Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A Review of Available Systems.

More than 9% of the U.S. population––30.3 million people––currently have diabetes, according to the 2017 National Diabetes Statistics Report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).1 More than seven million of those individuals are unaware of their condition and are undiagnosed. Diabetes is generally described as a silent, chronic, and progressive disease, marked by abnormally elevated levels of serum glucose. Type-1 diabetes (T1D) is typically diagnosed and most commonly seen in children and adolescents. It is caused by the immune-mediated destruction of beta cells in the pancreas, which inhibits insulin production. Patients diagnosed with T1D, who account for approximately 5% of people diagnosed with diabetes, typically present with excessive urination, thirst, hunger, weight loss, vision changes, and fatigue. Medical treatment involves the use of the blood-glucose regulating hormone, insulin, and there are no preventive measures.1,2 Type-2 diabetes (T2D) arises from the body’s inability to sufficiently respond to and properly utilize insulin, otherwise known as insulin resistance. Risk factors include the following: ≥ 45 years of age, an increased body mass index, poor nutrition, smoking, a history of gestational diabetes, a family history of diabetes, and physical inactivity. Symptoms mirror that of T1D, but are gradual, less severe, and not always present, which makes the condition difficult to diagnose promptly. Patients with T2D can be properly managed through lifestyle interventions (e.g., diet and exercise), pharmacologic interventions (non-insulin and/or insulin medications), and glucose monitoring.1,2