10: CGM Accuracy (Part 1) "Study Design First, Performance After"

In this episode of the Glucose Never Lies podcast, hosts John Pemberton and Louise delve into the intricacies of diabetes management, focusing on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. They discuss the importance of understanding CGM accuracy, the significance of study design in evaluating sensor performance, and the key questions to ask when assessing the reliability of these devices. The conversation emphasises the need for robust testing conditions to ensure that CGMs provide accurate readings for insulin dosing decisions. The hosts also highlight the ongoing efforts towards standardisation in CGM technology to improve diabetes care.

Takeaways

• Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are crucial for insulin dosing decisions.
• Understanding study design is essential for evaluating CGM accuracy.
• Not all CGMs are created equal; performance varies significantly.
• Key questions to assess CGM accuracy include the study population and testing conditions.
• Robust testing conditions are necessary for reliable sensor performance.
• The importance of peer-reviewed data in evaluating CGM accuracy.
• Standardization in CGM technology is on the horizon.
• Healthcare professionals should be knowledgeable about CGM performance.
• A downloadable chart will be available to help users assess CGM options.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Diabetes Management

02:14
Understanding Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)

05:11
Accuracy of Continuous Glucose Monitors

10:13
Evaluating Sensor Performance

15:45
Key Questions for Sensor Accuracy

20:31
Moving Towards Standardization in CGM

25:03
Summary and Next Steps

Key Resources

CGM Series: Understanding Risk Before Performance

Chart for CGM Devices (From May 2025): DSN Forum

Tim Street @ Diabettech