Treatment
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Continuous glucose monitoring automatically tracks blood glucose levels throughout the day and night, providing you with your blood sugar level anytime at a glance.
Seeing your glucose levels in real time and how it changes over a few hours or days can help you make better decisions about how to balance your food, physical activity, and medication.
What to Expect?
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) works through a tiny sensor inserted under your skin, usually on your stomach or arm. The CGM checks your intersitial glucose levels, the amount of glucose found in the fluid between your blood cells. The CGM checks your levels every few minutes and sends the information to your monitor.
A CGM may be part of an insulin pump or a separate device. Some CGMs send information directly to your smartphone making tracking your glucose levels as convenient as checking your email.
CGMs have many features to make managing your diabetes easier like alarms when your glucose levels are too high or too low, recording your meals, physical activity, and medication, and the ability to share your glucose levels with your doctor seamlessly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions About Continuous Glucose Monitoring
CGMs are convenient and less painful than regular finger-stick glucose monitoring. Talk to one of our providers today to find out if a CGM is right for you.
Most people who use CGMs have type 1 diabetes but research is ongoing to learn how CGMs may help people with type 2 diabetes.
CGMs are approved for use by children and adults with a doctor’s prescription. Your doctor may recommend a CGM if you or your child:
- Are on intensive insulin therapy, also called tight blood sugar control
- Have hypoglycemia unawareness (do not recognize the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar)
- Often have high or low blood glucose
Talk to one of our providers to find out if a CGM is right for you.
Compared with a standard blood glucose meter, using a CGM may help you better manage your glucose levels, have fewer low or high blood sugar emergencies, and reduce the number of finger sticks.
There are several CGMs on the market with different features and benefits. To find out if a CGM is right for you and which would work best for your needs, schedule an appointment today.