Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS)
The
rapid changes in blood glucose seen during and following training, and
changes when asleep may be missed by intermittent blood glucose checks.
We now are able to measure blood glucose nearly continuously using CGMS
These
devices are now the state of the art to measure rapidly changing blood
glucose values on an intermittent basis, and as such are
extraordinarily helpful in judging glucose replacement and adjustment
of insulin doses in relationship to sports. The information gathered
during the measurement period is the template to reconfigure feeding,
dose and training strategies to improve performance.
How Do They Work?
A
sensor is put into the skin (usually on the anterior abdominal wall),
where it stays for the day. It is connected by a wire to the meter. The
glucose sensor is a microelectrode with a thin coating of glucose
oxidase beneath several layers of biocompatible membrane. It
continuously converts glucose from your interstitial fluid (liquid
found between the cells of the body) into an electronic signal, the
strength of which is proportional to the amount of glucose present.
Blood glucose and interstitial fluid glucose levels are essentially
equal when blood glucose is not changing rapidly. The monitor can
measure approximately 300 times per. The monitor is carried on a belt,
and stores continuous glucose data measured by the sensor at
five-minute intervals. CGMS requires at least 4 calibrations using
blood glucose readings from a traditional meter. While most CGMS do not
display glucose values real-time at present, the data is downloaded
into a computer and reports are printed, the Guardian RT does, and this
is the meter we use at Wycombe.
CGMS is intended for
occasional rather than everyday use and is a supplement to, and not a
replacement for, standard blood glucose monitoring. As seems always to
be the case, the numbers of centres which have access to the meters are
very limited, but with user pressure, we will be able to build the case
for better services
