Continuous Glucose Monitoring

What is Continuous Glucose Monitoring?

A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a small sensor worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 15 days. It shows how your glucose responds to meals, activity, sleep, and stress. Our program primarily uses the prescription FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus, and we also help patients make sense of results from over-the-counter sensors such as Stelo and Lingo.

How does the program work?

You start with a telemedicine visit with Dr. Canelo to decide whether CGM fits your goals, then wear a sensor for up to 15 days. Our medical assistants can place it for you. Every patient has a follow-up visit to review the results and decide whether another sensor is worthwhile. The goal is a specific answer, not a permanent subscription. Visits are billed as primary care, not specialty care.

Do I have to have diabetes?

No. The program is designed mainly for people with prediabetes or without diabetes. It is also a good fit for people with type 2 diabetes who want to focus on lifestyle and are not taking insulin or other medications that can cause low blood sugar (such as glipizide or glimepiride). In type 2 diabetes, randomized trials show that CGM produces a modest average improvement in A1c. In people without diabetes the evidence is still limited, which is why we use it deliberately, with a physician, for a defined question. CGM is not a diagnostic test and does not replace lab work. Diabetes medication management and suspected hypoglycemia are handled by our Endocrinology team.