What is a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)?
Living with Type 1 diabetes means constantly being aware of your blood sugar levels. Traditionally, this has involved frequent finger-prick tests throughout the day, which can be a real pain (quite literally!). Continuous Glucose Monitors, or CGMs, aim to change all that.
A CGM is a small, wearable device that tracks your glucose levels continuously, day and night. Unlike finger-prick testing, which gives you a single snapshot in time, a CGM provides a dynamic view of your glucose trends, showing you where your levels have been, where they are now, and where they might be heading.
CGMs are revolutionising the way people with Type 1 diabetes manage their condition. By providing a wealth of real-time glucose data, trend information, and customisable alerts, CGMs empower individuals to make more informed decisions, improve their glycaemic control, and live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Our mission at Patch and Stick is to help Type 1 diabetics get the most out of their CGMs.
How Does a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Work?
A CGM system typically consists of three main parts:
Sensor: A tiny sensor is inserted under your skin, usually in your abdomen or arm. This sensor measures the glucose levels in the interstitial fluid (the fluid surrounding your cells). It's important to note that there is a slight delay (typically 5 to 15 minutes) between glucose readings in interstitial fluid and blood glucose.
Transmitter: A small, reusable transmitter is attached to the sensor. It wirelessly sends glucose readings to a receiver or a compatible smartphone app.
Receiver/App: This is where you view your glucose data. Some CGMs use a dedicated receiver device, while others allow you to see your readings on your smartphone or even your smartwatch. Many apps are compatible with insulin pumps as well.
What Are the Benefits of Using a CGM?
CGMs offer a number of significant advantages:
More Data, Better Insights: Instead of just a few finger-prick readings per day, a CGM provides hundreds of readings, giving you a much clearer picture of your glucose patterns.
Trend Arrows: Most CGMs display trend arrows that indicate the direction and rate of change of glucose levels. This allows users to anticipate potential highs and lows and take proactive steps to manage them. This can be extremely helpful for making informed decisions about insulin dosing, food choices, and activity levels.
Improved HbA1c: Studies have shown that CGM use can lead to improvements in HbA1c levels, a measure of your average blood sugar over the past 3 months.
Alerts and Alarms: You can set customised alerts to notify you when your glucose levels are too high or too low, or if they are rising or falling rapidly. This can be especially helpful at night for preventing severe hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), which can be particularly dangerous as it often goes unnoticed.
Reduced Finger Pricks: While you'll still need to calibrate your CGM with finger pricks (usually 1-2 times per day, depending on the system), you'll likely be able to significantly reduce the overall number of finger pricks needed to manage your diabetes.
Better Quality of Life: Many people find that using a CGM reduces stress and anxiety, empowering individuals to take a more active role in managing their diabetes. CGMs offer greater flexibility in daily life, as users can check their glucose levels discreetly and conveniently.
Sharing Capabilities: Many CGM systems will let you share your data in real time with loved ones. This can be especially helpful for parents of diabetic children who are not yet old enough to manage the condition by themselves.
Data Analysis: CGM data can be downloaded by you and your medical team to make adjustments to your diabetes management plan.
Automated Insulin Delivery: Some CGMs can be integrated with insulin pumps to create hybrid closed-loop systems, also known as "artificial pancreas" systems. These systems automatically adjust insulin delivery based on real-time glucose readings, further improving glycaemic control and reducing the burden of diabetes management.
What are the Disadvantages of Using a CGM?
While CGMs offer many benefits, there are also a few potential disadvantages to consider:
Cost: CGMs can be expensive and the recurring cost of sensors can create a financial burden, especially in regions with limited access to affordable healthcare or for individuals without comprehensive insurance coverage. Even in countries with free healthcare, there may be restrictions on who qualifies for a CGM, or there could be long waiting lists.
Due to the high cost of replacing a sensor it is very important to get the maximum wear time out of every device. Using one of our medical tape patches can help add an extra layer of adhesive protection.
Sensor Insertion: Some people find the sensor insertion process to be slightly uncomfortable, although it's generally quick and relatively painless.
Potential to be dislodged: CGMs can be knocked off during everyday life resulting in sensor errors and inaccuracies. This can be a particular problem for fun-loving children and active adults.
Adhesive Issues: The CGM adhesive may not stick well in certain conditions (e.g. excessive sweating, swimming), leading to premature sensor detachment. Climate and humidity levels can also impact adhesive performance.
Our patches are designed to help maximise the useful life of a device while simultaneously enhancing its appearance. They adhere directly to the skin, increasing the surface area by which the device is attached. This reduces the chance of the sensor falling off prematurely and provides peace of mind as you go about your daily activities.
Skin Sensitivity: Some people experience rashes or irritation from the medical tape used to secure a CGM to the skin. This can also be the case with medical patches, although at Patch and Stick we use industry leading hypoallergenic medical tape from the USA and problems with skin irritation are extremely rare.
Visibility: The appearance of a CGM sensor can be a concern for individuals who prefer to keep their diabetes management more private.
Our fun and colourful patches aim to turn the sensor into a fashion statement, boosting confidence and helping users, especially children, feel more comfortable with their device.
Calibration: Some CGM models require periodic calibration with finger-prick blood glucose measurements to maintain accuracy, although many newer models are factory-calibrated and don't require it.
Accuracy: While CGMs are generally accurate, they are not perfect. There can be discrepancies between CGM readings and blood glucose values, especially during periods of rapid glucose fluctuations, compression lows (caused by pressure on the sensor), or if the sensor is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Alarm Fatigue: The constant alerts can sometimes be overwhelming and may result in users becoming desensitised to the warnings.
Delayed readings: Because the sensor measures glucose in the interstitial fluid, readings are delayed by up to 15 minutes, this can be significant during periods of rapid glucose change.
Is a CGM Right for Me?
If you have Type 1 diabetes, a CGM can be a powerful tool for managing your condition. Talk to your doctor or diabetes educator to see if a CGM is right for you. They can help you choose a system that fits your needs and lifestyle, and they can provide training on how to use it effectively.