Continuous Glucose Monitoring Improves Outcomes for Mothers and Infants with Gestational Diabetes

New research presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Annual Pregnancy Meeting highlights the benefits of CGM in managing gestational diabetes.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been shown to improve outcomes for mothers and infants with gestational diabetes, according to new research. The study analyzed data from 205 individuals with gestational diabetes and found that those who spent more time within the target blood sugar range had lower rates of adverse neonatal outcomes, such as NICU admission and respiratory distress. Researchers say CGM can provide valuable data on time in range and nocturnal hyperglycemia that is not available from traditional finger-stick monitoring.

Why it matters

Gestational diabetes affects 10-14% of all pregnancies, and rates are rising. Proper management of blood sugar levels is crucial to reducing risks for both the mother and baby. This research suggests CGM can be an important tool to help achieve better glycemic control and improve outcomes for this growing patient population.

The details

The study, led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Washington, examined data from three randomized, controlled trials involving 205 individuals with gestational diabetes. They found that for every one-category increase in time spent within the target blood sugar range of 63-140 mg/dL, there was an 18% reduction in the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. The risk was even lower, 21%, for those who maintained blood sugars in the 63-120 mg/dL range. Individuals with a 24-hour mean glucose under 94 mg/dL had the lowest risk of complications.

  • The study was presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Annual Pregnancy Meeting.

The players

Amy Valent

Associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon, and lead author of the study.

Emily Fay

Associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington, Seattle, and co-author of the research.

Thinh Nguyen

Division chief of perinatal care at Nemours Children's Health in Orlando, Florida, who was not involved with the study.

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What they’re saying

“Continuous glucose monitoring improves care for type 1 diabetes, but its ability to predict outcomes in gestational diabetes has not been well studied.”

— Amy Valent, Associate professor (Medscape)

“The study did not definitively answer whether CGMs should always be used for the condition's management, but they can 'give us more blood sugar information, such as time in range and nocturnal hyperglycemia, that is not able to be obtained through self-monitoring of blood glucose through finger sticks.'”

— Emily Fay, Associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology (Medscape)

“It is important for the medical community to make sure we understand how to best apply and direct care for patients who use CGMs.”

— Thinh Nguyen, Division chief of perinatal care (Medscape)

What’s next

Prospective studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better characterize the relationship between time in range and neonatal outcomes for individuals with gestational diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring.

The takeaway

This research confirms that maintaining healthy blood sugar levels through continuous glucose monitoring can significantly reduce the risk of complications for mothers and infants with gestational diabetes. As CGM technology becomes more widely adopted, it has the potential to improve care and outcomes for this growing patient population.