The 'Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)' device, which informs blood sugar levels in real-time, is revolutionizing diabetes management. Healthcare professionals advise that not only patients diagnosed with diabetes but also those in the high-risk group showing pre-diabetes warning signs should actively utilize this technology.
Diabetes is a type of metabolic disease that occurs when the insulin hormone, which regulates blood sugar, is insufficiently secreted or does not function properly. It is mainly divided into Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 occurs when no insulin is secreted from the pancreas, and Type 2 occurs when insulin is secreted but its function is diminished.
According to statistical data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency last year, the number of diabetes patients in the country was approximately 6 million as of 2021, double that of a decade ago. Including high-risk adults with blood sugar levels above normal, 22.95 million adults or 63% need diabetes prevention and management.
On the afternoon of the 17th, at Severance Hospital in the Seodaemun District of Seoul, Chairperson Cha Bong-soo of the Korean Diabetes Association and a professor in the Department of Endocrinology at Severance Hospital noted, “The reason the prevalence of diabetes is increasing is due to aging and the rise of obesity among younger age groups,” stating, “Changing unhealthy lifestyles, especially dietary habits, is the most important thing.”
He said, “In that regard, it is necessary for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients as well as the high-risk group in the pre-diabetes stage to actively use continuous glucose monitors.” The continuous glucose monitor is a patch-type wearable medical device that, when adhered to the skin, measures blood sugar levels every minute.
Until now, measuring blood sugar typically involved pricking a finger with a needle and applying the blood to a test strip. This method is uncomfortable and cumbersome, and often results in missing changes in a patient's blood sugar levels due to the one-time measurement.
In contrast, the continuous glucose monitor allows patients to directly check their current blood sugar levels and changes by holding a smartphone with the app over the patch. Once attached, the patch continuously collects data for 14 days, enabling early detection of any abnormalities in a patient's glucose metabolism.
Chairperson Cha noted that conventional blood sugar monitors have a limitation in that they do not track blood sugar fluctuations effectively, failing to connect lifestyle changes—which are most critical for diabetes treatment and management. He stated, “Using a continuous glucose monitor allows patients to recognize what they eat that causes significant spikes in blood sugar,” adding, “As a result, they can change their dietary habits and manage their blood sugar more actively and consistently.”
Chairperson Cha provided a case of a 60-year-old male patient using a continuous glucose monitor. He said, “This patient has been on diabetes medication for a long time but due to the nature of his job, which involves a lot of socializing, he often works late and drinks alcohol, and his dietary management has not been good,” mentioning, “However, after using the continuous glucose monitor, the patient completely changed his lifestyle habits, including his diet and exercise, and his health has significantly improved.”
Chairperson Cha stated that mothers who need to prevent and manage gestational diabetes should also utilize continuous glucose monitoring. Gestational diabetes is a blood sugar abnormality induced by pregnancy, heavily influenced by hormones. As the age of childbirth increases, the trend of mothers with gestational diabetes is also rising.
Chairperson Cha explained, “Gestational diabetes occurs when hormones secreted by the placenta impair insulin function, making blood sugar control difficult,” stressing, “While most women return to normal blood sugar levels after losing weight post-delivery, improper management can lead to health issues such as preterm birth and spontaneous abortion, so it is crucial to manage adequately.”
Chairperson Cha pointed out that the bigger problem lies with those in the pre-diabetes stage who fail to recognize warning signs, rather than diabetes patients themselves. Once diagnosed with diabetes, it is difficult to revert to normal, necessitating lifelong management with medication. If not detected early and managed properly, it can lead to various complications such as strokes, myocardial infarctions, and chronic kidney disease. That is why prevention is so important.
Chairperson Cha emphasized that to prevent diabetes, the most important factors are diet and weight management, followed by exercise and stress management, stating, “Especially, controlling the amount of food consumed and maintaining a balanced diet is crucial.”
Chairperson Cha mentioned that he has established his own principles while treating diabetes patients. If a patient’s weight was within an appropriate range at the age of twenty, when growth has stopped, he ensures that their weight does not exceed 20% of that at that time. Chairperson Cha added, “If there has been a diabetes patient in the family, aim to manage weight gains to not exceed 10% for diabetes prevention.”