Miguel Ángel R., 50, explains his experience with the MCG

Miguel Ángel R., a 50 -year -old diabetic, of type 1, a regular user of this monitoring system for two years, explains his experience with the continuous glucose monitor.

The MCG is included in the services of communities such as Navarra or Valencia, Castilla y León will provide it to those under 18 before December.

glucose meter

The Minister of Health, Antonio María Sáez Aguado, has announced that the Ministry will include in its service portfolio, this year, the Glucose Monitoring Flash System to diabetics under 18.Sáez Aguado explained that it is a technology that until now was not covered by the public system and will "work" to cover all diabetics.

So far, only the communities of Navarra and Valencia offer this technology that replaces punctures when controlling the blood sugar level.With a small transdermal patch placed on the arm and with a reader, or with the application installed on the mobile, it is enough to know at any time the level of glucose and the evolution of the last 24 hours.

Advantages of transdermal patch

Miguel Ángel affirms that it allows a continuous measurement, with the possibility of knowing the value of glycemia at any time, as well as its trend -if it is going up, down or maintained -therefore, “it is not limited to providing a specific valueof glucose at that time, but the measurement acquires a predictive value.

With these data you can compensate hyperglycemia more accurately and guess hypoglycemia before they occur. ”

It also allows comparing the glycemia curves obtained in different days, establishing the pattern for weeks or months, which has an impact on a better adjustment of the long -term insulin doses and greater knowledge of the personal behavior of your diabetes.

"When registering all data continuousIt adapts well and does not hinder normal activity. ”

disadvantages of its use: the price

Numerous advantages that add to some inconveniences.“It is expensive and social security does not cover it.The user must assume the full cost, which is about 120 euros per month. ”Miguel Ángel also explains that “it does not measure the concentration of glucose in the blood, but under the dermis.

This makes the glycemia value obtained at a given time, have a certain delay with respect to real glycemia at that time.That is, it does not measure your current blood glucose, but the one you had 20 minutes before.Therefore, for serious decompensations it is convenient to verify blood glucose with a conventional blood strip. ”