Continuous Glucose Monitors:
Diabetic Gamechangers or Just Another Gadget?
Curious about whether you should wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)? In our experience, CGMs are a must-have for anyone who manages diabetes. Continuous Glucose Monitors can be worn while sleeping, showering, swimming, exercising—basically they can stand up to anything you can do.
How Do CGM’s Work?
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) like the Dexcom 7 and Abbott Freestyle Libre are devices used primarily by people with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose levels in real-time throughout the day and night. Here’s how they typically work:
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- Sensor Insertion: A small sensor, usually about the size of a small coin, is inserted painlessly under the skin, typically on the abdomen or arm. The sensor measures glucose levels in the interstitial fluid (fluid between cells), rather than directly measuring blood glucose levels. The sensor is connected to a transmitter which sends the glucose readings wirelessly to a receiver or a smartphone app. Patients usually replace sensors two to three times per month.
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- Glucose Measurement: The sensor continuously measures the glucose levels in the interstitial fluid. This measurement happens at regular intervals, usually every few minutes, depending on the specific CGM model.
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- Data Display and Analysis: Glucose readings are collected and displayed graphically, showing trends and patterns in glucose levels over time. CGMs can also provide alarms or alerts when glucose levels are too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia), helping the user to take action promptly.
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- User Interaction: Users can interact with the CGM system to input information such as meals, exercise, and insulin doses. This helps to provide a more comprehensive picture of how these factors affect blood glucose levels throughout the day.
Will Insurance Cover CGM’s?
Yes, Medicare and many other health insurance plans pay for Continuous Glucose Monitors for diabetics. Coverage details, however, such as co-pays, deductibles, and eligibility criteria can vary.
CGM’s Put You Back in Control
What we find most exciting about CGM’s is how it empowers diabetic patients to see and feel for themselves how their own bodies respond to what they eat and drink, how well they sleep, and when they exercise. Because CGM’s provide real-time data, patients are able to see how the banana they eat with breakfast one morning differs from the berries they eat another morning. They can see the effects of the fish fry versus the baked fish for dinner. We are all different and our bodies react differently to different foods, at different times, and in different situations. CGM’s allow patients to better understand their own bodies to help them to make choices that keep their blood sugar levels in control. Being able to share the data with a patient’s physicians allows for more collaboration and helps physicians to better manage their patients’ care. We have been delighted to see so many of our patients improve their health outcomes and quality of life by using CGM’s.
Can We Help?
Eastern MedTech provides CGM’s to Medicare patients and also accepts many other major insurance carriers. If you’d like to learn more, call us at 857-400-0044 and we will be happy to assist with all your diabetic needs.
