Diabetes

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) vs Finger‑Prick Testing

2025-08-18 • Updated 2025-08-21

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) vs Finger‑Prick Testing

What CGMs do well

• Trend arrows, alerts, and overnight data.
• Reduce finger‑pricks and help spot patterns.

Known limits

• Lag time: interstitial glucose can trail blood glucose.
• Compression lows; sensor warm‑up periods; occasional sensor error.

When to confirm with a finger‑prick

• Symptoms don’t match CGM.
• Before driving if uncertain.
• During rapid changes (exercise, after treating a hypo).
• When calibrations/confirmations are recommended by your team.

Practical tips

• Set high/low alerts thoughtfully to avoid alarm fatigue.
• Rotate sites; follow clean insertion technique.
• Have a backup meter and strips available.

• #Type 1 Diabetes
• #CGM
• #blood glucose
• #patientguide