ADA Standards of Care 2026: CGMs Are Now Recommended From Diagnosis Onward

Each year, the ADA Standards of Care signal where diabetes care is heading. In the 2026 update, one message is unmistakable: continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is no longer reserved for later-stage or narrowly defined patients: it’s foundational care. 

What the ADA Says (2026) 

The ADA now states: 

“Use of CGM is recommended at diabetes onset and anytime thereafter for children, adolescents, and adults with diabetes who are on insulin therapy, on noninsulin therapies that can cause hypoglycemia, and on any diabetes treatment where CGM helps in management.” (ADA Standards of Care 2026, Recommendation 7.15) 

This language represents a meaningful broadening of CGM eligibility compared to prior years. 

What Changed 

• CGMs are recommended from diagnosis, not after escalation 

• Applies across all age groups 

• Applies to insulin users, non-insulin therapies with hypoglycemia risk, and any scenario where CGM supports management 

In short: CGMs are now framed as a core management tool, not an advanced add-on. 

Why This Matters Clinically 

Earlier CGM use enables: 

• Faster identification of glycemic patterns 

• Earlier therapeutic and behavioral adjustments 

• More proactive care, before complications or deterioration 

The Operational Reality 

As CGM use expands earlier and more broadly, clinics face a familiar challenge: more data, more patients, more need for consistent review, without more resources. 

This is exactly where structured remote diabetes monitoring programs become essential. 

Where SweetSpot Fits

SweetSpot helps endocrinology practices implement and scale remote diabetes management programs for patients using CGMs and insulin pumps, without adding more staff. As CGM adoption expands earlier and across broader patient populations, SweetSpot provides the structure clinics need to consistently review data, identify patterns, and intervene proactively between visits.

As CGMs become foundational and advanced technologies like pumps and AID are adopted earlier, SweetSpot serves as the operational layer that turns continuous data into continuous care.

➡️ We’ll explore this shift (and what it means for real-world workflows) in our February webinar on making the case for remote diabetes monitoring in 2026. Register here.

Register here

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SweetSpot partners with endocrinology practices to provide virtual CGM monitoring and enhanced patient care.

SweetSpot combines a centralized software platform for managing diabetes device data, such as data from CGMs and insulin pumps, with wrap-around clinical support services. SweetSpot’s virtual team of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) performs monthly CGM data reviews and coordinates with providers and patients to facilitate treatment plan changes. By actively managing and remotely reviewing CGM data between patient visits, we ensure patients receive timely treatment adjustments to improve glycemic control and patient outcomes.

Additionally, SweetSpot’s automated capture of reimbursable care events optimizes CPT code utilization, unlocking new revenue streams for practices and making our partnerships both clinically effective and financially profitable.