Our Picks Best stand-alone continuous glucose monitor Abbott Freestyle Libre 2 View details $105 at Total Diabetes View details Best continuous glucose monitor for pairing with phones or Apple Watch Dexcom G6 View details $330 at Total Diabetes View details Best long-term continuous glucose monitor Eversense CGM System View details See at Ascensia View details Best continuous glucose monitor for data tracking The Guardian Connect System View details See at Medtronic Diabetes View details Table of Contents While there isn't anything wrong with the traditional method of monitoring blood glucose levels, a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, is a much more convenient and less uncomfortable way to test. You can wear it on your skin and use your Apple Watch or the app to track your blood sugar levels, whether you're at your home or on the go. You won't have to rely on finger pricks or carry around testing supplies.Continuous glucose monitoring devices can be worn on the belly or the arm. They can help you make decisions throughout the day based on your blood glucose readings, which can help with managing diabetes. We consulted doctors and researched the most popular models to curate this list of the best continuous glucose monitors on the market. Just be sure to talk to your doctor about diabetes monitor options so you can get the option that's right for you.Best continuous glucose monitors of 2024 Photo Gallery 1/1 $105 at Total Diabetes $170 at Amazon Pros Affordable and easy to find Optional blood sugar alarms Connects to phone, but not required Cons Stores only 8 hours of data (the Libre 3 stores up to 14 days of data) Price $130 Type Intermittent-scan continuous glucose monitorSensor life 14 daysConnection options Reader included, phone app available $105 at Total Diabetes $170 at Amazon Editor's note, June 25, 2024: Since this list was first published, the Freestyle Libre 3 has launched. This sensor is smaller than the Libre 2 and has readings sent directly to your smartphone every minute, along with other perks.This meter is recommended by Dr. Rebecca Fenichel, an endocrinologist atWestmed Medical Group, and waspreviously recommended by Dr. Nate Favini, medical lead of Forward. "For people who are interested in deeper insights into their glucose levels, I'll often recommend the Freestyle Libre for continuous glucose monitoring," Favini said."By placing a sensor on your arm, you can track your glucose constantly through the day and develop your understanding of what makes your sugar levels go up and down," he said. "People will often be surprised that foods that they assumed were good for their glucose levels may be causing spikes in their sugar. Although continuous glucose monitors are more expensive, they can help you understand what types of food and exercise are best for you."To read your blood sugar on the Freestyle Libre, you do a quick scan with the CGM device to get a reading. There are also optional alarms if your blood sugar gets too high or too low. $330 at Total Diabetes $370 at Amazon Editor's note, June 25, 2024: Since this article was first published, Dexcom has launched the G7. This sensor is smaller than the G6 and has an improved alert system, along with a few other differences."I find continuous glucose monitoring to be a valuable tool in the management of both type 1 and 2 diabetes," said Dr. Josh Emdur, medical director of SteadyMD. "CGM data provides actionable insight to help patients track their glycemic response to dietary choices and activity levels."The Dexcom G6 doesn't require you to manually scan to get a glucose level reading; instead, you get a wireless reading either on a dedicated receiver device or to your phone or Apple Watch. The Dexcom G6 reads your blood sugar every 5 minutes, keeping track of your blood sugar level as long as you're wearing it night and day. You can set a custom range for where you'd like your blood sugar to be, and if it goes into low blood sugar or high blood sugar ranges you set, you will get notified."For patients on an insulin pump, the Dexcom G6 may connect with your pump and offer a closed-loop system to turn off your insulin if you are going low. The Dexcom monitor is also approved in pregnancy and offers continuous monitoring that you can see on your phone at all times," Fenichel said.