Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems
New Technology Helps People with Diabetes Monitor Their Blood Sugar
Jul 19, 2009
Diabetes is a health condition that results in high blood sugar. Type One Diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body damages its own pancreas. People with Type One diabetes rely on injections of insulin or an insulin pump to survive.
Why Blood Sugar Monitoring is Important
People with diabetes have to monitor their blood sugar carefully. Low blood sugar can lead to confusion and difficulties with physical and mental tasks. In extreme cases, it can also lead to loss of consciousness. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to complications such as heart and kidney disease and blindness. After a while, people with tight control of their diabetes often lose the symptoms of high and low blood sugar, making frequent monitoring of blood sugar critically important.
In the last few years, a new blood sugar monitor has come onto the market. The continuous glucose monitoring system is a device that moves beyond the old diabetes glucometer or meter pictured above. While finger sticks allow people with diabetes to see what their blood sugar is like at a specific moment in time, a continuous glucose monitor allows them to see trends in their blood sugar, reducing the guesswork about whether their blood sugar is moving up or down.
Supplies for the Continuous Glucose Monitor
A continuous glucose monitoring system is made up of a sensor, a transmitter, and a receiver. The sensor is inserted into the stomach or other fatty tissue with an inserter needle. The transmitter attaches to the sensor and sends out radio waves to the receiver. The receiver shows approximate blood glucose values and trends. Transmitters also have adjustable alarms to warn of high and low blood sugar values.
How Does a CGMS Work?
This blood sugar monitoring system is a little different from the traditional glucometer. Instead of directly measuring the sugar in the blood, it takes a reading from interstitial fluid. Users test using a blood sugar monitor, then calibrate the system with blood sugar values when their blood sugar is relatively stable. This way, the system gets to know the relationship between blood sugar values and interstitial fluid.
The CGMS system shows blood glucose trends. Since interstitial fluid tends to be about 20 minutes behind real blood sugar values, people with diabetes can’t rely on this system to diagnose and treat changes in blood glucose. They must confirm with a blood sugar check. This is especially important during exercise.
Does This Monitor Replace a Glucometer?
No. The continuous glucose monitor is an excellent complement to other blood sugar monitors, though. Its ability to show trends and issue alarms is incredibly valuable to those with diabetes, especially when they are sleeping. The CGMS must be calibrated using a traditional glucometer.
Brands of Continuous Glucose Monitor
Several companies sell these glucose monitors. Choose from a Minimed Paradigm that is integrated with an insulin pump or the Minimed Guardian, a stand-alone device. These sensors are certified for 3-day use. In the United States, the Dexcom company also sells a stand-alone system that is now certified for 7 days of use. The Freestyle Navigator has now been approved for use in Europe and the United States as well. The availability of these devices, support, and training varies from country to country.
Type One Diabetes can be challenging to manage, so any tool that helps people with diabetes manage high and low blood sugar is very valuable. While the continuous glucose monitor is still in its early years, it shows promise as a technology that could revolutionize the way that people manage their diabetes.
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