Continuous Glucose Monitors – A game changer for diabetes!

There are a few things to know about CGM’s. First, they don’t measure your BLOOD glucose levels. This can only be done with a finger stick and glucometer. These devices measure the glucose in the interstitial fluid. This is the fluid that bathes and surrounds all our cells. The CGM measures the glucose that is pushed out of the blood stream and into this fluid. It takes time for glucose to disperse into this area. It’s a good idea to do a finger stick once in a while just to compare the two.

CGMs work through a sensor placed usually on the underside of your arm. You will have access to an app for your phone to get the results of what is happening in real time – when you eat, exercise, sleep, are dealing with stress and more – basically your daily life.

There are three companies at present that make CGMs and the sensors for each last for either 10 days (Dexcom), 14 days (Free Style Libre) or 7 days (Medtronic). These also help you see glucose highs and lows during the night which is very helpful if you are taking insulin.

The good news is, you don’t have to use it forever. You can use it to see the effect of your favorite foods on your glucose levels, what foods cause big spikes which you want to avoid and the foods that don’t. You can change out foods that increase your glucose levels and see the effect of eating protein, fat and fiber before carbs. You can also see the effects of exercise and sleep on your glucose. Once you have a good idea about these areas of your life, you may want to pause or stop using the CGM.

The CGM is really like a biofeedback mechanism. When people see the effect of what they are doing on their health, their body and their glucose levels, they are more likely to make changes that stick.

Dr Elaine

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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition.

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