Heart pacemaker and the use of implanted glucose monitor.

Continuous glucose monitors

by Gemita - 2024-08-19 02:31:07

Emabo, my husband has a pacemaker and is using the Freestyle Libre 2 continuous glucose monitor (CGM).  Freestyle Libre 2 is a tiny sensor that can be inserted under the skin usually on the upper arm. These sensors are called disposable sensors. They stay in place for 14 days and are then removed and a new sensor inserted.  The small disk has a sticky patch that helps it stay in place.  Another type of CGM sensor—called an implantable sensor—may be placed inside your body.  I am unclear which type of sensor has been prescribed for you?

The CGM is a great way of avoiding those frequent, often painful finger pricks.  The small sensor reads your sugar levels so you can see the information on your mobile, or other device.  Your diabetes clinic can be linked up too.  You are able to review what your sugar levels do every minute of the day and night. With the charts and graphs, you can start to see and understand how food, activity, and other things affect your sugar levels. 

The performance of my husband's CGM disk has not been evaluated by the manufacturer for use with a pacemaker but this form of glucose monitoring certainly works well for my husband and does not appear to interfere with his pacemaker (according to his pacemaker clinic).

There are several members here who use CGMs without any problems.  In the case of my husband's monitor, the manufacturer, Abbott are currently testing their product for use with a pacemaker.  His diabetes clinic is happy with the results so far which appear to be accurate when compared with his blood checks of glucose levels over a corresponding period.  My husband's Pacemaker Clinic has confirmed that he can safely use these monitors with his pacemaker, since he does not report any adverse symptoms.

I attach a few links which you can read at your leisure which might be helpful.  These should be copied and pasted into your main general browser to open. 

https://www.pacemakerclub.com/message/43869

https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/safety-information.html#

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/managing-diabetes/continuous-glucose-monitoring#:~:text=A%20CGM%20has%20three%20parts,be%20placed%20inside%20your%20body.