Making 'sense' of diabetes: using a continuous glucose sensor in clinical practice

Home blood glucose monitoring provides only a snapshot picture of prevailing glucose values. Continuous glucose monitoring allows identification of patterns of glucose levels for up to 72 h with details of excursions above and below target levels and thus may be a valuable adjunct tool in diabetes management. We have used the MiniMed Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) in ten individuals and have uncovered a significant rate of hypoglycaemia that was previously undetected by conventional means. Preliminary evidence suggests that the novel technology may allow clinicians to 'personalise' intensive insulin therapy with improvement in glycaemic control.