When it comes to healthcare, technology and innovation have transformed the quality of life for millions across the globe. One such technology making strides in the space of diabetes management are sensor-based devices that enable continuous glucose monitoring. It is being adopted widely across the globe and now in India to rid people living with diabetes from the constant pain of pricking themselves to measure their glucose levels regularly.

When living with diabetes, managing your glucose levels is critical in order to let you and your doctor make decisions about setting the right diabetes management regime for you including what and when to eat, how much to exercise, and what medication to prescribe and when.

So far the gold standard for testing glucose levels has been HbA1c, which provides a retrospective view of your average glucose levels over the preceding two to three months. The results give you an idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan is working for last two to three months and how you are performing vis a vis the long-term goals that you set for your glucose levels. In some ways, the HbA1C test is like a cricket player’s season batting average: it tells you about the player’s overall performance but not how he has performed in a particular match on a given day at a particular bowling delivery.

For a person with diabetes, this means that HbA1C cannot indicate the real-time highs and lows in one’s glucose levels. Neither will HbA1C help you find out how a certain meal plan or exercise plan is working or not working in your favor over a shorter span of time.

Say hello to sensor-based devices – a real time glucose monitoring solution that is both prick less and pain free!

Continuous glucose monitoring not only helps you avoid pricking your fingers multiple times to test your glucose levels but also measures it in real time! With the help of a tiny sensor, such wearable devices can help monitor your glucose levels.

The reader has the capability to capture fluctuations for which you can take corrective action as soon as possible to ensure no damage is done. For example: suppose you were planning on eating dal rice for lunch today, and your device tells you at 1 PM that your glucose level is higher than it should be; in that case, you can quickly swap that rice with multigrain chapatis and skip the ghee-laden tempering on dal. You could also decide to walk for longer than usual that evening to ensure the glucose levels normalize. Moreover, if you notice a pattern that your glucose levels are regularly higher during a part of the day, say mid-mornings, you could talk to your diabetes care team and work out a solution – be it changing the dosage of your medication or perhaps changing your mid-day regime to accommodate time to cook a suitable, nutrition rich meal or go for a walk after the meal. Some studies have also shown that effective utilization of sensor-based devices over a period of time also results in bringing down HbA1C levels.

Another amazing benefit of innovative wearable devices is that they cut down on finger sticks, and subsequently, the pain and soreness from constant pricking of your fingers if you self-monitor your glucose levels several times a day. Isn’t it great to just put something on your arm and then forget about it while it does its work efficiently? Just like a smartwatch or a fitness band, maybe – you just strap them up on your wrist and go about your day. A sensor-based device is like a fitness tracker for your diabetes.

We hope this information adds to your Glucose IQ and will help you make the right choices when it comes to managing diabetes effectively. To know more about the role of glucose monitoring in diabetes management and enhance your Glucose IQ, The Times of India has launched – Let’s Fight diabetes in partnership with Abbott Freestyle Libre. Through Let’s Fight Diabetes, the aim is to empower you with proper knowledge and information to help manage your diabetes effectively.

This way, if you or a loved one of yours are diagnosed with diabetes or are struggling to live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you can make healthier lifestyle choices.

When in doubt, check your Glucose. Log on to
www.LetsFightDiabetesTOI.com to find out your Glucose IQ.

Disclaimer: The views/suggestions/opinions expressed in the article are the sole responsibility of the experts. This should not be considered as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your treating physician for more details. This article is published for Let’s Fight Diabetes – A TOI initiative, in association with Abbott.