Diabetes technology has evolved rapidly in recent years.
While glucometers are highly accurate and must-haves for all children with T1D, they
are no longer the only tool for measuring blood glucose levels.
In this video, we’ll be discussing Continuous Glucose Monitors, or “CGMs” for short.
With a Continuous Glucose Monitor, you can gain insights about your child’s blood glucose
that would be nearly impossible to see with just a glucometer.
Each brand and model of CGM is slightly different, but they all function in a similar way.
A CGM has 3 basic parts, which may be combined or separate.
The first part is a small device called a “sensor” which measures the glucose in
the body.
The sensor must be changed according to the device’s instructions - generally, you need
to apply a new sensor and rotate the sensor site every 7-14 days.
The sensor hands the blood glucose information to the second part, called the “transmitter”.
Depending on the CGM, the transmitter might be kept separate from the sensor.
Other CGMs combine the sensor and transmitter into one single piece that is worn on the
skin as a patch.
The transmitter sends the blood glucose information to the third part, which is called a “display
device”, “reader”, or “receiver”.
The receiver usually involves a screen that allows you to read the glucose data.
The type of receiver may vary.
Some CGMs use a smartphone as the receiver; some use a connected insulin pump; and others
use a separate handheld device that comes with the sensor.
Your child’s CGM might use a combination of these devices, so you can use the one that
suits their lifestyle best.
Some CGMs require manual glucose checks with a glucometer to make sure they remain accurate.
You will need to check your child’s specific device instructions to see if these manual
checks, also known as “calibration checks”, are required.
The biggest benefit that CGMs offer is that they can provide more information than a glucometer
alone.
The CGM performs a glucose test around every 5 minutes, so it is easy to see how the blood
glucose level is changing from moment to moment.
Along with telling you the current blood glucose level, the CGM might be able to give you “trend”
information, which means you will be able to see if the blood glucose level is rising
or dropping quickly and allow you to act sooner.
This information is usually presented as a set of arrows that indicate which direction
the blood glucose is moving and how quickly it is changing.
The number and direction of the arrows can show how fast the blood glucose is changing.
Paying close attention to these arrows can help catch a blood glucose that is rising
or falling very quickly.
Using a CGM, you will be able to track your child’s blood glucose level throughout an
entire day.
This information can help you pinpoint times when the child’s blood glucose is consistently
high or low so you can make changes to their care routine to correct them.
These patterns are places that our clinic looks for to help tailor a child’s diabetes
management to improve their health outcomes.
With time, we can help you learn how to read these patterns so you can manage your child’s
diabetes much more independently.
A continuous glucose monitor is a valuable tool for monitoring and interpreting blood
glucose.
It can provide a more complete picture of your daily routine and allow you to see blood
glucose trends that you may not be able to see otherwise.
To make the most of the device, the CGM sensor needs to be worn at all times and should be
rotated every 7-14 days.
If the sensor falls off before then, you can replace it.
It is possible that something can go wrong with the CGM sensor or receiver.
If the CGM is not sending blood glucose data for some reason, you will still need to have
a glucometer on hand and return to using it for regular blood glucose checks until the
CGM is working properly again.
Some CGM users report discomfort with wearing the device, changing their site, or dealing
with uncomfortable adhesives.
If this is the case for your child, you can discuss the problem with your diabetes care
team and they can help with strategies to reduce pain and discomfort.
In the next video, we will discuss a blood test that shows a child's average blood glucose
over an extended period of time, also known as the "A1c" test.