All CGMs give you data about your glucose levels, but they store and display the information in different ways.
There are two types of CGM. Click below to find out more about each:
A Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is always recording your glucose and sending the data to your display device (a handheld monitor or mobile phone), and it will alert you when your glucose is low, high, or changing, according to your own settings.
The Dexcom ONE, Dexcom One +, Dexcom G6, Dexcom G7, Medtronic Guardian Sensor 3, and Medtronic Guardian Sensor 4. Medtronic Simplera, Senseonics Eversense, GlucoRx AIDEX and Medtrum Touchcare Nano are all rtCGMs. If you use a compatible mobile phone to view your readings, then the Freestyle Libre 2 and Freestyle Libre 2 Plus are also CGMs.
With CGM, you scan the sensor using a handset or a mobile phone. It’s only when you scan your sensor that you get your reading and trends. If you use a handheld monitor (also known as a “reader”) to view your readings, then the Freestyle Libre 2 is an isCGM.
However, it does still allow you to set alerts for low and high glucose. These alarms will go off even if you are not actually scanning when the glucose goes low or high.
Other differences between CGM models include:
- How often does the sensor have to be replaced?
- How long does it take the CGM to warm up
- How do you adjust the program settings?
The table below gives an overview of the most commonly used CGM’s used in the UK:
Under real time CGM -says is constantly recording “Blood” glucose
Tracey – can you take out the word “blood”, please?
And Libre 3 and 3+ under list of CGMS -by listing them you are committing to constantly updating!
And the Instinct (?) -Libre for Medtronic
Change “The table below gives an overview of the most commonly used CGM’s used in the UK:”
to
“The table below gives an overview of some of the most commonly used CGM’s used in the UK:”