Wider use of continuous glucose monitors could add months to lives of New Zealand diabetics, study says

A collaborative study led by Associate Professor Ryan Paul examined real-time continuous glucose monitoring versus finger-prick testing for New Zealanders with type-2 diabetes requiring intensive insulin therapy. Findings indicate CGM users could gain an average of three extra months of life and experience more years in better health, with fewer complications. The technology proved particularly cost-effective for Māori and Pacific populations, who are disproportionately affected by diabetes and its complications.

CGM sensors, worn under the skin for at least ten days, transmit continuous glucose readings to a smartphone, allowing patients to adjust treatment instantly and reduce finger-prick frequency to about once every two weeks. Weekly sensor costs reported range from $25 to $55, offset by downstream savings in a health system that spends over $2 billion annually on diabetes care. Researchers argue broader CGM access could help break the intergenerational cycle of type-2 diabetes and reduce disease stigma.