What was the inherent limitation of traditional fingerstick testing methods before reliable CGMs?
Answer
They provided only a snapshot in time lacking context for preceding or subsequent trends.
The major functional drawback of traditional Blood Glucose Meters (BGMs), which relied on fingerstick tests, was their inability to provide contextual information regarding glucose trends. Each reading generated was a static measurement at a specific moment, offering no insight into whether the sugar level was rapidly rising, slowly falling, or stable. This 'snapshot in time' limitation meant that dangerous highs or lows occurring between scheduled measurements could go undetected, particularly impacting individuals relying on insulin, as the management approach remained fundamentally reactive rather than predictive.
Related Questions
What fluid do modern CGMs primarily measure glucose levels from instead of directly in the blood?Which system received initial FDA approval in 1999 for continuous glucose monitoring?What was the inherent limitation of traditional fingerstick testing methods before reliable CGMs?Which institution focused on developing sophisticated, miniature sensor arrays aimed at improving accuracy and wear time?What specific physical interface improvement was research from the Technion in Israel focused on developing?What engineering progress was necessary to transition early continuous monitors into discreet, modern wearable devices?What change was crucial for CGMs to shift from prescription-only use toward over-the-counter (OTC) availability?What new challenge arose from the continuous nature of the data stream requiring sophisticated development?During which initial stabilization period were early CGM readings often unreliable or requiring external confirmation?What key component of early CGM development relied on an enzyme such as glucose oxidase?