Continuous glucose monitors are small devices worn on the body, typically placed on the upper arm or abdomen. The device works by continuously measuring the level of glucose in the interstitial fluid under the skin and sending this data to a receiver or compatible smartphone app. Because it measures intra-tissue glucose levels rather than serum or blood samples, it can provide more precise readings than traditional methods such as fingerstick testing.
Using a continuous glucose monitor means that people living with diabetes no longer need to rely solely on fingerstick testing for assessing their blood sugar levels. Instead, they can receive regular updates throughout the day without having to take any extra steps. This provides greater insight into how foods and activities affect their glycemic control and helps them make informed decisions about how best to manage their health. Additionally, because CGMs track trends over time rather than single instances, they may help identify problems before they become dangerous or life-threatening events such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
In addition to providing real-time data about blood sugar levels, CGMs also have other benefits for those living with diabetes. For example, some models allow users to set alarms so that they’re alerted when their glucose reaches certain thresholds a feature that could be especially useful for those at risk of hypoglycemia unawareness or who have difficulty recognizing when their blood sugar goes too low or too high. Additionally, some models are able to send alerts directly from the device itself so that users don’t need to rely solely on family members or friends for support during times of crisis related to their diabetes care needs.
Overall, using a continuous glucose monitor provides invaluable insight into how food choices and physical activity influence glycemic control in both short-term and long-term ways information that is essential for achieving better outcomes related to managing type 1 or type 2 diabetes over time. With its ability to provide up-to-date information about a person’s overall health status along with features like customizable alarms and remote alerting capabilities; CGMs offer an invaluable tool for helping people live well despite dealing with this chronic condition each day