Today’s announcement on World Diabetes Day, heralds a new digital approach to glucose management for people in hospital, with a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) device continuously tracking blood sugar levels.
The small, wearable skin sensor allows for real-time monitoring of glucose levels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, sending updates directly to a smart device or receiver.
It provides instant alerts for high or low blood glucose readings, meaning staff can respond quickly to changes. This reduces the risk of complications and frees up time to focus on other critical aspects of patient care.
Unlike traditional finger-prick tests, which require regular manual checks, this non-invasive technology offers diabetic patients a seamless alternative, providing constant, automated readings without interruption.
Deborah Westrup, 65, from Pott Row, King’s Lynn, has been using a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) device to track her blood sugar levels for five years. She welcomed the hospital’s announcement, saying: “For me, having this device has been a godsend – it makes managing my diabetes so much easier.”
Deborah, who was an inpatient at The QEH over the summer, recalls the staff manually monitoring her blood sugar levels through finger-prick tests. She said: “While it was inconvenient being disturbed regularly for blood sugar checks, you get used to it. It’s great news that now patients like me can continue using our CGM devices while in hospital.”
Pippa Street, Chief Nurse at QEH, noted: “This is a valuable step forward in earlier warnings to react, thereby increasing patients’ safety and improving the patient experience for those with diabetes. With CGM technology, we are not only improving the patient experience but also empowering our staff to deliver even higher-quality care with the latest tools at their disposal.”
The introduction of CGM, which was endorsed by the Trust Board in September, is part of QEH’s broader commitment to enhancing patient care through the latest medical technology, aiming to provide a safer, more supportive environment for diabetic patients throughout their hospital journey.
Notes to Editors: For media enquiries only, please contact the Communications Team at media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
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