CGM Users Move More: What a New Study Reveals About Glucose Monitoring and Physical Activity

Many adults with Type 1 diabetes struggle to reach recommended physical activity levels. A new nationwide study from Lithuania looked at whether continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) might help close that gap. Researchers surveyed 368 adults with Type 1 diabetes—197 who used CGM and 171 who did not—asking detailed questions about their exercise habits.

The results were clear: CGM users reported significantly more physical activity. The median weekly activity for CGM users was 427.5 minutes compared to 270 minutes for non-users. CGM users were also much more likely to engage in moderate-to-vigorous exercise and to reach activity targets associated with better health outcomes.

When researchers adjusted their analysis to account for age, sex, diabetes duration, and the presence of complications, the connection between CGM use and higher activity remained strong. People using CGM were 4.4 times more likely to do some moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. They were also 2.2 times more likely to reach 600 MET-minutes per week—a measure that combines exercise intensity and duration.

These associations held steady even after the team accounted for acute and chronic diabetes-related complications, suggesting that CGM's relationship with activity was not simply because healthier people chose to use the technology.

Why might CGM users move more? Among people using CGM, one factor stood out: trust in the device's accuracy during exercise. People who felt confident that their CGM was giving them reliable glucose readings while working out were significantly more likely to report that the technology helped them feel comfortable exercising.

Physical activity affects blood glucose in complex ways—sometimes raising it, sometimes lowering it, and often unpredictably. Real-time glucose data may reduce the uncertainty and anxiety that can make exercise feel risky for people with Type 1 diabetes. That sense of security appeared to translate into actually doing more physical activity.

This was a cross-sectional study, meaning it captured a snapshot of people at one point in time. It shows an association between CGM use and higher activity levels, but it cannot prove that CGM causes people to exercise more. People who use CGM might differ in other ways—such as motivation or access to care—that also influence how much they move.

The study included participants from Lithuania and relied on self-reported activity data, so results may not apply equally to all populations or settings. Nonetheless, the findings add to growing evidence that CGM may remove one barrier to exercise for adults with Type 1 diabetes: the fear of unpredictable glucose changes during physical activity.

Source: Diabetology & metabolic syndrome. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.