What is Continuous Glucose Monitoring?

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is a small medical device that measures glucose levels continually, allowing individuals to detect potential glucose highs or lows throughout the day and night in real-time. Generally, CGM devices can help individuals with diabetes 2 years and older*.

Unlike fingerprick tests, which provide a glucose measurement for a single point in time, CGM provides dynamic glucose information by showing trends and suggesting where one’s glucose levels may be heading so they can take action sooner.

By using CGM, individuals can notice and respond to falling glucose levels before experiencing low-glucose events and even monitor patterns while asleep. Examples of CGMs are Dexcom G7, Freestyle Libre 2, and Guardian 4.

How does CGM work?

A CGM system can have a number of components;

  • Wearable sensor – a small wearable which obtains glucose readings via a small wire inserted under the skin

  • Reading Device – which shows current and previous glucose readings

Advantages of CGM technology

CGM studies have shown to provide the following benefits to users*:

  1. Improvement of HbA1C levels1

  2. Lowers the risk of hypoglycaemia (low glucose events) (1,2)

  3. Increase time spent in range (1,3)

  4. Improvement in quality of life and well-being (4)

*where self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is indicated.

  1. References:
    Šoupal J, Petruželková L, Flekač M et al. Comparison of Different Treatment Modalities for Type 1 Diabetes, Including Sensor-Augmented Insulin Regimens, in 52 Weeks of Follow-Up: A COMISAIR Study. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2016;18(9):532-538. doi:10.1089/dia.2016.0171

  2. Welsh J, Gao P, Derdzinski M et al. Accuracy, Utilization, and Effectiveness Comparisons of Different Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems. Diabetes Technol Ther.

  3. Šoupal J, et al. Glycemic Outcomes in Adults With T1D Are Impacted More by Continuous Glucose Monitoring Than by Insulin Delivery Method: 3 Years of Follow-Up From the COMISAIR Study. Diabetes Care. 2020 Jan;43(1):37-43. doi: 10.2337/dc19-0888. Epub 2019 Sep 17. PMID: 31530663

  4. Lind M, Polonsky W, Hirsch IB, et al. Continuous Glucose Monitoring vs Conventional Therapy for Glycemic Control in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Treated With Multiple Daily Insulin Injections: The GOLD Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017;317(4):379–387. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.19976

How to choose the right CGM for you

Along with your healthcare team, consider which factors are important to you and your diabetes care:

Customisable alerts and alarms

To ensure you get the best management tool for your needs, consider what notifications you want your CGM to provide. Some models offer predictive alerts 20 minutes before severe hypoglycaemia so you can act ahead of an upcoming low!

Remote data sharing

Your CGM device may support real-time remote sharing of glucose readings to your loved ones and/or your healthcare team. This feature can be particularly useful for monitoring children living with diabetes or individuals who may require additional support to achieve their glucose management goals

Integration with other devices

Some CGM devices are also compatible with certain insulin pumps, smart phones and watches and digital health apps. To see which CGM is compatible with your device, speak to your healthcare team

Reporting

Many CGMs offer easy-to-view data reports which can help to show patterns of low and high glucose events over an extended duration, an individual’s percentage of time spent in the target range and more. Reports can also easily be shared with your healthcare team for in-depth review.

How to Access

You can privately purchase CGM directly from your chosen CGM supplier.

MRIs and Traveling

If you need to have an MRI scan, you may need to remove your sensor and reapply a new one after your procedure. We recommend checking directly with your CGM supplier.

Read more about what you need to be aware of when traveling with a CGM.