Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are comprehensive devices that provide real-time data of blood glucose levels. The device will continuously monitor blood sugar levels throughout the day, giving readings every few minutes. When you have diabetes, wearing a CGM will give you and your health care team a detailed view of your entire day and how different factors in your day affect your blood sugar. You will be able to see how food, medication and exercise affect your blood sugar as well as what your blood sugar is when you sleep. This minute-by-minute view of your blood sugar levels can help you better manage your diabetes
Here is what a CGM can tell us and why it is a valuable tool for diabetes management.
1. Real-Time Blood Glucose Levels
The primary function of a CGM is to continuously measure glucose levels in the interstitial fluid, which sits just below the skin’s surface. A CGM is inserted with a small needle, which is removed but places a small canula in the interstitial fluid where it monitors your blood glucose levels. Unlike traditional fingerstick tests that provide a single reading, CGMs offer continuous data, allowing you to see glucose levels minute by minute. A fingerstick will give a snapshot of your blood sugar at a certain time of the day but a CGM will give multiple readings helping to see blood sugar trends which will help manage your diabetes.
2. Patterns and Trends
CGMs are excellent for identifying patterns and trends in glucose levels. By wearing the device, you will be able to see how your glucose level fluctuates throughout the day and night. This data can reveal valuable information, such as how specific foods, stress, exercise, and sleep affect glucose levels. Recognizing these patterns will help you create a more precise and personalized diabetes management plan. CGM also offers the power of prediction; by using trend arrows that reflect the speed and direction of your glucose level so you can anticipate highs and lows before they actually occur.
3. Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia Alerts
One of the best features of CGMs is their ability to set alarms for low (hypoglycemia) and high (hyperglycemia) glucose levels. These alerts can be lifesaving, particularly for individuals who may not experience the typical symptoms of low or high blood sugar. These alerts are great for warning you to take immediate action to correct your glucose level, preventing potential complications.
4. Time in Range (TIR)
Time in Range (TIR) is a valuable reading provided by CGMs that indicates the percentage of time you are in your target glucose range. Maintaining glucose levels within this range reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications. Most people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes should aim for a time in range of at least 70 percent of readings—meaning, you should aim for roughly 17 out of 24 hours each day to be in range (not high or low). Talk with your doctor to figure out what blood glucose levels and time in range targets are best for you.
5. Glycemic Variability
CGMs also provide information on glycemic variability, which refers to the fluctuations in blood glucose levels. High glycemic variability has been associated with an increased risk of complications in diabetes. The CGM will help minimize these glucose fluctuations as you and your health care provider review your glucose trends and patterns and build a diabetes management plan that is best at keeping your blood glucose levels within an acceptable range.
6. Impact of Food and Exercise
Understanding how different foods and exercise routines impact glucose levels is important for managing diabetes. CGMs can show the immediate and delayed effects of various meals and activities on glucose levels. When wearing a CGM, you can see how certain foods, particularly carbohydrates, increase your blood sugar, what happens to blood sugar when you skip a meal or how a particular workout lowers your blood sugar. Knowing exactly how these things affect blood sugar levels can help determine the best nutrition and exercise plan for you.
7. Medication Effectiveness
If you are on insulin or take other diabetes medications, CGMs can provide valuable information on the effectiveness of the medications you are taking. By tracking glucose levels before and after medication administration, you can determine whether the current dose and timing of your medication is working to control your blood sugar. Having this information will help with medication adjustments and can improve your overall glucose management.
8. Better Doctor-Patient Collaboration
The detailed data from your CGMs is shared with your healthcare team, allowing your providers to have detailed information about your blood sugar that can lead to informed discussions and better treatment planning. Your doctor and others on your healthcare team can analyze the CGM data to identify trends, adjust medications, and recommend lifestyle changes. This collaborative approach is great teamwork between you and your team which will help with better diabetes management and overall outcomes.
Continuous Glucose Monitors are a powerful tool that offer comprehensive information about blood glucose levels and day to day factors that affect these levels. By providing real-time data, identifying patterns, and alerting you of dangerous glucose levels, you are empowered to take control of their health.