Imagine having detailed insight into how your body responds to every meal, workout, and stressful day. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a technology that could transform how you manage your blood sugar and take charge of your health.
What is CGM?
Unlike traditional finger-prick testing that captures a single moment in time, CGM devices use a small sensor placed just under the skin to track your glucose levels around the clock. The sensor sends real-time readings to your smartphone or receiver, creating a comprehensive picture of your blood sugar patterns throughout the day and night.
In Canada, CGM is increasingly accessible. Many provinces now offer public coverage for people with diabetes who use insulin, and private insurance plans often include CGM benefits for those with diabetes, with various criteria. Coverage varies by province and individual circumstances, so it's worth checking your specific eligibility. For those who don’t have access to coverage, these devices can still be purchased from a pharmacy; and many find the benefit is worth the cost.
Your body's unique story
Here's what makes CGM truly powerful: everyone's body responds a little differently to food, exercise, stress and sleep. While general nutrition guidelines apply to most people, CGM reveals your personal patterns. You might discover that your morning oatmeal causes a different response than your partner's, or that an evening walk has a more significant impact on your levels than you realized.
Once you have this level of understanding about your body’s unique reactions, a dietitian can coach you through making small adjustments to your meals that can help provide improved blood sugar control while still fitting into your preferences and lifestyle. These individualized insights and small changes are a powerful way to take control of your health.
Preventing complications, building health
For people living with diabetes, this ongoing insight offers remarkable convenience and peace of mind. No more constant finger pricks—just continuous data that helps you stay on top of your blood sugar. Research indicates that CGM is associated with improved glycemic control, and can decrease risk of dangerous lows, which can make diabetes management both safer and more effective.
"When my patients start using CGM with proper guidance, they often have 'aha' moments about how their daily choices affect their blood sugar," says Heather Vass, THCC Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. These insights empower them to make small, sustainable changes that add up to significant improvements in their long-term health."
With coaching from a trained healthcare provider—like a registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator—you can learn to read your glucose patterns and make strategic adjustments to your food choices, activity levels or medications. These changes could help you avoid serious diabetes complications, including circulatory problems, cardiovascular damage, eye disease and kidney disease.
A tool for real-time insights
CGM isn't just for people already diagnosed with diabetes. If you have prediabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, even short-term CGM use—just a few weeks or months—could provide some insights into how your body responds to different foods, exercise routines and stressors. This personalized information can guide lifestyle changes*.
Take the next step
Could CGM be a valuable addition to your healthcare plan? Whether you're looking for a short-term learning tool to investigate blood sugar patterns, make changes to prevent diabetes or ongoing support for diabetes management, the answer depends on your unique situation and goals.
* CGM use for prediabetes is for monitoring purposes only. Please consult your healthcare practitioner to learn more about the scope and limitations of this monitoring before you begin.