Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is an important advance in the treatment of patients with diabetes. Rather than having to rely on occasional blood sugar measurements throughout the day, patients with a CGM device get a steady stream of information. This allows them to make adjustments in diet or insulin dose to help keep their levels within a target range. The more time a patient spends out of range, the greater their risk of complications that can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, and nerve problems.
Medtronic is a company that makes CGM devices. Their Guardian Sensor 3 is FDA-approved to provide wireless control the automated delivery of insulin using the company’s MiniMed 670G system. One problem with most CGM devices is that they must be worn on the abdomen. This can be uncomfortable or inconvenient for some patients. The FDA has now approved the Guardian Sensor 3 for wearing on the upper arm. This should make it easier for patients to fit the CGM device into their daily lives.
As the process of maintaining appropriate blood glucose levels improves, we can hope that the painful and expensive complications that often accompany diabetes will be reduced. This will make the disease much easier to manage, both for individuals and for healthcare systems overall.
