Self-monitoring of blood glucose is a fundamental part of diabetes management and mandatory for tight glucose control. For the past 30 years, intermittent measurement of capillary blood glucose has been the method of choice for self-monitoring. The main disadvantage of such measurements is that they provide isolated glucose values, which do not reflect variations occurring throughout the day and night. Hence systems monitoring blood glucose concentrations on a "continuous basis" have been developed. Girardin and coworkers found that in clinical studies, different devices were shown to provide useful information on glycemic excursions in people with diabetes with sufficient accuracy. The approach has also been shown to help in the medical management leading to a reduction in glycated hemoglobin and glycemic variability. However, because of lack of experience, this technology has yet to replace standard capillary blood glucose monitoring.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: The authors reviewed the biochemical perspectives of continuous glucose monitoring and its clinical use in type 1 diabetes. The article should be read by anyone wishing to add constant self-monitoring of blood glucose as a component of a self-management program for type 1 diabetes.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A PATIENT: If you wish to avoid intermittent measurements of blood glucose in favor of constant monitoring of this biochemistry, ask your health care provider on how to enter this as part of self-monitoring. It could improve and enhance the outcomes of whatever self-management skills you are using in type 1 diabetes.

CM Girardin et al. Continuous glucose monitoring: A review of biochemical perspectives and clinical use in type 1 diabetes. Clinical Biochemestry, October 11, 2008.