Monitoring Blood Sugar: How New Technology is Changing the Game

The CGM Blog

Monitoring Blood Sugar: How New Technology is Changing the Game

Imagine being able to monitor your glucose levels in real-time and then taking action to correct them before they get out of control. With continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, people living with diabetes on insulin can now improve glycemic control^1-7 while gaining insights into how their glucose levels are changing throughout the day and night. All of this happens without having to rely on routine fingerstick blood tests* or diet logs, which can help give you more peace of mind in your diabetes care routine.

Blood glucose meters give just a snapshot of your blood sugar levels at that moment. On the other hand, a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system can provide more context into how your glucose levels are trending in real-time, as they can show you your current glucose value, whether it’s going up or down, and how fast it’s moving. With this additional information, CGM technology can give you the ability to spend more time in your target glucose range or time in range (TIR).^1,†

The use of systems like the Dexcom G6 can help users manage diabetes without the need for routine fingersticks.* Use of Dexcom CGM has also been shown to reduce A1C over time for those using insulin.^1-5 The Dexcom G6 CGM System, for example, can alert you in advance so that you can avoid hitting serious lows. Plus, the dynamic data collected from Dexcom G6 can be easily shared with family members or other caregivers,^‡ allowing them to be active participants in your healthcare plan.

Ultimately, CGM systems help people living with diabetes stay informed on their glucose levels, offering proactive insights through an effective, easy-to-use system.

No Routine Finger Sticks Needed*

In the past, people living with diabetes had to rely on traditional glucose monitoring systems that required blood samples and fingersticks to read blood sugar levels. This process, typically performed by a blood glucose meter, only provides a small window to your glucose levels at the time of the reading.⁹

By contrast, a CGM system uses a sensor inserted below the skin to measure glucose levels in real-time and at consistent intervals over a longer period. The sensor is connected to a transmitter, which sends regular readings to a receiver or compatible smart device.^§ This monitoring is continuous, automatic, and doesn’t require users to prick their fingers.* This makes it easy to actively track your glucose levels throughout the day and night.

Say Goodbye To Manual Scanning

Manual scanning is a process used by flash glucose monitoring systems, or FGM for short. This system requires users to scan their sensor with their smart device to check glucose levels. Manual scanning can become inconvenient if you get busy at work, school, or play and fail to scan regularly^‖. If you forget to scan, you may miss important moments in your glucose trends throughout the day, which can impact the way you react to glucose fluctuations.

In comparison, real-time CGM systems do not require manual scans to get a glucose value.¹⁰ Dexcom G6 monitors glucose levels on a continuous basis, which allows you to benefit from real-time data on your current glucose value, as well as the direction and speed of change in levels. You can easily access your glucose data by checking the Dexcom G6 app on your compatible smart device,^§ without the need to manually scan.

Remote Monitoring Offers More Peace Of Mind

Remote monitoring allows families, loved ones, and caregivers to stay on top of glucose levels from anywhere. For instance, if your child is away on a school trip, you can easily check up on their glucose levels day or night. Or, if your loved one is prone to unexpected highs or lows while they sleep, you can receive an alert and be able to reach out with support as needed.

Dexcom G6 has a companion Dexcom Follow app which allows up to ten followers to remotely monitor your glucose readings and trends on their smart device.^‡ A recent study showed that 89 percent of adult Dexcom users who shared their glucose data with followers reported that the feature had helped give them greater peace of mind and improved their hypoglycemia confidence.¹¹ Similarly, studies have shown that remote monitoring can be especially important for parents of children with diabetes as it allows them to rest easier knowing they can proactively manage serious low glucose levels.¹²

The Predictive Alert Can Help Avoid Serious Lows

The Dexcom G6 takes glucose readings every five minutes and can notify you if your glucose levels are about to hit a serious low. If this happens, an "Urgent Low Soon" alert will appear on your display device and let you know that you should act now to avoid going low.

On top of your predictive alerts, the “Alert Schedule” feature lets you customize how you receive your notifications for different times of the day or throughout the week. Customizable alerts can be snoozed, put on vibration mode, and set to different schedules and sounds depending on your needs. Always talk to your healthcare professional before changing your alerts.

Get More Peace Of Mind With Dexcom G6

CGM systems provide real-time, continuous, and dynamic glucose data, which can help give valuable insights into your diabetes management and care. Real-time feedback can help you proactively manage your condition and give you a better understanding of how outside factors, such as diet, exercise, and medication, might affect your glucose levels.

With the Dexcom G6 app, you can easily see your glucose levels at a glance, allowing you to quickly access glucose data from a compatible smart device.^§ This allows people living with insulin treated diabetes to take a front seat in their diabetes management and care, helping inform treatment decisions that may help reduce their A1C.^1-5

CGM technology is here to stay, and it’s changing the game for our community of Dexcom Warriors every day. Learn more about the Dexcom G6 CGM System here. Need help with insurance coverage? Speak to our team of Account Specialists.