Released February 13, 2025

About the Webinar

This webinar explores the potential for over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors in mitigating diabetes risk and the potential impact of this new technology for providers and patients. A live Q&A with Dr. Jordan Perlman follows the presentation.

Topics Covered Include:

• An analysis of available over-the-counter glucose monitors
• Benefits for prediabetes and non insulin-prescribed type 2 diabetes
• Risks and potential utility for non-diabetic patients

Webinar Recording

Webinar Audio

Webinar Summary

In this webinar, Dr. Jordan Perlman provided a detailed overview of over-the-counter (OTC) continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and its implications for diabetes management. With diabetes care largely handled in primary care settings—90% of adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and 50% of adults with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) receiving management from primary care providers—there is growing interest in the role of CGM devices in improving patient outcomes. However, less than 50% of primary care providers (PCPs) have ever prescribed CGM.

For OTC CGM, the FDA has set specific requirements: these devices cannot have alarms or alerts, require fingerstick calibration, provide medication adjustment recommendations, or integrate with therapeutic devices or electronic health records (EHRs). Three key OTC CGM options were discussed—Dexcom STELO, Abbott LINGO, and Abbott Libre RIO—each with different pricing, sensor sizes, measurement ranges, and integration capabilities.

Dr. Perlman reviewed feedback from “diabetes influencers” on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, noting both positive and negative experiences with CGM devices. Benefits of CGM in non-insulin-treated T2DM patients were also explored, with evidence suggesting that CGM improves time-in-range (TIR) and HbA1c, and may help mitigate cardiovascular risks associated with postprandial hyperglycemia. Dr. Perlman also discussed the potential of CGM in detecting prediabetes, emphasizing the need for clear criteria to determine appropriate patient populations before widespread adoption.

Despite the promise of OTC CGM, Dr. Perlman emphasized key challenges, including high costs, physiological variations in glucose levels, inaccuracies in detecting hypoglycemia, and the lack of reimbursement for interpretation and guidance. Environmental concerns related to the disposability of OTC CGM were also raised.

While CGM technology offers significant potential for improving diabetes and metabolic health management, the challenges of affordability, accessibility, and appropriate usage remain considerations for widespread adoption.

View a PDF of the webinar summary:
https://www.unboundmedicine.com/ann/webinars/2025/New_Opportunities_for_Mi...

About The Presenter

Jordan Perlman, MD

Dr. Perlman is an assistant professor of endocrinology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her clinical practice focuses on using diabetes technologies in geriatric and disabled populations. She is involved in clinical trials testing new algorithms for automated insulin delivery systems. She has been recognized for her work on continuous glucose monitoring metrics and the associated risk of diabetes microvascular complications. Dr. Perlman was named a "Top Doctor" in endocrinology by Baltimore Magazine in 2023 and 2024.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Johns Hopkins Diabetes Guide: https://www.hopkinsguides.com​

Unbound Medicine: https://www.unboundmedicine.com