The last year marked a turning point in how gestational diabetes (GDM) is understood, monitored, and managed. From clinical research and technology to reimbursement and government policy, 2025 brought meaningful momentum toward more personalized, data-driven, and patient-centered care. 

For LilyLink, it was also a year of rapid growth. We deepened partnerships with clinicians, released new tools and resources for patients and providers, and continued to improve our platform with updates shaped directly by provider and patient feedback.

As we close out 2025, we wanted to pause and reflect: what changed, what mattered most, and what signals are pointing toward 2026? Below, we look back at the biggest developments in gestational diabetes care, highlight key LilyLink milestones, and share our perspective on what’s coming next.

2025: A Year of Validation for Modern GDM Care

For years, clinicians caring for patients with gestational diabetes have known that traditional approaches (fingersticks, paper logs, fragmented follow-up) were falling short. In 2025, research, guidelines, and payer policy began to catch up to that reality.

CGM Moves Closer to Standard of Care in GDM

One of the most significant shifts in 2025 was the growing acceptance of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for gestational diabetes, supported by a growing body of evidence showing improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. The GRACE trial (Study: Real-Time CGM Reduces Risk of Large Newborns in GDM) provided some of the best evidence to date that real-time CGM use is associated with improved outcomes, including a reduced risk of large-for-gestational-age infants. These findings reinforced what many providers were already seeing in practice: more complete glucose data leads to earlier intervention and better outcomes.

That momentum was reflected in updated guidance. The 2025 ADA Standards of Care explicitly acknowledged CGM as an appropriate and beneficial option for gestational diabetes management, which is a meaningful step toward normalization and broader coverage. Internationally, health systems also began expanding CGM access for pregnant patients, signaling a global shift toward continuous monitoring. In one recent major update, The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has begun universal CGM coverage for all gestational diabetes patients. 

The Paper Log Problem Comes into Focus

Research on the challenges of paper logs has shown that a substantial proportion of handwritten logs are incomplete or inaccurate, with common issues including missed readings, delayed entries, and values recorded that do not match device data. 

This issue isn’t about patient motivation—it’s about system design.

• In one study of pregnant women with diabetes, over 80% of participants added “phantom” glucose values not present in their meter, and nearly 70% omitted actual results
• Another study of women with GDM found that only 61.5% met the recommended frequency of testing during the first two weeks of care, and that nearly a quarter had fewer than 90% of their diary entries match meter records
• Across broader diabetes populations, studies have shown 30–50% of logbooks contain errors ranging from omissions and missing entries to fabricated values.

Meanwhile, a review by Song et al. (2023) found that compliance rates in CGM groups were as high as 90%, significantly higher than in SMBG groups. In gestational diabetes, where the window for intervention is short and stakes are high, unreliable data can delay treatment adjustments and obscure true risk. 

Reimbursement Finally Starts to Catch Up

Another defining theme of 2025 was reimbursement clarity, particularly around remote patient monitoring (RPM) in maternal health. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has long held promise in maternal health, but uncertainty around billing, eligibility, and documentation slowed adoption.

This year, that began to change. New guidance and payer behavior made it increasingly clear that RPM is not just viable, but sustainable when implemented thoughtfully. Federal initiatives like the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program highlighted how remote care models could improve access to maternal-fetal medicine specialists in underserved areas. This is an especially important development for high-risk pregnancies.

Now, we’re seeing significant changes and updates to 2026 reimbursement for remote patient monitoring, adding new codes for shorter monitoring periods and simplified treatment management.

LilyLink in 2025: Building Solutions for Providers and Patients

2025 was also a year of significant progress for LilyLink itself. Guided by ongoing feedback from OBs, MFMs, diabetes educators, and patients, we focused on making gestational diabetes monitoring simpler, clearer, and more actionable.

Tools and Education for Providers

This year, LilyLink published and released a range of clinical and operational resources designed to help practices navigate change:

• The Reliability Problem with Paper Glucose Logs in GDM, examining why traditional tracking methods fall short and how incomplete or inaccurate logs limit a provider’s ability to tailor care to individual patients’ glycemic patterns 
• The Surprising Landscape of RPM Reimbursement for Maternal Health in 2025, breaking down what’s billable and how
• 4 Steps to Modernize Gestational Diabetes Care, a practical roadmap for practices ready to evolve
• The Definitive RPM Billing Guide for OBs, offering clarity in a complex reimbursement environment

We also launched a new video series, Delivered by OBs, grounding innovation in real-world clinical experience.

Our goal, which will continue into 2016, is to support physicians and patients with the most up-to-date tools and information to help them deliver (and receive) better, more personalized care. 

New Features Driven by Clinical Insight

For the LilyLink platform, we launched meaningful upgrades across both the provider portal and patient app.

Some of the most impactful updates included:

• Batch and customizable reports, making it easier to import data into EHR patient charts
• Overnight fasting data, developed in partnership with MFM specialists to better evaluate fasting trends
• Side-by-side CGM and fingerstick data, improving transparency and trust in glucose records
• Enhanced postprandial views, allowing providers to see 1-hour, 2-hour, and peak values simultaneously
• Provider tools for RPM visit tracking and simplified billing

We also made meaningful improvements to the patient experience, including easier meal and snack entry, clearer insulin instructions, and expanded device connectivity.

Across all of these updates, the goal remained the same: make it easier for providers to identify risk early and for patients to stay engaged without added burden.

Looking Ahead: 5 Predictions for 2026

As we look toward 2026, several trends are becoming increasingly clear.

1- Continued Expansion of CGM Access in Pregnancy

CGM adoption in gestational diabetes is unlikely to slow. As evidence continues to accumulate and guidelines evolve, we expect broader payer coverage and fewer administrative hurdles. 

This means bringing continuous monitoring to more pregnant patients who can benefit from it.

2- Remote Access to Specialists Will Expand

Programs like the Rural Health Transformation initiative, combined with the growth of tele-MFM organizations, point toward a future where geography is less of a barrier to high-risk pregnancy care. 

Remote patient monitoring will be a key enabler of this shift.

3- Thoughtful AI Making a Difference for Maternal Health

In 2026, we expect AI to play a larger role in both patient-facing and provider-facing workflows. We’ll see AI infused into a wide range of tools for patients and providers, ranging from something as simple as easier food logging and lifestyle support, all the way to documentation, risk prediction, and billing automation. 

The challenge will be ensuring these tools are clinically grounded and thoughtfully integrated.

4- Greater Clarity Around GLP-1s and Pregnancy

As GLP-1 receptor agonists become more widely used, research will continue to clarify their implications before and during pregnancy.

This will be an important area to watch for both clinicians and patients planning pregnancies, and in regards to gestational diabetes care. 

5- A Changing Care Landscape

Finally, obstetrics will continue to navigate complex intersections of medical guidance, political policy, and patient autonomy. 

At the same time, we anticipate continued growth in midwife-led and hybrid prenatal care models, which will begin to reshape how and where patients receive care.

Moving Forward

If 2025 was the year modern gestational diabetes care gained validation, 2026 may be the year it becomes expected. At LilyLink, we’re committed to building tools that support clinicians, empower patients, and adapt alongside this rapidly evolving landscape.

Thank you to the providers, partners, and patients who helped shape our work this year. We’re excited for what’s ahead… and we’re just getting started.

‍