Pregnant with T1D? You & your baby may benefit from CGM.
**IMPORTANT - The following is for your information only and is not medical advice. Please talk to your doctor or health care provider if you have questions about how to take care of diabetes during your pregnancy. The American Diabetes Association recommends use of continuous glucose monitoring (also known as CGM) in pregnancy for those living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) [Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy: ADA Standards of Care in Diabetes—2024]
What is CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor)?
CGM is wearable technology that tracks your sugar levels while you are wearing it. The CGM device uses a special sensor with a small wire that goes under your skin to measure your blood sugar (glucose) levels every few minutes. The sensor transmitter that is worn on your skin sends information about your glucose levels to your mobile phone or a receiver. CGM is FDA-approved for people with diabetes, including in pregnancy.
Why is it good to use CGM in pregnancy?
A CGM gives you real-time information on how your glucose levels are changing. Medical research shows that using a CGM in pregnancy can decrease the chance that your baby will have complications from T1D.
In one important study (CONCEPTT), babies born to people with T1D using CGM had a lower chance of complications compared to babies born to people using only finger sticks to measure their blood sugar.
Babies born to people using CGM during pregnancy had a lower chance of:- needing to go to the neonatal intensive care unit
- having low blood sugars
- having a higher weight at birth
Because of this, the American Diabetes Association strongly recommends that people with T1D use CGM during pregnancy.
How should I use CGM during my pregnancy?
People with T1D using CGM in pregnancy should try to keep their blood sugar between 63 and 140 mg/dl as much as possible. Studies show that the more time you spend with your blood sugar in this range, the healthier your pregnancy will be. Your doctor or health care provider may have more specific or different goals for your blood sugar. Talk to them about what your blood sugar goals should be.
If I use CGM, will I still need to do fingersticks?
Your doctor or other healthcare provider will tell you how often you should do fingersticks while wearing CGM. You should always check a fingerstick if how you are feeling doesn’t match your CGM reading. You may also need to check a fingerstick when you are having or treating a low blood sugar. For some types of CGM, you need to do fingersticks every now and then to check that the CGM is giving a good reading.
How can I get a CGM?
Talk to your doctor or other health care provider about getting a CGM. Insurance usually covers CGM for people with T1D during pregnancy. Depending on your health insurance coverage, you may have out of pocket costs.
Pro tip: If it looks like your CGM will cost a lot at the pharmacy, check with your insurance about whether using a durable medical equipment (DME) company could lower your costs. The CGM company may also be able to give advice on how to make CGM more affordable for you.
What if I have type 2 diabetes (T2D) or gestational diabetes?
CGMs are approved for all types of diabetes, but doctors and researchers are still studying the best way to use CGM for people who are living with T2D or gestational diabetes. Talk to your doctor or health care provider if you are wondering if CGM is right for you.
What if I have more questions?
You should reach out to your doctor or other health care provider if you have questions about whether you should use a CGM or about how to use a CGM safely.