grechko AV, Poggio P, Myasoedova VA, Alfieri V, Orekhov AN. The Diabetes Mellitus-Atherosclerosis Connection: The Role of Lipid and Glucose Metabolism and Chronic Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(5):1835. Published 2020 Mar 6. doi:10.3390/ijms21051835

3. Clyne AM. Endothelial response to glucose: dysfunction, metabolism, and transport. Biochem Soc Trans. 2021;49(1):313-325. doi:10.1042/BST20200611

4. Khalid M, Petroianu G, Adem A. Advanced Glycation End Products and Diabetes Mellitus: Mechanisms and Perspectives. Biomolecules. 2022;12(4):542. Published 2022 Apr 4. doi:10.3390/biom12040542

5. Hsu JC, Yang YY, Chuang SL, Huang KC, Lee JK, Lin LY. Long-Term Visit-to-Visit Glycemic Variability as a Predictor of Major Adverse Limb and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Diabetes. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023;12(3):e025438. doi:10.1161/JAHA.122.025438

6. Martinez M, Santamarina J, Pavesi A, Musso C, Umpierrez GE. Glycemic variability and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2021;9(1):e002032. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2020-002032

7. Maiorino MI, Signoriello S, Maio A, et al. Effects of Continuous Glucose Monitoring on Metrics of Glycemic Control in Diabetes: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Diabetes Care. 2020;43(5):1146-1156. doi:10.2337/dc19-1459

8. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee . 7. Diabetes Technology: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025 [published correction appears in Diabetes Care. 2025 Jan 23:dc25er04b. doi: 10.2337/dc25-er04b.]. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(Supplement_1):S146-S166. doi:10.2337/dc25-S007

9. Wang Y, Zou C, Na H, Zeng W, Li X. Effect of Different Glucose Monitoring Methods on Bold Glucose Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Comput Math Methods Med. 2022;2022:2851572. Published 2022 Jun 18. doi:10.1155/2022/2851572

10. Grace T, Salyer J. Use of Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring Improves Glycemic Control and Other Clinical Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Treated with Less Intensive Therapy. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2022;24(1):26-31. doi:10.1089/dia.2021.0212

11. Miller KM, Kanapka LG, Rickels MR, et al. Benefit of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Reducing Hypoglycemia Is Sustained Through 12 Months of Use Among Older Adults with Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2022;24(6):424-434. doi:10.1089/dia.2021.0503

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SweetSpot partners with endocrinology practices to provide virtual CGM monitoring and enhanced patient care.

SweetSpot combines a centralized software platform for managing diabetes device data, such as data from CGMs and insulin pumps, with wrap-around clinical support services. SweetSpot’s virtual team of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) perform monthly CGM data reviews and coordinate with providers and patients to facilitate treatment plan changes. By actively managing and remotely reviewing CGM data between patient visits, we ensure patients receive timely treatment adjustments to improve glycemic control and patient outcomes.

Additionally, SweetSpot’s automated capture of reimbursable care events optimizes CPT code utilization, unlocking new revenue streams for practices and making our partnerships both clinically effective and financially profitable.