Technology

A sensor that has a needle that goes into the interstitial fluid is placed on the back of an arm. The sensor on the skin is about the size of a two pound coin. The sensor takes a reading every minute and stores readings at 15 minute intervals. The sensor can store 8 hours of data. A sensor lasts 14 days.

• The sensor isn’t noticed by others being on the back of my arm (covered even by short sleeves).
• I don’t feel the sensor in my arm at all. No discomfort or pain.
• The reader is pocked sized.
• It’s quick and easy. A quick swipe and you have your current blood sugar along with a line graph showing your blood sugar throughout the day (and night) from readings the sensor has taken.
• It’s more discrete swiping the reader near your arm, rather than getting out your glucose meter and pricking your finger.
• I can check my blood sugar as often as I want, without worrying about running out of testing strips.
• The reader has a whole host of useful features including: reading alarm reminders, logbook, daily graph, average glucose, daily patterns, time in target glucose range (which you set when you setup the reader), sensor usage, add notes to go with readings (including units of rapid-acting insulin, units of long-acting insulin, food – carbs, medicine and exercise).
• It tells you how many days you have before you need to change the senor on the home screen.
• The daily graph along with arrows showing whether your blood sugar is increasing (and how quickly), stable or decreasing (and how quickly) are enabling me to make better bolus insulin adjustments. The food notes will enable me to better match the number of rapid insulin units I need to administer based on the number carbs I’ve eaten.
• The reader is helping me to identify trends in my blood sugars and helping me prevent my blood sugar from rising too high.
• FreeStyle have software for both Windows on Mac that uses the data to create reports that you can share with Health Professionals.
• If you have a phone with NFC you can use an App on your phone rather than using the reader. The Apps appear to have all the same features as the Reader.
• The reader comes with with a USB wire (for connecting to computers) and has a plug to charge it from mains. According to the manufacturer, a full charge lasts about a week with average use.

• The sensor takes the reading from interstitial fluid rather than blood. This means that the reading is 10-15 mins behind. This is not an issue if your blood sugar is stable, but could be an issue if it’s dropping.
• The reader feels a little flimsy and doesn’t come with any cover or pouch to protect it from damage and general wear and tear.
• The DVLA don’t currently allow readings from this monitor to count as a before driving test. Therefore a traditional glucose meter and finger pricking is still required prior to driving.
• The sensors are expensive, costing over £50 each. This is a Con whether you are paying for them privately or whether the NHS is being charged for them (as we pay for the NHS through our taxes).