Pitfalls and Effective Educational Strategies for Diabetes Nursing in the Continuous Glucose Monitoring Era

The prevalence of diabetes in South Korea is steadily increasing, particularly among middle-aged and older adults, necessitating advanced glycemic management strategies. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has shifted the paradigm from traditional HbA1c-focused care to real-time glucose pattern analysis. However, without structured education, the clinical benefits of CGM may not be fully attained because of common misconceptions among patients. This review identifies key errors often made in CGM education, such as focusing on isolated numerical values rather than trend data, neglecting “alarm fatigue” which can lead to psychological burnout and device discontinuation, and failing to provide adequate instruction on data interpretation tools like the ambulatory glucose profile. Furthermore, the importance of addressing physiological limitations, including the ‘lag time’ between interstitial fluid and blood glucose, and potential drug interference from medications such as acetaminophen, should be emphasized. To optimize outcomes, healthcare providers should implement best practices that integrate personalized alarm settings, comprehensive trend analysis, and practical skin-care management. Ultimately, shifting from technical device training to a holistic, pattern-based educational approach is essential for optimal patient self-management and long-term adherence in the CGM era.