Continuous Glucose Monitors
Continuous Glucose Monitors measure interstitial fluid glucose, not blood glucose. This creates a physiological lag of roughly 5-15 minutes.
Common Mistakes
- Over-correcting based on a single arrow (stacking insulin).
- Calibrating when glucose is changing rapidly.
- Ignoring compression lows at night.
The Numbers
Clinical target is >70% Time in Range (70-180 mg/dL), corresponding to an A1c of ~7.0% (Battelino et al., 2019).
FAQ
- Why does my CGM differ from my fingerstick?
- Different fluids (interstitial vs capillary). Wait 15 mins to see if they align.
Next step: Check your CGM accuracy or learn about AID systems.