Why continuous glucose monitoring will shape the future for diabetics

Parvez Khodabocus, director, group purchasing organisation at HealthTrust Europe, explores the technology which is available to diabetics, and examines some of the key developments that have been made in this area of medical innovation over the past few years.

Diabetes is a condition that affects roughly 415 million people across the world. Type 1 diabetes, the lesson common type of diabetes, is when your body attacks the cells in your pancreas which means it cannot make any insulin. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is when your body is unable to make enough insulin or the insulin you do make does not work properly. Although diabetics can live healthy, happy and productive lives, a crucial part of managing the illness is ensuring that blood sugar levels are kept under control. To do this, it is necessary to monitor glucose effectively.

Since the first blood glucose test strip was invented in 1965, the innovations made in this area of medical technology have been staggering. One of the most important developments in the history of glucose monitoring came in 1999, when continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was introduced as a method of managing blood sugar levels. Since 1999, CGM has evolved to become more and more sophisticated, with new products constantly building on others’ progress. One of the most noteworthy new forms of continuous glucose monitoring is flash continuous glucose monitoring (FCGM).

But what are the differences between these methods, and why are these developments so significant? To understand this, it is important to look more closely at the available methods of glucose monitoring before moving on to discuss why FCGM is such a breakthrough for diabetics looking for discreet, adaptive, and convenient ways to keep their diabetes manageable.

The most common way of monitoring glucose is still self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). This involves finger pricking and taking a tiny blood sample which indicates the level of glucose in the patient’s blood. The patient then administers insulin or glucose, as necessary. This method, though simple, is not without its drawbacks. SMBG can be inconvenient to patients as testing can be painful. Many describe it as antisocial, and it is affected by daily life activities. This can pose a problem, particularly in younger patients. Importantly, frequent testing is required for this method to be effective, further reducing its appeal for those looking for discreet and easy ways to test their blood sugar levels.

Continuous glucose monitoring on the other hand allows patients to constantly monitor their blood sugar levels via a worn device which collects data on the glucose levels in the body. CGM devices work 24 hours a day and even include alarms to indicate when a patient’s glucose levels are too high or too low. The need for finger pricking is eliminated, or significantly reduced. This benefits patient wellbeing and reduces the risk of misreporting. What is more, CGM allows patients to harness the data in order to observe trends and understand patterns which can also be shared with their clinical practitioners.

Furthermore, finger pricking is time-consuming and inconvenient, and this can be frustrating for many patients. As an example, a primary school aged child with type 1 diabetes might have to leave lessons or sport to prick their finger and test their glucose levels. Not only does this impede the child’s activity at school, but it can often make them feel more self-conscious about their diabetes. This sense of control is one of the most important benefits of CGM, giving patients a feeling of greater control over their diabetes and an improvement to their life.

The leaps and bounds made in glucose monitoring technology mean that the important monitoring process can be fully automated, discreet, and reliable. The patient, or carer, can check on the glucose levels at any time via a handheld monitor or the app on a mobile device. Doctors can use the collected data to inform decisions on the adjustments required to the patient’s treatment and/or lifestyle.

But what is it that separates continuous glucose monitoring with flash continuous glucose monitoring? The key difference between these systems is that the CGM monitors need to be regularly calibrated to ensure they are accurate. With FCGM, there is no need for the patient to repeatedly calibrate the device. Whilst CGM worn patches need to be replaced every seven days, in an FCGM system the patches last up to two weeks. This is not only more convenient for users but is cheaper too.

There are dozens of options for diabetics who want a better way to monitor their blood sugar levels. The technology has developed so rapidly that many living with diabetes are astounded at the changes which they have witnessed in their own lifetimes. From the simple but ground-breaking Dextrostix used in the 1970s, to the myriad of smartphone-enabled glucose monitoring devices on the market now, glucose monitoring technology truly showcases the best of innovation in the life sciences sector.

The new methods of CGM allow patients to live freely without the added worry of continually checking their sugar levels. As the technology gets better and the algorithms within the software become even more sophisticated, diabetics can expect the future of glucose monitoring to be even more innovative and even less inconvenient, focusing on the improvement of everyday life.