title: Continuous glucose monitoring: a review for behavioral researchers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems collect and store glucose data in an ongoing fashion for several days at a time. The main advantage of CGM is that it can help identify fluctuations and trends that would otherwise go unnoticed with other glucose measures. Here, we provide a review of CGM for behavioral researchers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We begin with a brief review of diabetes and glucose measurement and then describe what CGM is and reference the commercial CGM systems currently available. We discuss the challenges involved in using CGM in behavioral research. We then present a broad overview of CGM in behavioral research, including data from ours and others' research programs. Finally, we cover some practical issues to be considered when using CGM, suggest reporting guidelines for the behavioral researcher, and offer suggestions for future research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only a handful of behavioral researchers are using CGM, although its use is increasing. The main ways that CGM is being used in behavioral research is to investigate basic biobehavioral processes, to assess the effects of behavioral interventions on diabetes control, and to use CGM itself as a behavior modification and teaching tool in diabetes self-management interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous glucose monitoring holds promise to help behavioral researchers unravel the complex relationships among glucose and intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual factors. However, the uptake of CGM for this purpose is limited, and the possibilities for its use are largely unmet. We encourage behavioral researchers to implement CGM in their protocols and to do so in a way that maximizes its explanatory power.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences and Community Health, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06405, USA. juwagner@uchc.edu
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tennen
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wolpert
mesh_terms: D035841:Behavioral Research; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012648:Self Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose