Continuous glucose monitoring use is associated with higher physical activity in adults with type 1 diabetes: a nationwide cross-sectional study
- 1Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio g. 21 Vilnius, Vilnius, LT-03101 Lithuania
- 2Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- 3Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
Abstract
Background: Physical activity is a key component of type 1 diabetes (T1D) management, yet many adults do not achieve recommended activity levels. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may reduce glycemic uncertainty during exercise; however, its association with real-world physical activity remains unclear.
Objective: To examine whether CGM use is independently associated with physical activity and to identify psychological factors related to perceived exercise facilitation among CGM users.
Methods: In this nationwide cross-sectional study, 368 adults with self-reported T1D in Lithuania (197 CGM users and 171 non-users) completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates were used to evaluate associations between CGM use and physical activity outcomes. Among CGM users, logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with perceived facilitation of physical activity.
Results: CGM users reported higher total physical activity (median 427.5 vs. 270 min/week, p = 0.001) and were more likely to engage in any moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (adjusted OR 4.4, 95% CI 2.2–8.0, p = 0.001) and to achieve ≥ 600 MET-min/week (adjusted OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.5, p = 0.035). Associations remained significant after adjustment for acute and chronic diabetes-related complications. Among CGM users, trust in CGM accuracy during exercise was strongly associated with perceived facilitation (adjusted OR 9.2, 95% CI 2.2–23.0, p = 0.008), whereas higher emotional diabetes-related distress was inversely associated (adjusted OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44–0.90, p = 0.04).
Conclusions: CGM use was independently associated with higher physical activity levels in adults with T1D. Psychological factors, particularly technology-related trust and emotional distress, may contribute to differences in perceived exercise facilitation among CGM users. These findings should be interpreted as associative rather than causal.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-026-02238-5.
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BibTeX
@article{suminienė2026continuous,
title = {{Continuous glucose monitoring use is associated with higher physical activity in adults with type 1 diabetes: a nationwide cross-sectional study}},
author = {Jurga Šuminienė and Rimantas Stukas and Virginija Gaigalaite and Natalja Istomina},
journal = {Diabetology \& Metabolic Syndrome},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s13098-026-02238-5},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-026-02238-5},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Continuous glucose monitoring use is associated with higher physical activity in adults with type 1 diabetes: a nationwide cross-sectional study
AU - Jurga Šuminienė
AU - Rimantas Stukas
AU - Virginija Gaigalaite
AU - Natalja Istomina
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/10
JO - Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
DO - 10.1186/s13098-026-02238-5
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-026-02238-5
AB - Background: Physical activity is a key component of type 1 diabetes (T1D) management, yet many adults do not achieve recommended activity levels. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may reduce glycemic uncertainty during exercise; however, its association with real-world physical activity remains unclear. Objective: To examine whether CGM use is independently associated with physical activity and to identify psychological factors related to perceived exercise facilitation among CGM users. Methods: In this nationwide cross-sectional study, 368 adults with self-reported T1D in Lithuania (197 CGM users and 171 non-users) completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates were used to evaluate associations between CGM use and physical activity outcomes. Among CGM users, logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with perceived facilitation of physical activity. Results: CGM users reported higher total physical activity (median 427.5 vs. 270 min/week, p = 0.001) and were more likely to engage in any moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (adjusted OR 4.4, 95% CI 2.2–8.0, p = 0.001) and to achieve ≥ 600 MET-min/week (adjusted OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.5, p = 0.035). Associations remained significant after adjustment for acute and chronic diabetes-related complications. Among CGM users, trust in CGM accuracy during exercise was strongly associated with perceived facilitation (adjusted OR 9.2, 95% CI 2.2–23.0, p = 0.008), whereas higher emotional diabetes-related distress was inversely associated (adjusted OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44–0.90, p = 0.04). Conclusions: CGM use was independently associated with higher physical activity levels in adults with T1D. Psychological factors, particularly technology-related trust and emotional distress, may contribute to differences in perceived exercise facilitation among CGM users. These findings should be interpreted as associative rather than causal. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-026-02238-5.
SN - 1758-5996
ER -