Cgm Systems Available In The Uk
- You are likely to get the most benefit from CGM if you have support from your diabetes team
- Standalone systems can be used with any pump or with MDI
- Standalone systems show the results on a receiver or compatible mobile phone
- Integrated systems show the results on the screen of the integrated pump
- It is possible to pay the initial costs of a long-term CGM system yourself and receive full or partial NHS support for the sensors
What Cgms Are Available In The Us
Currently, four companies have personal CGM devices on the US market: Abbott , Dexcom , Medtronic , and Senseonics Eversense. The table below compares some of their key features. Pricing varies with insurance coverage and can be provided by the company. For people paying out-of-pocket , FreeStyle Libre is the least expensive CGM as of this writing.
What Are The Costs
The costs associated with CGM include an initial outlay for a receiver , and the ongoing running costs . The cost varies according to which system you buy. Please follow the links below to the CGM websites listed below for up-to-date costs and any special offers. Most sensors cost in the region of £40 £60 each. You might want to consider the Abbott Freestyle Libre, which is not CGM but will allow you to access continuous glucose data.
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Pros And Cons Of Using A Flash Glucose Monitor Or Cgm
Diabetes technology is a wonderful thing, but it certainly isnt for everyone.
Some people feel uneasy about getting lots of data, and for some people it gives them more confidence. Weve got more information to help you work through these different feelings about using diabetes tech. And you can always call our helpline to ask questions or just to talk it through.
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Advantages of Flash and CGM |
Disadvantages of Flash and CGM |
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You dont need to do so many finger-prick checks and you can set alarms if your blood sugar goes too low or too high . |
Its not always as accurate as doing a finger prick check and it can take a while to get used to using the technology |
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You can see trends, like when your sugar levels are starting to rise or drop, so you can take action earlier. |
You can get overloaded with data, which can confuse or worry some people. |
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You can get your sugar levels in your target range more often as you have more information about when youre high and low. |
You may find wearing the sensor irritating, you might not like the look of it, or showing people that you have diabetes. |
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You can see what your levels are like at times when you dont normally test, like during the night . |
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Your glucose levels can be shared with your diabetes team, so they can review and adjust your diabetes management. It also means that the information can be shared easily during virtual appointments. |
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What Are The Advantages Of Using Cgm To Manage Diabetes
Using a CGM device can make it easier to manage Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Some people use CGM for a week to understand their blood sugar patterns. Most use CGM long-term.
A CGM device can:
- Show you a bigger picture of how diabetes affects you: CGM measures glucose levels every few minutes. That data shows a more complete picture of how your blood sugar levels change over time. This information can help you and your provider better understand how things like food, activity, stress and illness impact your blood sugar levels.
- Lead to more personalized care: CGM doesnt give the whole story of all the ways diabetes affects you. It tells you when glucose goes up or down, not why. But your provider can download CGM data from your device and review it for patterns and trends. They can then personalize your care based on what they learn.
- Alert you to highs and lows: Most CGM devices send an alert when your glucose levels rise or fall a certain amount. With this information, you can make changes quickly. You may be able to treat or prevent highs or lows before they turn into a big problem.
- Reduce how many fingerstick checks you need to do: CGM significantly reduces how many fingerstick tests youll need to do each day.
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Cost Of Buying A Freestyle Libre
The cost of Freestyle Libre or Freestyle Libre 2 sensors are around £50 every 2 weeks. If you have a compatible smartphone you can just and use your phone to scan the sensor to see the readings. But if you dont, you can buy a small device called a reader, for around £50 and this is a one-off purchase. Speak to your healthcare professional about where you can buy a reader from they can be available direct from the manufacturer , from a pharmacy or online but this can change.
More Information And Support
- Find out more about accessing subsidised CGM and Flash GM products through the NDSS, including the eligibility criteria.
- Go to Changes to the NDSS to find out about changes to subsidised CGM and Flash GM products through the NDSS.
- Go to Continuous and flash glucose monitoring products to find out about products .
- Call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700 for more information about accessing subsidised CGM and Flash GM products through the NDSS.
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Learning To Use Your Cgm Or Freestyle Libre
Your diabetes healthcare team will set you up with your CGM or Freestyle Libre if its free on the NHS and show you how to use it. Sometimes manufacturers will help you set up the technology this is fine and can help your healthcare team get more people on to the technology more quickly.
Abbott, which supply the FreeStyle Libre, also provide free online learning for people with diabetes using the technology to help them get the most from it.
You may also benefit from going on a diabetes education course if you use Flash or CGM. Ask your GP or other diabetes healthcare professional to refer you.
If you want to share your experiences about using tech or find out information by asking others using it, go to our forum.
Monitoring Whilst You Sleep
Continuous glucose monitoring has the advantage of being able to provide this information even whilst youre asleep.
In combination with a detailed food and activity diary, continuous glucose monitoring can offer the chance to make diet, dosage and lifestyle changes to help reduce the amount of time you spend with high or low sugar levels
Continuous glucose monitoring has become a particularly in demand method for monitoring diabetes control in mothers to be with gestational diabetes, as good diabetes control is very important for the development of the baby.
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Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Everything You Need To Know
Modified: Jun 4, 2020 by Tammy Shifflett RN, BSN, CDE, CPT · This post may contain affiliate links ·
Continuous glucose monitors or CGMs can be a lifesaving device for people with any type of diabetes. They continually check your blood sugar 24 hours a day and alert you you before you begin experiencing low or high blood sugar levels.
They can reduce the number of times you have to check your blood sugar each day which is welcome news for everyone with diabetes!
Insurance coverage is changing this year with Medicare jumping on board also, so this is the time to learn about this awesome piece of technology available to you.
I know there are a lot of questions surrounding the use of continuous glucose monitoring, so we will break it all down here for you!
- What is a CGM and how does it work?
- Is it right for me?
- Will I still have to check my blood sugar?
- What choices do I have currently on the market?
- Will my insurance cover a CMG? How much will it cost?
- Can I travel and play sports with a CGM?
In this article I will answer all your questions.
How Do I Get A Cgm
As with most medical technology, you need a prescription to get a CGM. Your doctor can write a prescription for any of the above CGM devices.
But getting a prescription for a CGM is often not as simple as just walking into your doctors office and asking for one. Instead, youll likely need a prior authorization to get a CGM through your health insurance. A PA is form/process that your doctor has to go through to prove medical necessity to obtain approval from your insurance plan to cover the costs associated with the prescribed treatment .
At this point, most major insurers require a PA before extending coverage for CGM. Heres how to go about securing a PA, according to JDRF, a leading T1D research and support organization:
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Best Uses For Intermittently Scanned Cgms
Intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitors are most often recommended to:1,3
- People with pre-diabetes
- People newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who are learning how food and exercise affect their blood sugar levels
- People who need to check their blood sugar several times a day, such as women with gestational diabetes
- People with diabetes who want more data
- People who want an alternative to standard glucose monitors and the sticks they require
Intermittently scanned CGMs may provide plenty of data to help people with less serious forms of diabetes or pre-diabetes. Doctors most often use these devices to help patients see the direct connection between what they eat and what happens with their blood sugar.1,3
Several CGM models are available in the United States. The devices are being used by more and more people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. All CGMs display your glucose numbers on a small screen that you keep on or near your body. They also send your data to a smartphone or computer.1,3
Why Dexcom Diabetes Cgm Technology Is So Hot
Weve come a long way in continuous glucose monitoring technology since it first hit the market over two decades ago, and San Diego-based Dexcom has been leading the way on innovation for most of that time.
Since the launch of its initial 3-day sensor in 2006, Dexcom has helped shape how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration views this tech and forged new paths in providing more options for people to keep tabs on their blood sugars with a quick glance at a receiver, mobile app, or smartwatch.
Dexcom is not the only CGM maker, and it wasnt the first Medtronic launched the first-ever CGM way back in 1999. But from its earliest model to the latest mobile connected device, Dexcom has cemented its spot as the most popular full-featured CGM available.
Everything changes quickly in the diabetes device universe, so its important to keep tabs on what the company is up to. Heres a deep dive into what Dexcom is offering in 2020 and beyond, along with a bit of its rich history.
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Who Supplies Cgm Systems In The Uk
There are various suppliers offering CGMs licensed for different age groups:
- Dexcom G6 as a separate system or linked to t:slim x2, DANA and Ypsomed insulin pumps, licensed for people aged 2+
- Dexcom ONE standalone system, click on link to see how it differs from G6
- FreeStyle Libre 3 standalone system with a 14-day sensor, licensed for people aged 4+
- GlucoMen Day standalone system with a 14-day sensor, licensed for people aged 6+
- Medtronic as a separate system or linked to the Veo, 640G, 670G or 780G insulin pumps systems. The 640G and Guardian Connect standalone system are licensed for all ages whilst 670G is licensed for those aged 7+ and using 8+ units of insulin per day. Medtronic also makes a system which records CGM readings for later reading on a computer, without displaying it to the wearer. This is for short term diagnostic use.
- Medtrum A6 standalone or integrated. Licensed for people aged 2+
Please note that:
- Real time CGM has alarms to indicate high or low glucose or rapid change. Some systems provide early warning alarms if glucose levels are likely to fall too high or low. Alarms can usually be set by the user at the level they want. There may be a choice of an audible or vibrating alarm.
- Flash glucose monitoring Libre does not transmit and cannot alarm for a high or low result until you scan the sensor. However, Libre 2 will alert you to the need to perform a scan when your glucose goes out of target range.
All About Continuous Glucose Monitors For People With Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious and growing problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, approximately 30.3 million Americans have diabetes, or about one in 10 people. Thats up from about 26 million people in 2010.
Diabetes is a broad term for a group of conditions in which the bodys blood glucose levels to rise higher than normal, known as hyperglycemia. In many cases, it can be effectively managed through diet, exercise, medication, and blood glucose monitoring. As a supplement to the traditional finger-prick technology that people with diabetes have relied upon for many years to check their blood glucose levels, continuous glucose monitors offer a more convenient and less painful way for people to track their blood sugar and make positive lifestyle choices.
What Are CGMs?
In 1991, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved the first continuous glucose monitoring system for home use by adults with diabetes. This technology offers an alternative to taking blood from the fingertips, where the sample is taken from tiny blood vessels called capillaries. According to Alison Wharton, MPH, RDN, CDE, LD, a diabetes and nutrition education specialist with UAB Medicine, CGMs track blood sugar levels 24 hours per day by measuring the amount of glucose in interstitial fluid, which is the fluid that surrounds blood vessels.
How CGMs Work
Benefits
Accuracy
Where to Buy CGMs and Differences among Models
Cost and Insurance Coverage
Training
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How To Choose The Most Popular Otc Continuous Glucose Monitors
The three most crucial criteria to consider are price, quality, and popularity.Price is an obvious factor to consider, as you want to ensure it is acceptable for your needs.Quality should also be examined because buying a low-quality goods will not help you achieve your main aim of obtaining the best product.Finally, while not as obvious as price or quality, popularity can be just as significant as both when it comes to attracting new customers.
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How Does It Help Me Manage My Diabetes
CGM can sound an alarm if the glucose level is changing rapidly. A hypo or the trend towards a hypo can trigger an alarm alerting the user or family/carer to treat immediately. Hypo refers to hypoglycaemia, when the blood glucose level has dropped too low. Alerts can prevent a hypo before it happens and is particularly useful overnight when parents and children are in separate rooms.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring System Watch
So, you can even download apps to your smart watcheslike an Apple watchthat will allow you to monitor your CGM sensor data. It will function as your mobile receiver. Dexcom has an app you can download which allows you to do this. I found one great website which covers every question you can imagine regarding CGMs and watches.
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The New World Of Glycemic Measures
For many years, there has been a tremendous focus on A1C as the preferred, and sometimes only, measure of glycemia and diabetes management. However, as it represents an average glucose level over approximately three months, it does not directly provide insight into high glucose levels, low glucose levels, or variability in between, though each of these can be quite important. For example, two patients can have identical A1C values, but one may have little variability, with only modest and infrequent hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, while a second may have high degrees of variation, frequently shifting between profound hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, while achieving the same average glucose level as the first patient. This is where the added metrics available from CGM can be especially useful.
Assessing and documenting these few metrics in a systematic way can help you maximize the insights that CGM can provide and streamline your efforts. Simply summarizing them in a note can be very helpful in this regard. Below are some suggested smart text or macros for two popular electronic health record systems that can be used or adapted to other systems.
| Epic SmartPhrase |
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