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Make the most of your continuous glucose monitor

Many people with diabetes use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to monitor their blood sugar levels and manage their condition. CGMs may help some people improve their diabetes control. If you use one, your care team can help you get the most out of it. These tips may help too.

Wear it 24/7, and check it often

When you wear your CGM 24/7, you'll have more information about how your habits affect your blood sugar. Check it often throughout the day, including when you wake up, at bedtime, before and one to two hours after meals, before and after exercise, and when you're stressed or sick.

Know when to check your CGM's accuracy

CGMs aren't perfect. There will be times when you will still need to do a fingerstick check and compare the two readings. For example, you may need to do this if:

• You have symptoms that don't match your CGM values.
• You are changing your insulin dose.
• Your CGM gives you a warning alert.

Rotate the sensor site regularly

Many CGM models have a sensor that is placed under the skin of the belly or an arm. The sticky patch that holds the sensor in place can cause skin irritation. Changing where you put the sensor can help prevent this. Your diabetes care team can show you how to do this, and your CGM should have instructions.

Look for patterns

Most CGMs sync to your smartphone and have trend arrows that tell you in real time whether your blood sugar is rising, falling or holding steady. Reviewing these trends and tracking your daily habits can help you see patterns. For example, you can see how much a meal or walk lowers or raises your blood sugar. And you can see how stress and sleep affect your levels.

Check your time in range

Many CGMs show a bar graph of your time in range, which is the amount of time your glucose stays in your target range (usually between 70 and 180 mg/dL). The longer you stay in the target range, the less likely you are to develop diabetes complications. When you compare this data to your daily activities, you'll get a better picture of which foods and activities make your blood sugar rise or fall.

Turn insights into action

You can use your CGM data to adjust your lifestyle habits. For example, if you learn that your blood sugar spikes after eating too much of a certain food, you might try eating a smaller amount. Or you might learn that it helps to walk after meals or do something relaxing on stressful days.

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