How to Use a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)?

You can manage Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes with the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices by performing fewer finger-stick tests. Your blood sugar levels are continuously monitored by a sensor located just under your skin. Results are deliver to a wearable or mobile device through a transmitter. Even though it takes some work to learn how to use CGM, it can simplify health management.

What does CGM measure?

A tool for diabetics is the CGM. Your blood glucose levels are continuously monitor by the device while you are wearing it.

Your body uses insulin, a hormone, to control blood sugar levels. When you have Type 1 diabetes, your body either doesn’t make any insulin at all or does not have enough of it. Your body produces more of the hormone in type 2 diabetes but cannot use them properly. Insulin must be constantly administered by diabetics to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

Why is it important for diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels?

You can determine how much and when your body requires insulin by monitoring your blood sugar levels. Having often fluctuating blood sugar levels can harm your health in several ways. If untreated, extremely high or low blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia) can be dangerous and even fatal.

Your lifestyle, activities, and diet can all have an impact on your blood sugar levels. But everyone is impacted by diabetes differently. It’s common for an item or activity to have varying effects on different people’s glucose levels.

Your body can also change at any time. Your body may occasionally respond in a way that even medical professionals don’t always recognize. All of these factors could make managing your diabetes challenging, even if you think you’re doing it correctly.

What advantages does using CGM for managing diabetes provide?

Using a CGM device may make managing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes easier. Some individuals use CGM to track their blood sugar patterns for a week. The use of CGM for an extended period is widespread.

Using a CGM, you can:

Show you how diabetes affects you more broadly: Every several minutes, the CGM measure glucose levels. The information paint a clearer picture of how your blood sugar levels alter over time. This knowledge can improve your understanding of how factors like food, activity, stress, and disease affect your blood sugar levels, as well as that of your healthcare provider.

Result in more individualized care: The whole picture of all the ways diabetes affects you is not provided by CGM. It does not explain why glucose changes, only when it does. The CGM data, however, can be downloaded by your provider and examine for patterns and trends. Based on what they discover, they can then tailor your care.

Alert you to highs and lows: Most CGM devices will send you an alert when your blood glucose levels increase or decrease by a particular amount. With this knowledge, you may make adjustments right away. Before they become a serious issue, you might be able to treat or prevent highs or lows.

Reduce the number of finger stick tests you must perform: CGM drastically reduces the number of finger-stick tests you must perform daily.

When Should you make a doctor’s appointment?

If you have any concerns regarding how to use a CGM device securely, get in touch with your provider.

When untreated for an extended period, dangerously high or low blood sugar levels might occur. In the worst-case scenarios, this could lead to coma, death, or convulsions. You can avoid these effects by keeping blood sugar levels within a safe range. Call a medical expert if you notice any symptoms that worry you.

The following symptoms are typical of high blood sugar:

• Increased frequency of urinating
• More than ordinary thirst
• Vomiting or nauseous
• Difficulty thinking clearly

Conclusion

A CGM device’s user manual can be complicate to read. It’s not a quick fix or a cure for diabetes. But it could be able to provide you with more insight into the illness. You can monitor glucose trends more closely with a CGM device (instead of specific glucose readings). You can better manage your health by preventing issues or spotting them early by looking at the wider picture. You may have more freedom, flexibility, and peace of mind thanks to the automated, “always-on” setup of CGM. You might be able to concentrate on other things instead of constantly worrying about your blood sugar thanks to it.