TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – A new continuous glucose monitor offers a one-year option for some people living with diabetes.

That’s good news for Topeka health care dealer Steve Matukewicz. He couldn’t understand the cause of his unusual symptoms about ten years ago.

“I was very tired, I drank a lot of water a day, my feet hurt – neuropathy. I didn’t know what that meant,” he said.

A visit to the doctor led him to the answer: Steve was living with type 1 diabetes. That meant having his fingers pricked to track his blood sugar.

“I didn’t do a good job,” he said. “We didn’t remind you. You would forget. Hours passed and you were high and you didn’t really notice it until it was too late and then you had to come down again, so it’s hard on your body.

That’s why health experts say continuous glucose monitoring – or CGM – is a step forward. You get a real-time picture, instead of an average over several months.

Gary Graf, APRN, of Cotton O’Neil Endocrinology in Topeka, said that older methods of monitoring blood sugar using averages meant that a person with wide fluctuations could have the same average as someone maintaining a more constant level.

“An average is not a very good way to measure your control,” he said. “When you have these big swings of ups and downs, the ups can lead to the three number one elements of diabetes: diabetic retinopathy, diabetic necroopathy and diabetic neuropathy – the feet, the eyeballs and the kidneys.”

The new EverSense system goes even further. It is the first implantable CGM. A small test sensor is placed under the skin in the upper arm during an outpatient procedure. An adhesive patch holds a transmitter on the outside and sends information to a receiver or phone app. It also has a vibrating alarm to alert of ups and downs.

Other CGM systems use a filament that penetrates the skin to measure, but have problems detaching or bending.

“(Other CGM systems) last 10 to 15 days, depending on the brand. If you lose it, you go without data for a few days or go back to checking your blood sugar with finger pricks,” Graf explained.

He said a person could put in a new CGM sooner, but it would incur an additional cost of about $80 each time. Failure to do so could lead to medical complications if a person is unable to control their levels.

The first EverSense sensors had to be replaced every three months. They then moved to six months, and just a few weeks ago Graf released the latest version which lasts a full year.

“By having strict control and alarms for ups and downs, these people can lead almost normal lives,” he said.

Implantable CGM is not for everyone. You have to meet certain requirements, the upfront cost is higher, and while Medicare covers it, not all insurance covers it.

But Steve appreciates the convenience.

“You feel like you have more options, you’re not tied to them all the time.” When you have diabetes, you feel like you’re tied to things,” he said.

More importantly, he’s on the path to better health.

“I don’t feel as tired.” I sleep better. It doesn’t always feel so run down,” he said. “You just feel better.” We want to do more things.

Another limitation is availability. Graf is one of the few qualified inserters in the greater Topeka area. He says he’s working to change that.

People should talk to their healthcare provider if they have questions about the best options for controlling and monitoring their diabetes.

Specific information about the EverSense system can be found here.

November 14, 2024 was World Diabetes Day.

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