CGM: Continuous Glucose Monitor

 2018-12-12

Today’s CGM—continuous glucose monitor—technology put diabetes management into the 21st century. This small wearable device provides people with diabetes the information they need to make daily management decisions.

Improving both our short and long-term health and safety, CGMs should be considered the standard of care for anyone of any age with any type of diabetes.

What is a CGM?

A CGM is a small wearable device that tracks your blood glucose levels in real-time throughout the day and night. CGMs measure the glucose (sugar) in the interstitial fluid of your body fat compared to your blood glucose monitor (BGM) which measures the glucose in your blood.

At any moment—without pricking your finger—you can see what your blood glucose level is. You can also see what direction it’s headed in thanks to simple up, down, or sideways arrows.

With personalized settings, CGMs can alert you to high or low levels while also charting your blood glucose levels about every five minutes on a graph on your smartphone or separate receiver device.

Compared to checking your blood sugar with a drop of blood on a test strip, the information a CGM can provide both you and your healthcare team can have a huge impact on your diabetes management. CGM technology can help you make more thoughtful decisions around food, exercise, insulin and medications. The insights you gain from using a CGM can improve your safety and help you reach your A1c and time-in-range goals.

*Watch this video to learn more about the differences between readings from your CGM vs. your BGM. 

How a CGM Works

While each brand of CGM technology works slightly different, they have many similarities. (*Most of the details described below do not apply to Senseonics’ implantable Eversense CGM technology.)

A CGM consists of three basic parts:

  • Receiver (or smartphone): A device where you can check your current blood glucose level, look at past data and view your blood glucose trends and patterns. This may be an app on your smartphone or a separate device.
  • Sensor: The device that measures blood glucose. It contains a very thin wire that is inserted under the skin in subcutaneous tissue (body fat). It’s typically painless to wear and remains in the skin for several days. Users wear them on the stomach and the back of the arms or legs, or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 
  • Transmitter: Some CGM systems, like Dexcom, also have a small piece that fits onto the sensor and sits above the skin. This reusable transmitter sends blood glucose data wirelessly to your display device.

The process of inserting the CGM sensor is easy and virtually painless. It can easily be done at home and takes just a few minutes from start to finish. Most CGM sensors need to be replaced about every two weeks—this varies slightly depending on brand and model.

The Benefits of a CGM

A few of the benefits of using a CGM include:

  • See your blood glucose level at any moment without pricking your finger
  • See the direction of your blood glucose level: rising/falling, gradually/quickly
  • Learn how/when your body responds to food, activity, insulin, medication, hormones, stress, etc.
  • Customizable settings that alert you when your blood sugar falls below a certain level
  • Customizable settings that alert you when your blood sugar rises above a certain level
  • Catch and treat high blood glucose levels sooner
  • Catch and treat low blood glucose levels sooner
  • Help you reach your overall A1c and blood sugar goals
  • Learn what percentage of the day you are in/above/below your goal ranges (also known as “time-in-range” or TIR)
  • Integrate your CGM with your insulin pump (with additional features for closed-loop systems)
  • Share your CGM data with your healthcare team easily from the app on your smartphone
  • Share your real-time CGM data with family or friends to see at any time on their smartphone
  • Review your blood glucose levels at any time with helpful graphs and reports

How do I get a CGM?

Getting a CGM starts with asking your doctor to write the prescription. Talk to your doctor about your device options and decide together which might be best for you. (Scroll further on this page for detailed tips on getting a CGM.)

Check what brands are covered under your insurance plan (including patients on Medicaid and Medicare). For example, Dexcom’s and Abbott’s FreesStyle Libre CGMs are covered by Medicare for those who qualify.

To receive a CGM under Medicare or Medicaid, please contact your local state health exchange to check your eligibility.

Some brands also offer complimentary trial periods for new users, like Hello, Dexcom or MyFreeStyle Program. The MyFreeStyle Program allows eligible people to try either the FreeStyle Libre 14 Day System or the FreeStyle Libre 2 system. After your eligibility is determined, you’d request a prescription from your healthcare provider and get guided support from 14 days of emails tailored to your personal journey.

Research on the Benefits of Using a CGM

  • Research shows people with type 2 diabetes who are on multiple daily insulin injection therapies (MDI) and used a CGM lowered their average A1C from 8.5 percent to 7.7 percent.
  • In contrast, those who tracked their blood glucose using a standard BGM were only able to lower their A1C from 8.5 percent to 8.0 percent. Better management = decreases the risks of complications.

CGMs Available Today

Here are today’s available CGM brands and models. This technology has evolved rapidly over the last decade, improving in ease-of-use, accuracy and connectivity with other technology.

Abbott: Freestyle Libre 14-Day & Libre 2 & Libre 3

The Freestyle Libre technology is the only CGM available at your local pharmacy versus shipments directly from the manufacturer. It’s also the most affordable, making it more accessible to those without insurance coverage.

FreeStyle Libre 14-day

  • “Flash” glucose monitor which communicates readings when you swipe sensor with your smartphone or reader
  • No calibration or code entry required
  • Warm-up period of one hour
  • Collects blood glucose readings every minute
  • Easy sensor application process
  • Sensor lasts 14 days
  • LibreLink app includes blood glucose trends and patterns
  • Can share blood glucose readings with caregivers and loved ones with LibreLinkUp app 

FreeStyle Libre 2

  • Same small form factor and core features of the 14-day system
  • Also lasts 14 days
  • Greater accuracy than the 14-day system
  • Customizable real-time blood glucose alarms in Libre 2 smartphone app or reader

FreeStyle Libre 3

  • The smallest, thinnest CGM on the market
  • About the size of two stack pennies
  • Also lasts 14 days
  • Bluetooth range up to 33 feet
  • Customizable real-time blood glucose alarms in Libre 3 smartphone app or reader

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Dexcom: G6

Dexcom’s current models include the G6. A leader in CGM technology, Dexcom has gradually reduced the overall size of the transmitter while increasing the accuracy and ease-of-use since the earlier models.

G6

  • Measures your blood sugar every 5 minutes
  • No finger-stick calibrations required
  • Communicates directly with your Smartphone or receiver
  • Integrates with Tandem T:slim and Omnipod insulin pumps
  • Integrates with the Tide Pool closed-loop system
  • Can predict oncoming lows
  • Can be used without an insulin pump
  • 2-hour warm-up period after inserting new sensor before usable
  • Sensor lasts 10 days
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Medtronic: Guardian Connect

Medtronic’s Guardian Connect has evolved over the years, improving in accuracy and ease-of-use. It is the only CGM option for those using Medtronic insulin pumps who want an integrated system.

  • Measures your blood sugar every five minutes
  • Requires finger-stick calibration twice per day
  • Communicates directly with your Smartphone or receiver
  • Integrates with 670, 770, (780G soon) Medtronic insulin pumps
  • Can be used without an insulin pump
  • Two-hour warm-up period after inserting new sensor before usable
  • Sensor requires charging
  • Sensors lasts seven days
  • Integrates with the Tide Pool closed-loop system

Senseonics: Eversense

The newest of CGM technology, the Eversense CGM system is implanted beneath the skin. Unlike other CGM technology, the sensor is entirely beneath the skin, without any visual puncture site, while the transmitter is simply placed above the sensor area with an adhesive.

  • Inserted by a doctor every 180 days (365-day sensor available in Europe)
  • Sensor implanted beneath the skin
  • Can remove the external transmitter without removing sensor
  • Transmitter provides on-body vibration alarms even if phone is out-of-range
  • Studies show it may be more accurate than any other existing CGM technology
  • Requires additional costs associated with doctor appointments and procedures
  • May be difficult to get because doctors must be trained by Senseonics for implantation procedure

Watch this video to learn more about the differences between blood glucose readings and sensor readings, watch the video by FreeStyle Libre system below.

How do I get a CGM?

Getting a CGM starts with asking your doctor to write the prescription. Talk to your doctor about your device options and decide together which might be best for you.

Check what brands are covered under your insurance plan (including patients on Medicaid and Medicare). For example, Dexcom’s CGMs are covered by Medicare. Abbott’s FreesStyle Libre is also covered by Medicare for those who qualify.

To receive a CGM under Medicare or Medicaid, please contact your local state health exchange to check your eligibility.

Some brands also offer complimentary trial periods for new users, like the Hello, Dexcom or MyFreeStyle Program. The MyFreeStyle Program allows eligible people to try either the FreeStyle Libre 14 Day System or the FreeStyle Libre 2 system. After your eligibility is determined, you’d request a prescription from your healthcare provider and get guided support from 14 days of emails tailored to your personal journey.

Getting a CGM

While CGMs can help anyone improve their diabetes health, getting a CGM can come with some hurdles. Here are some tips for navigating that process.

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Using a CGM

CGM technology can provide you with so much more information about your blood sugar levels than a blood glucose monitor. CGMs are meant to stick to your skin. If the adhesive is coming off, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to replace it. You can also ask the manufacturer to purchase adhesive wipes to ensure the long-lasting wear of your device. Avoid placing your CGM at spots where your body naturally bends or where clothing might cause irritation.

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