Continuous Glucose Monitoring Technology – Wow!
Apr 23, 2018, 12:11 PM
Hope you are finding the time to keep up with all the diabetes technology happenings. Oh my! At our endocrinology meeting last week it was suggested that the future may require a Certified Diabetes Educator, IT for every office.
So, what is new today?
The soon to be available Dexcom G6 is the next phase by Dexcom in making life easier for persons with diabetes. The sensor has the same reliability of the G5, but now calibration is done at the factory. This means finger stick blood glucose (BG) values will no longer be required for calibration. The profile of the sensor is smaller, and the insertion device no longer looks like a javelin. It’s an easy press and the sensor is in. Though not yet approved by Medicare and Medicaid, it is FDA approved — so hopefully government-based insurance will soon follow.
Another recent FDA approval came through for the Freestyle Libre Flash, a small quarter-sized sensor that provides blood glucose data when a receiver is waved over the sensor. It is also factory calibrated. In either of these sensors, if device readings are suspected to be inaccurate, a finger stick BG is recommended to verify the readings. It is important to note the Freestyle sensor does not have alerts for high and low blood glucose values.
The Medtronic Guardian connect has also been FDA approved and should soon be arriving on the market. It is Bluetooth enabled with a mobile app (Sugar. IQTM) for persons who inject insulin rather than utilize an insulin pump. Calibrations are required, and predictive high and low alerts are available.
All [CGM] systems have download capability for review to help with lifestyle and medication recommendations to enhance diabetes management.
The Eversense implantable sensor has been submitted for FDA approval. Interstitial BG readings will be available on a mobile app with updated readings every 5 minutes and predictive high and low alerts can be programmed. The transmitter has on body vibe alerts and the transmitter is rechargeable.
All continuous glucose monitoring systems have download capability for review to help with lifestyle and medication recommendations to enhance diabetes management.
And I have to say, most of my patients are SO HAPPY to have a continuous glucose monitor to allow them to know where BG values are trending all day and all night! Some models have a share option which allows the individual to share data with loved ones allowing an added layer of comfort particularly while sleeping or living alone.
A new practice paper will be posted on the AADE website in the very near future. The paper reviews the personal and professional sensors that are presently FDA approved and the role of the diabetes educator in engaging patients and providers in this great technology.
How are your patients enjoying the new tech?
About the Author:
Carla Cox is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. She has been a certified diabetes educator for over 25 years, and served as an assistant adjunct professor for 14 years, teaching in areas of sports nutrition and exercise physiology. Currently she works in Missoula, Montana as a diabetes educator in both in- and outpatient settings.
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