Managing diabetes effectively requires precise and timely insights into glucose levels. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) provide an advanced solution, offering real-time glucose tracking that significantly enhances diabetes care. In this guide, we'll explore what CGMs are, how they work, their differences, and why they're essential.
Understanding CGMs
Continuous Glucose Monitors are small, wearable devices that measure glucose concentrations in the interstitial fluid beneath the skin. Instead of relying solely on fingerstick blood tests, CGMs continuously track glucose levels, providing dynamic insights throughout the day and night.
How Do CGMs Work?
CGMs include a tiny sensor inserted under the skin—typically on the abdomen or arm—which measures glucose via an enzymatic reaction. The sensor sends data wirelessly to a connected device, such as a smartphone or insulin pump. Users receive real-time glucose readings, trends, and alerts for potential hypo- or hyperglycemic events.
CGM Devices Available Today
Several CGMs dominate the market, each with unique features:
- Dexcom G6/G7: Renowned for accuracy, no fingerstick calibrations needed, and excellent smartphone integration.
- Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2/3: Offers convenient scanning (flash monitoring), alarms, and extended sensor life (up to 14 days).
- Medtronic Guardian Connect: Features predictive alerts and integrates seamlessly with Medtronic insulin pumps.
- Eversense: A unique implantable CGM that provides continuous readings for up to 90 days.
Key Differences Among CGMs
When choosing a CGM, consider factors like sensor duration (ranging from 7 to 90 days), accuracy (assessed by the Mean Absolute Relative Difference, or MARD), ease of calibration, data integration capabilities, alarms, and cost.
Who Should Use a CGM?
CGMs are highly beneficial for:
- Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes requiring meticulous glucose control.
- People with Type 2 Diabetes who use intensive insulin therapy.
- Those experiencing Hypoglycemia Unawareness, who don't recognize early signs of low glucose.
- Pregnant women managing Gestational Diabetes.
Increasingly, CGMs are also considered for hospital use and preventative metabolic health management.
Benefits of Using CGMs
- Improved glucose control: Immediate insights enable swift, informed adjustments to insulin therapy.
- Safety: Alerts help prevent severe glucose excursions.
- Quality of life: Reduced anxiety, greater confidence, and fewer fingersticks make diabetes management less burdensome.
The Future of CGMs
CGMs continue to evolve rapidly. Integration with insulin delivery systems (closed-loop or "artificial pancreas" technology), extended sensor lifespan, and improved analytics promise a future of increasingly effortless diabetes management.
Prescribing CGMs Made Easy with eNavvi
At eNavvi, we recognize the value CGMs bring to diabetes care. That's why we've made prescribing CGMs simpler and more transparent than ever. Physicians can now easily prescribe CGMs digitally through eNavvi, ensuring patients receive prompt access to the devices they need at clear, competitive cash prices.
Take advantage of seamless prescribing and help your patients achieve better diabetes outcomes with CGMs—available now on eNavvi.