Diabetes management has come a long way thanks in part to the Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM).
Prior to the CGM, the main way to check blood glucose levels and manage diabetes was through a Blood Glucose Monitor (BGMs).
A Blood Glucose Monitor requires painful fingersticks in order to obtain accurate readings and keep diabetes levels in check.
Thanks to medical advancements the first Continuous Glucose Monitor was approved by the FDA over 20 years ago.
Since that time, CGMs have proven to be an effective way to control blood glucose levels and manage diabetes.
Yet not everyone knows about the many benefits provided by a CGM so here is a quick overview of everything you need to know about Continuous Glucose Monitors.
What Exactly is a Continuous Glucose Monitor?
Before we begin, here’s a quick explanation of what a Continuous Glucose Monitor is and what it does. A small electrode is placed under the skin and is held in place by an adhesive. A transmitter attached to the electrode sends data to a separate unit and takes readings on set intervals allowing a patient to record and access valuable information to help manage and control their diabetes. Patients can easily track daily patterns, ranges and targets and receive alerts when trending too high or too low. Prior to CGMs, the main way to test glucose levels was through a blood glucose monitor which requires frequent fingersticks.
How Does a BGM and CGM Differ?
Blood Glucose Monitors (BGM) first arrived on the scene back in the 70’s. They have been used for years as a reliable method to check the blood glucose levels in patients living with Diabetes. Fast-forward about thirty years later and advances in technology gave us the Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM). Like everything else, technology just makes things better and Continuous Glucose Monitors have surpassed the ability of Blood Glucose Monitors. However, both continue to be used by patients and healthcare providers. It’s important to understand their differences first before deciding which monitoring system is the best option.
A Blood Glucose Monitor or Meter tests the concentration of glucose in the blood through a fingerstick to draw blood. Then uses a test strip that interacts with a digital meter to identify blood glucose levels. It is important to note that Blood Glucose Monitors measure glucose levels at a particular moment in time and focus on a single number.
How Accurate are Continuous Glucose Monitors Compared to Blood Glucose Monitors?
While a CGMs significantly reduces the number of fingersticks required, there are certain times when they are needed to verify levels. Unlike a Blood Glucose Monitor, a CGM sensor actually takes readings from your interstitial fluid and not directly from the blood. Because the readings are from two different places, there is a natural lag between blood glucose levels in the interstitial fluid and glucose levels in the blood. Therefore, it’s normal, and should be expected, for the sensor readings and BGM readings to be different but for the most part they should be close.”
How Do You Apply a CGM Sensor?
One of the advantages of a Continuous Glucose Monitors is its ease of use. It is not necessary to visit a doctor’s office for insertion and application can be handled at home by a patient or loved one. Simply choose an application spot and this will vary depending on brand of CGM used. The next step is to clean the area thoroughly with an alcohol wipe and allow the site to dry completely before application. Most CGM brands, like the FreeStyle Libre have a sensor applicator to help with the process. You simply place the sensor applicator over the site and push down firmly, and gently pull the applicator away from the body. The final step is to make sure the sensor is secure. The process is easy and an effective way to help manage diabetes.
What are the Benefits of Using a CGM?
Continuous Glucose Monitor Benefits
CGMs offer benefits to both diabetes patients and healthcare providers.
- ● Ease of Use – CGMs eliminate the need for inconvenient and painful fingersticks.
- ● 24/7 Monitoring – Continual monitoring keeps patients safe and allows them to monitor levels anytime and anywhere. CGMs can send alerts to patients, healthcare providers, and family members if levels are too high or too low providing an extra level of security.
- ● Data Collection – CGMs collect information and identify patterns that can be shared with healthcare professionals and caregivers to help avoid dangerous situations. Depending on the monitoring system, this data can be stored for up to 3 months.
- ● CGMs are advanced, user-friendly, discreet and are continually evolving to make it easier for patients living with diabetes.
- ● Identification and monitoring of extremes in blood glucose levels and assessment of nocturnal glucose patterns.
- ● Time in Range “TIR” of blood glucose results to determine if patients are meeting desired targets.
- ● Provides an analysis of the overall treatment plan and the data needed to identify if changes to the plan are needed.
- ● Serves as a teaching tool for patients and healthcare providers to learn how factors, such as diet, exercise, and medication, can affect glucose levels.
Are CGMs Covered by Health Insurance?
Today, most major health insurance plans do provide some level of coverage for CGMs when prescribed by a qualifying physician. Some of the major insurance companies that cover Continuous Glucose Monitors include Cigna, United Healthcare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, Humana, and Kaiser. Thanks to recent changes, Medicare now also covers many CGM brands under the durable medical equipment category. In 2017, Medicare made a change that began to open doors for CGMs and diabetes patients everywhere. The first major hurdle allowed certain CGMs to be covered by Medicare if they were deemed therapeutic.
By 2020, all but one CGM device on the market was covered. “As of October 2020, all CGM devices on the market with the exception of those from Medtronic Diabetes are covered by Medicare. These include the Dexcom G6, the Abbot FreeStyle Libre 1 and 2, and the implantable Eversense CGM from Senseonics.”
Where To Find Continuous Glucose Monitors?
Learning the details and sorting through the CGM coverage and qualification process can be overwhelming. That’s where we can help! At Quest Health Solutions, we can guide you through the entire process. We are not only one of the leading suppliers of Continuous Glucose Monitors in the market today, but we also offer CGM Fulfillment Solutions. Our experienced team will handle all of the paperwork, insurance and Medicare verification, billing and authorization calls. To learn more or to find out how a Continuous Glucose Monitor can be part of the solution, contact us 1-877-888-7050 Option 3, Ext. 1011, ben@questhealthsolutions.com or schedule an appointment today.
1. (2020) Novi-Health. Guide to Using Abbott FreeStyle Libre available at Click Here accessed on 13 October 2021.
2. (2021) Healthline. Medicare Loosening Restrictions for Continuous Glucose Monitor Coverage. Available at Click Here accessed on 13 October 2021.