We all love acronyms, but let's face the truth. If you're even remotely related to diabetes, odds are "CGM" is an acronym you've seen and heard a lot. For those who aren't aware, CGM is short for continuous glucose monitor. Even for those familiar with the term, it may be confusing to comprehend the purpose behind what it is that a CGM is, how to select the right one, determine the cost of insurance and the best place to purchase one. Whether you're a newly diagnosed adult with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, a parent or guardian of a child who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or a diabetes caregiver we hope that this guide can provide the answers you've been searching for. glucose meter without blood What is continuous glucose monitoring?Continuous glucose monitoring system (or CGM) is a medical device that checks glucose levels continuously in real-time. The typical interval is five minute interval between readings. To utilize blood sugar monitor without finger pricks it is necessary to place tiny sensors onto your abdomen (or arm) and then attach a tiny tube of plastic known as a cannula penetrating the skin's top layer. The sensor is held in place with an adhesive patch. It can measure glucose levels in interstitial fluid, the fluid that surrounds the cells of the body, during the day as well as in the evening. Generally, the sensors have to be replaced each 10-14 days. A small, disposable transmitter connected to the sensor allows the system to transmit live readings wirelessly to a device that displays the data from your blood glucose. Some systems come with a dedicated monitor, and others display the information via an app for smartphones, meaning there's no need to carry an extra device with you. CGMs can also send alerts to inform that your blood sugar levels are too high or too low. You can adjust the alert parameters to personalize how you're informed. CGMs are revolutionizing diabetes care It's not an exaggeration to declare. Unlike a traditional fingerstick blood glucose meter (BGM) that provides only a single glucose reading, glucose meter without blood systems provide continuously-changing, dynamic information about glucose every five minutes. This equates to approximately 288 readings every day. How do CGMs can affect your life when you have diabetes It's about empowerment. These devices provide significant medical and lifestyle advantages. In the beginning, you'll be able to practically see in real time the effect of exercise and food on the levels of blood glucose and detect cases of hyperglycemia (too-high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (too-low blood sugar) as they happen and avoid potentially hazardous consequences. This is an incredible benefit over traditional "static" glucose monitoring which provided just one glucose level for every hour. The convenience aspect is a further benefit. CGMs can essentially completely eliminate the need for regular fingerstick teststhat were the traditional method to check blood glucose level. While fingersticks are still necessary to calibrate CGM systems and are still used as backup sources of data however, they're no longer an annoying routine. Current CGM systems in use There are currently four FDA-approved CGM devices available for sale. Two of the CGM systems require fingersticks to calibrate. Two of them reduce the number of fingers needed from 8 to 2 per day (for calibration purposes). They are priced differently and have different availability. How do I get the CGM? Similar to the majority of medical technology, you need a prescription to get a CGM. Your doctor can write the prescription for any of the major CGM devices. The majority of them are accessible through traditional pharmacies at this point but online purchasing directly through the manufacturer or a variety of third-party vendors is an option as well. However, getting a prescription to get CGM CGM is often not as easy as visiting your doctor's office to request one. In order to obtain a CGM with your insurance plan, you will likely need an Prior Authorization. The PA form is a process your physician must go through to prove "medical necessity" for approval from your insurance plan to pay for the expenses for the treatment you're prescribed.
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