Continuous glucose monitoring automatically tracks blood glucose levels, also called blood sugar, throughout the day and night. You can see your glucose level anytime at a glance. You can also review how your glucose changes over a few hours or days to see trends. Seeing glucose levels in real-time can help you make more informed decisions throughout the day about how to balance your food, physical activity, and medicines.

As for type 1 diabetes, self-monitoring blood glucose appears to be an essential tool for daily management of therapy also in type 2 diabetes. In fact, structured glucose monitoring, within a good therapeutic adherence, has been associated with an improvement of glycemic control also in type 2 diabetes.

There are 2 types of personal continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems: real-time continuous glucose monitoring and flash continuous glucose monitoring (FGM). FCGM is also known as the intermittently scanned CGM, whereas CGM automatically sends user glucose information in real-time. It also provides alerts and active alarms. Sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy utilizes CGM.

Features:

CGMs are always on and recording glucose levels whether you’re showering, working, exercising, or sleeping. Many CGMs have special features that work with information from your glucose readings:

• An alarm can sound when your glucose level goes too low or too high.
• You can note your meals, physical activity, and medicines in a CGM device, too, alongside your glucose levels.
• You can download data to a computer or smart device to more easily see your glucose trends.

Compared with a standard blood glucose meter, using a CGM system can help you

• Better manage your glucose levels every day
• Have fewer low blood glucose emergencies
• Need fewer finger sticks

A graphic on the CGM screen shows whether your glucose is rising or dropping and how quickly so you can choose the best way to reach your target glucose level.