According to the CDC, over 40 million people across the United States, roughly 12% of the population, suffer from diabetes. Long-term consequences of diabetes can lead to not only poor patient outcomes, but a severely diminished quality of life as well. Managing diabetes proactively is a top priority for physicians across disciplines, and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) have vastly changed the landscape of diabetic care in recent years.

 

Traditionally, many diabetes patients relied on finger-prick glucose testing to monitor blood sugar levels in real time. However, this method provides a mere snapshot of a patient’s glucose levels while not providing a full overview of how this condition may be impacting their health throughout the day and over time.

 

Continuous Glucose Monitors, alternatively, monitor glucose levels in real time through a small sensor beneath the skin. Readings are sent from this device to the patient so that they can assess glucose trends and receive alerts of dangerously high or low blood sugar levels. This real-time feedback has proved transformational for many diabetes patients as they are better able to monitor and understand their condition and how it may be impacting their overall health.

 

CGMs as Preventative Care

One of the chief benefits of CGMs is that they allow patients and physicians to detect, monitor, and address blood sugar concerns proactively. While patients may not independently notice recurring high or low glucose patterns, CGMs track data and trends over time and can alert to dangerous levels before they become catastrophic, including during hours of the night when a patient may not otherwise be monitoring their condition.

 

For physicians, CGMs have proven to be a valuable asset in creating personalized care plans with patients as levels are tracked automatically as opposed to having to rely on patient memory. Care providers in turn can help identify lifestyle triggers and recommend long-term solutions for managing symptoms.

 

According to the American Diabetes Association, patients utilizing CGMs report significant A1C level improvements, indicating that continuous glucose monitoring is not a mere convenience for patients and providers, but a critical tool in managing this chronic health condition.

 

As a physician-led healthcare organization, Greater Michigan Physician Network (GMPN) intimately understands the importance of technology and innovation in improving long-term patient outcomes. Our care management team provides individual patient education on the proper use of CGMs and has seen significant A1c improvements for our patients as a result. As preventive care continues to revolutionize chronic disease management, the team at GMPN is passionately committed to connecting partner physicians with the tools and technologies necessary for improving patient outcomes.