BRONX, New York, July 6, 2026
Montefiore Einstein investigators have published new research demonstrating that expanding the use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) in primary care can significantly improve diabetes outcomes while reducing hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study highlights how integrating digital glucose monitoring technology into routine primary care can transform diabetes management for thousands of patients who require insulin therapy. The research analyzed outcomes from more than 2,000 patients prescribed CGMs and found that individuals using the wearable devices were 13% less likely to require hospitalization, 18% less likely to visit the emergency department, and achieved significantly better blood glucose control compared with patients receiving standard care. The findings have prompted Montefiore Einstein to launch a large-scale initiative across 18 Montefiore Medical Group primary care clinics, expanding access to CGMs through physician training, patient education, and coordinated care models. The study reinforces the growing role of digital health technologies in improving chronic disease management while making advanced diabetes monitoring more accessible beyond specialist endocrinology clinics.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Delivers Better Outcomes in Primary Care
The study demonstrates that Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) can substantially improve diabetes management when incorporated into routine primary care practice. Unlike traditional finger-prick glucose testing, which provides only a single measurement at one point in time, CGMs continuously monitor blood glucose levels throughout the day and night, giving clinicians a comprehensive understanding of glucose fluctuations caused by meals, exercise, stress, medications, and daily activities. Investigators found that patients prescribed CGMs experienced fewer hospital admissions, reduced emergency department utilization, and significantly improved glycemic control, emphasizing the technology’s ability to support earlier interventions and personalized treatment decisions.
Researchers also noted that although CGMs have become standard tools among endocrinologists, only about 10% of insulin-dependent patients who could benefit from the technology currently use these devices, highlighting a major opportunity to improve diabetes outcomes by expanding access through primary care physicians. The findings support broader adoption of wearable digital monitoring technologies as essential tools for modern chronic disease management.
Primary Care Model Brings Advanced Diabetes Technology to More Patients
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Building on the study results, Montefiore Einstein has implemented a comprehensive diabetes transformation initiative across 18 primary care clinics within the Montefiore Medical Group. The program trains primary care physicians to prescribe and manage Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems, while nursing staff receive specialized instruction to apply, activate, and educate patients on device usage during routine clinic visits. Patients are also actively engaged in understanding their glucose data and participating in the design of future support programs.
By moving advanced diabetes technology beyond specialist clinics, the initiative enables clinicians to review glucose trends both during appointments and remotely, allowing earlier identification of blood sugar abnormalities and more personalized treatment strategies. This collaborative care model strengthens communication between patients and healthcare providers while improving long-term disease management through continuous access to real-world health data rather than relying solely on occasional clinic-based glucose measurements.
Digital Health Innovation Advances Precision Diabetes Management
The study highlights the expanding role of digital health technologies in transforming chronic disease care through continuous remote monitoring, personalized treatment, and data-driven clinical decision-making. Diabetes affects more than 40 million people in the United States, making innovative care models increasingly important for improving outcomes while reducing healthcare utilization. Supported in part by funding from the American Diabetes Association, the Montefiore Einstein initiative demonstrates how integrating wearable medical devices, clinician education, patient engagement, and population health strategies can accelerate adoption of evidence-based technologies within routine healthcare delivery.
By providing clinicians with detailed glucose trends instead of isolated measurements, CGMs enable more informed therapeutic decisions, empower patients to actively participate in disease management, and improve quality of life through individualized care. As healthcare systems increasingly embrace remote patient monitoring and digital therapeutics, the Montefiore Einstein model provides a scalable framework for expanding access to precision diabetes care while reducing complications associated with one of the world’s most prevalent chronic diseases.
Source: Montefiore Einstein press release
