Evaluation of continuous glucose monitoring systems

Abstract

There has been much hype in the research and development of continuous glucose monitoring technologies, driven by the enormous and rapidly expanding glucose monitoring market and the large and growing base of diabetes patients. Continuous glucose monitoring has shown significant benefits over traditional intermittent blood glucose testing in reducing the risks of developing long-term complications associated with diabetes, by maintaining blood glucose concentrations to near-normoglycemic levels and reducing glycemic variability. In this thesis, commercially available continuous glucose monitoring systems as well as those still in development are evaluated. SWOT analysis shows that continuous glucose monitoring has a promising future, but there remain a number of challenges to be overcome, such as accuracy, sensor span, data handling, cost and reimbursement issues. It is concluded that continuous glucose monitoring will be the roadmap for future diabetes management. Ongoing technological advances in continuous glucose monitoring systems will hopefully close the loop for a fully automated artificial pancreas and develop a cure for Type I diabetes.