Diabetes can be difficult to manage. Controlling your blood sugar is one thing; tracking its levels is another. Pricking yourself to check your blood sugars on a regular basis, and for the rest of your life, is nothing short of a nightmare.

If you have diabetes, you’re used to hearing the same thing from everyone. Is there, however, a one-size-fits-all solution? No, this is not possible because each person’s reaction to different foods varies, and this is important when it comes to controlling blood sugar. For example, a slice of pizza may raise your blood sugar level to 200 mg/dl, while it may remain at the desired level of 140 mg/dl for someone else.

Blood sugar levels are affected by a variety of factors such as nutrition, sleep, stress, and physical exercise. A thorough understanding of how all of these things affect your blood sugar levels can make a significant difference in your life. This is something that a trained, qualified Coach with years of experience in diabetes management can help you comprehend.

What is a continuous glucose monitor and how does it work?

A CGM is made up of numerous components. One portion, the sensor, is worn against your skin. It has a very small needle that stays buried beneath your skin. It continuously monitors your blood sugar level. It delivers this data to a wireless receiver on the monitor’s other side. CGM is included in some insulin pumps. The insulin pump serves as both the transmitter and the receiver in this scenario.

You can check your glucose level at any moment by looking at the receiver. Text messages, apps, and websites are all used by some systems. You can see if your level is rising or falling, as well as how quickly it is changing. You may see your glucose levels’ trends and patterns.

What are the advantages?

A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) continuously monitors your blood sugar levels. Some people with diabetes can use this information to help them make decisions about what to eat, how to exercise, and how much medicine to take.

Some CGM Patches have an alarm feature that will sound if your blood sugar levels are rapidly rising or falling, or if they are outside of your target range. This is useful for persons who have trouble recognizing when their blood sugar is low (hypoglycemic unawareness). When your blood sugar drops rapidly while you are sleeping, your parents, partners, or caretakers can be notified.

What are the disadvantages?

CGM technology is always evolving and improving. Here’s what you should know about most CGMs. These may or may not be applicable to all systems.

Sensors must be replaced. Depending on the setup, the sensor may need to be replaced every few days. Sensors in some systems can live up to ten days. Some CGMs need you to prick your finger to confirm the accuracy of the CGM. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can cause some CGMs to display readings that are higher than they actually are.