Digital health and diabetes management

Traditionally, self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) devices have been used to test blood sugar (blood glucose) at home using glucose test strips to take a snapshot of your blood glucose levels at a single point in time.⁵ But you need to prick your finger and physically take several readings throughout the day.⁵

More recently, devices have been developed that allow real-time 24-hour monitoring of your blood glucose levels, called continuous glucose monitors (CGM).^2,6 A CGM device takes your ‘interstitial’ glucose measurements using a small sensor attached to your body through a tiny wire just under the skin.

Interstitial glucose sounds complicated but all it means is that the monitor measures the sugar level in the fluid under your skin rather than directly from your blood.² The sensor sends this information to a reader which then shows the numbers and stores all the data.² A CGM device allows you to quickly check your glucose levels without having to do finger pricks, as they track your glucose levels continuously, around the clock. This gives you a more accurate understanding of your day-to-day fluctuations.⁶

The data from the CGM device is sent to your smartphone app or reader, providing useful insights to help you increase your understanding of your daily glucose patterns and manage your diabetes better. CGM devices can show you lots of different useful measures, including:⁶

• Current and average glucose levels
• How much your glucose levels vary (known as glycaemic variability)
• Trend arrows that show if your glucose levels are going up or down
• The amount of time you spend within, above, or below your target glucose range (known as Time in Range, Time Above Range and Time Below Range)

It is easy to ‘turn off’ when data is mentioned. But getting more information about your glucose levels could help you manage your diabetes better.² Many CGM devices have alarms that can help you avoid both low glucose levels (hypoglycaemia) and high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia). Avoiding lows and highs can both protect your health now and reduce your risk of complications in the future.^2,6 When people with diabetes were asked about their CGM devices, the vast majority said that using their devices helped them adopt a healthier lifestyle.⁷

Would a digital device motivate you to go for a walk or swap a piece of cake for a healthier option?

Everyone’s diabetes management is different, and continuous glucose monitoring allows a more flexible and personalised approach to your diabetes management.⁶ Using CGM can also help you to have better conversations with your healthcare professional, because the CGM glucose numbers are automatically made into an easy-to-read report which you can discuss and then use to make decisions together about managing your diabetes.⁶

Time in Range (TiR) is one CGM measure that can help you keep track of and manage your glucose variations. Time in Range uses the numbers from your CGM device to show how much time you spend in your target blood glucose range. For most people, this is between 70 and 180 mg/dl (3.9–10 mmol/l).⁶ During the global pandemic, many people successfully used digital health and Time in Range to monitor their glucose levels and reduce hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia.^8,9 The new measure can help people with diabetes and their healthcare professionals better understand their glucose variability and set goals to improve their diabetes management.⁶

Have a look at this article to read more about the new diabetes measurement Time in Range.

CGMs and Time in Range are just some examples of diabetes digital health that can help you better manage your diabetes.⁶ There are other innovations on the horizon.⁴ By using diabetes monitoring devices like CGM devices, which connect to a smartphone or tablet you can stay on track hour by hour with your glucose levels.⁶ By using Time in Range with the support of your healthcare professional, you can make treatment decisions and personalised choices about your diet and lifestyle that work for you and your diabetes. And you don’t need to wait until your next appointment to see how you are doing; with a CGM device you can monitor your diabetes every day.^2,7 A quick look at this article will help you understand more about how digital health and how it can help you improve your diabetes management.