What is Continuous Glucose Monitoring?

Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems consist of a sensor, a small device that sits on the skin with a fine probe that measures glucose levels in the tissue below. The readings are relayed to a simple reading device, a smartphone, and/or an insulin pump.

Unlike fingerprick tests, which provide a blood glucose measurement for a single point in time, CGM provides dynamic glucose information and highlights trends that show if the glucose level is heading up or down.

Some CGMs can also be paired with an insulin pump to create an automated insulin delivery system. Insulin pumps are not suitable for everyone but CGMs may benefit the majority of people with type 1 diabetes whether used in an automated insulin delivery system or as a standalone device with insulin delivered by injection.