Continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM, is the best technical advancement for managing diabetes since the invention of the first blood sugar test.
What Does It Do?
CGM is a little device that you strap to your abdomen. It has two main parts: a sensor you insert under your skin, and a monitor that picks up wireless signals from the sensor.
The main reason why CGM is useful is that it continually keeps track of your blood sugar levels. It alerts you if there is a risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Most diabetics find it easy to notice the warning signs of a blood sugar level drop. The usual symptoms include feeling faint or very hungry, as well as sweating profusely. But some people do not experience these signs, especially if they frequently have to deal with low blood sugar.
Essentially, the monitor on your CGM device can increase or even replace your body’s natural warning signals. This is also why CGM is useful to children with diabetes – some are too young to pay attention to the signs of hypoglycemia.
Who Is It For?
Experts recommend CGM to Type 1 diabetics who need to check their blood sugar level very frequently. It is also necessary for anyone who is on intensive insulin therapy.
Type 2 diabetics do not typically use CGM, but there is ongoing research about whether it can be useful for them as well.
Should You Get CGM?
It is up to your doctor to decide if CGM is the best option for you. It has certain downsides – for example, it is less accurate than some other kinds of blood sugar test. But it is obvious why CGM is useful to a number of people with diabetes.
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Continuous Glucose Monitoring. URL link. Accessed 11th November 2017.
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