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What is NHS continuous glucose monitoring?
Continuous glucose monitoring, often called CGM, is a diabetes technology that tracks glucose levels throughout the day and night. It uses a small sensor placed under the skin to send regular readings to a reader, phone, or insulin pump.
CGM can help people spot patterns, reduce finger-prick testing, and make safer decisions about food, exercise, and insulin. In the NHS, access depends on clinical need and the type of diabetes a person has.
Who is usually eligible?
People with type 1 diabetes are the main group eligible for NHS CGM. Many NHS local services offer it to those who would benefit most from tighter glucose monitoring and fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia.
Children and young people with type 1 diabetes are often prioritised, especially if they have difficulty recognising low blood glucose or need more support at school and home. Some adults with type 1 diabetes may also qualify if they meet specific clinical criteria.
Common reasons a person may qualify
Eligibility is often based on medical need rather than age alone. This may include frequent severe hypoglycaemia, impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia, or very unstable glucose levels despite using insulin correctly.
CGM may also be offered to people who struggle to manage blood glucose with standard finger-prick testing. Pregnant people with diabetes may be considered for CGM if it helps improve glucose control during pregnancy.
What about type 2 diabetes?
Access for people with type 2 diabetes is more limited on the NHS. CGM is usually considered only in specific situations, such as when a person uses intensive insulin therapy or has significant problems with hypoglycaemia.
Some people with type 2 diabetes may be offered intermittent scanning glucose monitoring instead of continuous CGM. Local NHS policies can vary, so eligibility may differ depending on where someone lives.
How access decisions are made
NHS access is usually decided by a diabetes specialist team, not by the patient alone. The team will look at diabetes type, current treatment, glucose patterns, hypoglycaemia risk, and whether the person can use the technology safely and consistently.
In England, local integrated care boards and diabetes services may apply national guidance slightly differently. This means two people with similar needs may still experience different access depending on their area.
How to find out if you qualify
The best first step is to speak to a GP, diabetes nurse, or consultant who knows your diabetes history. They can review whether CGM is appropriate and refer you to the right NHS service if needed.
If you already attend a hospital diabetes clinic, ask directly about CGM eligibility and what evidence is needed. It can also help to discuss any recent hypos, high readings, or difficulties managing your diabetes day to day.
Frequently Asked Questions
NHS diabetes technologies eligibility for continuous glucose monitoring refers to the criteria used by NHS services to decide who can receive continuous glucose monitoring devices, such as real-time CGM or flash glucose monitoring, as part of diabetes care.
Eligibility depends on the type of diabetes, clinical need, risk of hypoglycaemia, ability to use the technology, and local NHS commissioning policies. People with type 1 diabetes are often the main eligible group, but some people with other forms of diabetes may also qualify.
People with type 1 diabetes are commonly assessed for continuous glucose monitoring based on factors such as frequent hypos, hypoglycaemia unawareness, pregnancy, impaired glucose control, or difficulty with finger-prick testing.
Some people with type 2 diabetes may be eligible if they use insulin, have recurrent hypoglycaemia, have special clinical needs, or would clearly benefit from continuous glucose monitoring. Eligibility is usually more limited than for type 1 diabetes and may vary locally.
Common clinical reasons include recurrent severe hypoglycaemia, hypoglycaemia unawareness, poor glucose control despite standard treatment, pregnancy with diabetes, highly variable blood glucose levels, and the need for tighter monitoring to improve safety.
Yes, pregnancy can be a strong reason for eligibility when diabetes management needs close monitoring to reduce risks to the mother and baby. The exact criteria depend on the NHS service and the type of diabetes.
Yes, children and young people with diabetes may be eligible, especially if they have type 1 diabetes, frequent hypos, difficulties with blood glucose monitoring, or other clinical needs that make continuous glucose monitoring beneficial.
Evidence may include diabetes clinic records, blood glucose patterns, HbA1c results, history of hypoglycaemia, pregnancy status, current treatment plan, and a clinician's assessment that continuous glucose monitoring is medically appropriate.
Clinicians review the person's diabetes type, treatment, glucose variability, hypoglycaemia history, ability to use the device, and likely benefit. They then decide whether the person meets national guidance and local NHS criteria.
Yes, hypoglycaemia unawareness is often one of the strongest reasons for eligibility because continuous glucose monitoring can provide alarms or trend data that help reduce the risk of dangerous low blood glucose episodes.
Yes, recurrent severe hypoglycaemia is a common qualifying factor because continuous glucose monitoring can improve safety and help both the person and clinicians respond earlier to falling glucose levels.
Not always. A high HbA1c may support eligibility if it reflects unstable control or other clinical difficulties, but NHS decisions usually consider the full clinical picture rather than HbA1c alone.
Yes, people using insulin pumps may be eligible for continuous glucose monitoring, especially if the device is needed to improve control, reduce hypoglycaemia, or support advanced diabetes management.
In some cases, yes. Non-insulin users may be eligible if they have specific clinical needs, such as recurrent severe hypoglycaemia or other circumstances where continuous glucose monitoring would provide clear benefit.
You usually need to discuss it with your diabetes team, GP, or specialist clinic. They can assess whether you meet the criteria, gather supporting evidence, and arrange referral or approval through the relevant NHS pathway.
Yes, access can vary depending on local NHS commissioning arrangements and service policies, even though there are national guidance principles. This means eligibility and provision may differ slightly between regions.
If you meet eligibility criteria, your diabetes team may arrange training, device supply, follow-up reviews, and support to help you use continuous glucose monitoring safely and effectively.
If you do not meet the criteria, your team may suggest alternatives such as finger-prick testing, medication adjustments, education, or a later reassessment if your clinical situation changes.
Yes, eligibility can change if your diabetes control, hypoglycaemia risk, pregnancy status, treatment plan, or other clinical factors change. Ongoing reviews may lead to approval later.
The best place to get advice is your diabetes specialist team or GP, who can explain the current NHS criteria, assess your situation, and tell you whether you may be eligible for continuous glucose monitoring.
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