A standard blood glucose monitoring system measures the level of glucose in your blood on one particular occasion. This may help you to keep your blood glucose levels under control and make adjustments to your diet, activity or diabetes medication doses.

Some people however have problems managing their blood glucose levels and experience significant highs and lows. This may include frequent hypos, sometimes without warning.

A continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system may help in these cases. The system consists of a small disposable sensor inserted into the skin, a transmitter connected to the sensor by a sensor mount wirelessly transmits results to a receiver and displays results.

The sensor measures the glucose in your interstitial fluid (the fluid between your cells) and will need to be calibrated or matched with your actual blood glucose values at regular intervals during the CGM wear.

It can be used whether you use insulin pump therapy, multiple daily insulin injections, other diabetes medications or diet & exercise and works 24 hours a day. It can also include alarms to indicate when your glucose levels are too high or too low.

Abbott Diabetes Care manufactures the FreeStyle Navigator II CGM system.  This system has a 30 metre range between transmitter and receiver and incorporates early warning alarms to anticipate highs and lows.  It may also be used to help your healthcare professional assess your glucose patterns.