Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) provides the complete picture by revealing lows and highs that HbA1c and fingerstick testing alone cannot always identify.
If you are using the CGM features of your pump, you can see your glucose levels 24 hours a day. The pump, when combined with the Guardian™ 2 Link transmitter and the New Generation Enlite™ glucose sensor, wirelessly transmits readings to your MiniMed® 640G. The readings are updated every five minutes and appear on the screen in colour. These regular updates can give you a clear understanding of how your glucose is behaving and reduce your dependence on fingersticks*. You only need to change your glucose sensor every 6 days.
The evidence
The advantages of CGM over traditional fingersticks and HbA1c testing are well-documented. Research has shown that:
- 60% of glucose lows may not be revealed with fingersticks alone1
- CGM identifies four times as many serious glucose excursions as self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG)2
- CGM can significantly reduce HbA1c and has been shown to reduce HbA1c levels by up to 1% when compared with fingerstick testing alone 3
- CGM is proven to be accurate in numerous published studies enabling you to make therapy adjustments based on reliable data
How can it benefit me?
The anecdotal and real-life stories from patients using CGM are overwhelming and includes:
- Parents who can relax and no longer feel that they have to check on their child through the night
- Sports enthusiasts and students who can concentrate on competing or taking their exams without worrying
- People with busy work lives who can be as busy as they like and get on with their day-to-day activities with less anxiety
- Women who are pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant
CGM has given people insights that they have never had before. With the establishment of the National Institutes for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance for pump therapy, access to CGM is improving every day. NICE has also published guidance on continuous glucose monitoring in adults & children. Take a look at these so you can discuss this fully with your healthcare team.
Self-funding may be an option
We would like everyone that could benefit from CGM to have the opportunity to use it.
Your MiniMed™ 640G pump is 'CGM-ready', so you may decide to fund CGM when you first receive your pump, or you can start any time at a later date. There are many options available.
All you need to get started is a CGM starter kit with Guardian™ 2 Link transmitter, Guardian 2 Link Charger, 5 New Generation Enlite sensors and Serter.
You will need to wear a small glucose sensor that sits under the skin for up to 6 days at a time. Just like an infusion set cannula, the sensor is easily inserted using an automatic device provided with the system. 85% Of patients agreed that insertion with New Generation Enlite was pain free**. The sensor attaches to a small lightweight transmitter** that sends glucose sensor data wirelessly to your insulin pump or a CGM stand-alone monitor through advanced radio frequency (RF) wireless technology.
The insulin pump or CGM monitor displays the glucose data On Screen and plots a Trend Line of the data so that you can see exactly what your glucose trends are and what may be affecting them.
As well as seeing the on-screen display, you can set Alerts on the insulin pump that will sound or vibrate to warn you when you are likely to reach, are reaching or have reached your glucose target limits. Having this information can help you to avoid hypo- or hyperglycaemic excursions, remain within your target glucose levels and help to reduce your HbA1C and achieve better control.
Pitzer KR, Desai S, Dunn T, et al. Detection of hypoglycemia with the GlucoWatch biographer. Diabetes Care. 2001;24(5):881-885.
Kaufman FR, et al. Diabetes Care. 2001;24(12):2030-2034
Bergenstal RM, Tamborlane WV, Ahmann A, et al. Effectiveness of sensor-augmented insulin-pump therapy in type 1 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:311–320.)
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Continuous Glucose Monitoring Study Group. Continuous glucose monitoring and intensive treatment of type 1 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(14):1464-1476.
Raccah D, Sulmont V, Resnik Y,et al. Incremental value of continuous glucose monitoring when starting pump therapy in patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes: the RealTrend Study. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(12):2245-2250.
* This data is intended to supplement, not replace, blood glucose information obtained using standard home blood glucose monitoring devices. Fingersticks are required when adjusting insulin delivery and for calibrating the glucose sensor. Values are not intended to be used directly for making therapy adjustments, but rather to provide an indication of when a meter blood glucose measurement may be required. All therapy adjustments should be based on measurements obtained using a home glucose meter and not on CGM system values.
** Internal date on file; Medtronic MiniMed™, Inc
The Guardian™ 2 Link transmitter is only compatible with MiniMed™ 640G insulin pump
The MiniLink™ transmitter is compatible with MiniMed™ Paradigm Veo™ system