Our Experts
Written by
Mercey Livingston
Written by
Nasha Addarich Martínez
Article up to date on January 25, 2026 at 11:20 AM PST Mercey Livingston CNET Contributor Mercey Livingston is a well being and wellness author and licensed Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She’s written about health and wellness for Well+Good, Women’s Health, Business Insider, and Prevention.com amongst others. When not writing, she enjoys studying and making an attempt out exercise lessons throughout New York City. Nasha Addarich Martínez Managing Editor Nasha is a Managing Editor for CNET, overseeing our sleep and wellness verticals. She is a diet, psychological well being, health and sleep science fanatic. Her ardour for conscious and holistic practices transcends her private life and profoundly influences her editorial strategy, as she weaves evidence-based insights with sensible recommendation to encourage readers to steer more healthy, extra balanced lives. Throughout her profession, she’s lined varied subjects together with monetary companies, expertise, journey and wellness. Expertise Sleep | Mental well being | Personal Care | Fitness | Nutrition | Medical | Wellness | Vitamins and Supplements | Vision Health | Longevity Credentials Sleep Science Coach Certification from The Spencer Institute. Consider whether or not you wish to join your steady glucose monitor to your telephone, to a receiver (a small system that reads and shows your knowledge), or each. Look at how typically the continual glucose monitor scans and transmits your glucose ranges to your telephone or receiver. Consider the place in your physique the CGM’s sensor might be positioned, the way it’s inserted, and the way typically the sensor should get replaced. This can fluctuate from every week or two to a couple months. You might wish to restrict your search to steady glucose screens that your insurance coverage, Medicare or Medicaid will cowl. Tracking your glucose day by day does not need to be sophisticated or painful. Gone are the times when your solely possibility was to prick your finger. Instead, now you can monitor your glucose with wearable gadgets. These steady glucose screens are positioned in your arm and hook up with an app in your smartphone or Apple Watch to simply take a look at your glucose ranges all through the day. These screens present real-time readings that can assist you make higher day by day selections about meals, exercise and drugs. Some glucose screens, just like the Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System, are FDA-approved. To show you how to discover the proper CGM, we consulted medical doctors and researched the preferred fashions. If you are involved about your glucose ranges, first discuss to your physician about diabetes monitor choices so you may get the one which’s best for you.Best steady glucose screens of 2026 Pros
Real-time monitoring, shareable with as much as 10 folks
Customizable alerts
Discrete sensor
Editor’s be aware, June 25, 2024: Since this text was first revealed, Dexcom has launched the G7. This sensor is smaller than the G6 and has an improved alert system, together with a number of different variations.”I find continuous glucose monitoring to be a valuable tool in the management of both type 1 and 2 diabetes,” mentioned Dr. Josh Emdur, medical director of SteadyMD. “CGM data provides actionable insight to help patients track their glycemic response to dietary choices and activity levels.”The Dexcom G6 does not require you to manually scan to get a glucose degree studying; as a substitute, you get a wi-fi studying both on a devoted receiver system or to your telephone or Apple Watch. The Dexcom G6 reads your blood sugar each 5 minutes, conserving observe of your blood sugar degree so long as you are carrying it night time and day. You can set a customized vary for the place you would like your blood sugar to be, and if it goes into low blood sugar or excessive blood sugar ranges you set, you’re going to get notified. “For patients on an insulin pump, the Dexcom G6 may connect with your pump and offer a closed-loop system to turn off your insulin if you are going low. The Dexcom monitor is also approved in pregnancy and offers continuous monitoring that you can see on your phone at all times,” mentioned Dr. Rebecca Fenichel, an endocrinologist at Westmed Medical Group. Pros
No prescription required
Real-time glucose monitoring
Painless software
HSA/FSA eligible
Cons
No security alerts for prime or low blood sugar ranges
Not supposed for insulin-dependent customers
Stelo was the primary over-the-counter CGM out there within the US when it obtained FDA approval in 2024. The small sensor sits on the again of your arm and tracks your glucose ranges 24/7. You can view your blood sugar ranges inside the app and in case you have an Oura ring it pairs seamlessly. Levels are additionally viewable inside the Oura app. Each sensor lasts as much as 15 days, it is fairly low upkeep and it is a simple option to see how your stress, meals and day by day habits affect your glucose ranges. One pack of two will value you $99 (lasts a couple of month) however in the event you subscribe that worth will drop to $89 a month. The pack comes with every thing you want: the sensors, applicator and overpatch to safe the sensor in place. Over the 2 weeks I examined the Stelo, I seen which habits (like taking a stroll after dinner) affected my blood sugar essentially the most. I discover this instrument useful for these interested by their general well being and doubtless not for these with a diabetes prognosis because it does not ship security alarms when your glucose ranges are too excessive or too low. If you have got a prognosis and want to attempt Stelo, I like to recommend talking to your physician to make sure it offers you the insights and alerts you want. Of the 2 OTC CGMs on this checklist (the opposite one is Lingo), our employees most popular the Stelo CGM. Pros
Affordable and simple to seek out
Optional blood sugar alarms
Connects to telephone however not required
Cons
Stores solely 8 hours of information (the Libre 3 shops as much as 14 days of information)
Editor’s be aware, June 25, 2024: Since this checklist was first revealed, the Freestyle Libre 3 has launched. This sensor is smaller than the Libre 2 and has readings despatched on to your smartphone each minute, together with different perks.This meter is really useful by Westmed Medical Group’s Fenichel and was beforehand really useful by Dr. Nate Favini. “For people who are interested in deeper insights into their glucose levels, I’ll often recommend the Freestyle Libre for continuous glucose monitoring,” Favini mentioned.”By placing a sensor on your arm, you can track your glucose constantly through the day and develop your understanding of what makes your sugar levels go up and down,” he mentioned. “People will often be surprised that foods that they assumed were good for their glucose levels may be causing spikes in their sugar. Although continuous glucose monitors are more expensive, they can help you understand what types of food and exercise are best for you.” To learn your blood sugar on the Freestyle Libre, you do a fast scan with the CGM system to get a studying. There are additionally elective alarms in case your blood sugar will get too excessive or too low. Pros
Very lengthy sensor life
Easy-to-use app
Customizable alerts
Cons
Requires insertion by a well being skilled
Requires frequent calibrations
If you need a system which you can arrange and do not have to fret about reinserting for a complete yr, Eversense 365 is a superb possibility for diabetes administration. A well being care supplier will insert the sensor and then you definately place the transmitter above that. Once the sensor is in place, you do not have to vary it out for about 12 months, an extended sensor life. The transmitter itself can provide you with a warning in case your blood sugar is just too excessive or low, and you can too have wi-fi readings despatched to your telephone by way of an app. You can share your blood glucose knowledge out of your app along with your physician or anybody else who desires to examine your blood sugar readings. Pros
Affordably entry worth (two weeks)
Gamified, user-friendly app
Water-resistant design
Great for behavior monitoring
Cons
Only out there for iPhone customers
About 20% of sensors might not final the total 14 days
No security alerts for prime or low blood sugar ranges
Lingo is among the two over-the-counter continous glucose screens we examined on this checklist. Like the Stelo, Lingo is worn on the again of the higher arm and you may view your glucose knowledge inside the Lingo app, the place it is translated into a simple to learn chart. The app additionally consists of habit-building challenges and progress monitoring, making glucose monitoring really feel extra like a sport than a chore. Right now, the Lingo app is simply out there for iPhone customers.What I appreciated most was how light-weight and low-maintenance the sensor is. It’s fairly glossy and you do not have to fret about carrying a reader with you. I do suggest shopping for an overpatch as this sensor does not include one and the primary time I examined I by accident yanked it off whereas dressing myself. An overpatch will make sure the system stays securely in your arm. A single sensor prices $49 (will final you as much as 14 days), a two-sensor pack prices $89 (a couple of month’s provide) and shopping for in bulk (six sensors for 12 weeks) will prevent essentially the most cash and can value $249. Pros
Predictive alerts
Stand-alone system
Past knowledge as much as 24 hours
Cons
Requires calibration each 12 hours
The Guardian Connect System is a CGM that may let you know your present glucose readings rapidly by way of a related app and in addition enables you to simply entry developments and knowledge about your blood sugar over time. One characteristic that stands out with the Guardian is the “predictive” alerts you may get about your sugar. Unlike different CGM programs that provide you with a warning when your sugar is already excessive or low, the Guardian makes use of expertise that predicts when your blood sugar may get excessive or low earlier than it occurs. Another characteristic that comes with the monitor is the Sugar.IQ diabetes assistant app for diabetes administration, which makes use of your knowledge that can assist you determine what weight loss plan, train and insulin works greatest for you. When selecting steady glucose screens for this checklist, we have a look at which fashions had been beforehand really useful by medical doctors. We additionally look to incorporate a CGM that has a longer-lasting sensor life and embrace fashions which can be standard selections for folks with diabetes. The solely two sensors examined on this checklist are Stelo and Lingo, that are additionally the one two over-the-counter CGMs. “Continuous glucose monitors offer more intensive monitoring of a diabetic patient’s sugar levels,” Fenichel mentioned. “They are particularly well suited to patients who have to check multiple times a day or to patients who want to get more frequent feedback during the day.”While anybody should purchase an everyday blood glucose meter, you will want a prescription out of your physician for a CGM system. Doctors might suggest a steady blood glucose monitoring system for causes tied to your distinctive well being circumstances and way of life, to trace your glucose developments and carry on high of your insulin ranges, however a CGM system might not work for everybody’s distinctive diabetes care plan.CGM gadgets also can provide you with and your physician extra details about blood sugar ranges than a typical meter — like in case your blood sugar begins to drop too low, the system can warn you about your dropping blood glucose ranges, “which can be a very helpful feature in helping patients avoid hypoglycemia,” Fenichel mentioned. “They can tell you not only what your current sugar level is but also whether it is on the way up or on the way down.” Here are some issues to take note of when looking for steady glucose screens:Scan frequency: Real-time CGMs repeatedly scan your glucose ranges and robotically transmit the information to your telephone or receiver, sending common alerts about your blood sugar. By distinction, with intermittent-scan CGMs, you need to scan them along with your telephone or receiver to see the information. Some CGMs additionally measure your glucose extra continuously than others.Connectivity: Consider whether or not you wish to join the CGM to your smartphone or to a receiver. If you are utilizing a telephone, look intently on the app and whether or not it is simple to make use of or presents particular options.Test sort: Consider the place in your physique the CGM’s sensor might be positioned, the way it’s inserted, and the way typically it should get replaced. Insurance protection: Check whether or not the CGMs you are fascinated about are lined by your insurance coverage, and the way a lot the elements will value to keep up and exchange over time. Yes, there are two steady glucose screens which can be out there with out a prescription. You also can get an everyday glucose monitor with out a physician. Many insurance coverage, together with Medicaid and Medicare, will cowl a steady glucose monitor, though they could require prior authorization. The Abbott Freestyle Libre 2 sells for simply $103. The least expensive option to get a steady glucose monitor is to undergo your insurance coverage, Medicaid or Medicare; you may doubtlessly get one at no cost. It’s really useful to put on your CGM on the again of your higher arm. Some fashions permit placement on different areas, just like the thigh, however all the time examine the producer’s directions. Avoid inserting it on scars or different pores and skin irregularities.
The info contained on this article is for instructional and informational functions solely and isn’t supposed as well being or medical recommendation. Always seek the advice of a doctor or different certified well being supplier concerning any questions you’ll have a couple of medical situation or well being goals.
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