Flash glucose monitoring systems

How important is glucose testing?

Monitoring your glucose levels and taking your diabetes medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider, along with proper diet and exercise, is the best way you can manage your diabetes.

Monitoring your glucose levels allows appropriate recognition of low glucose levels and provides immediate feedback about the treatment plans. Frequent high glucose levels may cause damage to your nerves, blood vessels and even to your organs. Therefore, regular monitoring of glucose should be part of your regimen.

How frequent should you test your glucose levels (when using test strips and meter)?

The recommended frequency of monitoring blood glucose may be individualized to each person's unique circumstances. Factors influencing this recommendation include:

• Type of diabetes¹ (type 1, type 2, gestational, etc.)
• Types of medication and changes to medication regimen¹ (starting or stopping medications that induce hypo- or hyperglycemia, drug-to-drug, or drug-disease interactions)
• Propensity and awareness to diabetes¹
• Adequacy of glycemic control² (not meeting glycemic targets, as determined by a physician, for three months or more)
• Occupational factors² (a job where hypoglycemia presents a significant safety risk (e.g., pilots, air traffic controllers, commercial drivers)
• An acute illness or co-morbidities which may impact blood glucose control²

¹ Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee; Lori D. Berard, Rick Siemens and Vincent Woo. Monitoring Glycemic Control. Can J Diabetes. 2018 Apr;42 Suppl 1:S47-S53. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.007. PMID: 29650111.

² British Colombia, Blood glucose testing, January 31, 2024. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/govgov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/pharmacare/prescribers/blood-glucose-testing-and-pharmacare-annual-quantity-limits

Flash Glucose Monitoring Systems

Given the complexity of how frequently one may need to test glucose levels using test strips and meter, patients may opt for a flash glucose monitoring system – a method of glucose testing that measures, displays, and continuously stores glucose readings that are recorded automatically.

A flash glucose monitor is a newer type of device that uses a sensor to measure glucose level without the need for routine finger pricks. Instead, a sensor is applied on the back of the upper arm and provides real-time glucose readings sent directly to your smartphone.

What are the differences between a flash glucose monitoring system and test strips and meters?

³ Haak, T. Diabetes Therapy (2017): https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-016-0223-6.

⁴ Unger, J. Postgraduate Medicine (2020): https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2020.1744393

Is there a Flash Glucose Monitoring Systems Covered in your province?

The FreeStyle Libre 2 system is now available in many provinces across Canada - covered by most private insurers^‡ and some provincial drug plans. For more information, visit the FreeStyle Libre 2 coverage page today!

Conclusion

Finding the right device for your glucose monitoring needs is an important decision and switching systems might seem complex. Talk to your local health care provider to see if a flash glucose monitoring system is right for you. For more information, visit FreeStyle | Abbott | Canada.