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Type 1 Telehealth Virtual direct care by providers who live with T1D themselves—because we get it.

10/21/2026

Part 2: So which number do I trust?

This is where CGM education gets really important.

Because no, the answer isn’t “your CGM is always right.”

And it’s also not “you should fingerstick every time your CGM and meter don’t match.”

Modern factory-calibrated CGMs are designed for treatment decisions without routine confirmatory fingersticks in most situations.

But there are times when you should probably have that meter available.

1. You just started a new sensor.

The first day can be a little different while the sensor settles into the tissue. Some devices specifically warn users about using a meter during their initial period or when readings aren’t behaving as expected.

2. Your symptoms don’t match your CGM.

This is probably the biggest one.

If your CGM says 105 but you’re shaky, sweaty, confused or otherwise feeling like you’re low, don’t ignore your body because your phone says you’re fine.

Check.

Both Dexcom and FreeStyle Libre specifically instruct users to use a blood glucose meter when symptoms or expectations don’t match the CGM reading.

3. Your glucose is changing rapidly.

Remember Part 1?

Your CGM measures interstitial glucose, so there can be a lag between what is happening in your blood and what the sensor is reporting. That difference becomes more important during rapid rises and falls.

4. Your device specifically tells you to check.

This one sounds obvious, but follow the instructions for YOUR CGM. Different systems have different labeling and specific circumstances where they recommend a fingerstick.

You may not see identical numbers.

The goal is knowing when the number is trustworthy, when the trend matters, and when you need another data point.

Save this one for your next sensor change.

10/20/2026

Part 1: Why can my CGM and fingerstick be so different?

If you have type 1 diabetes, you have probably experienced this:

CGM: 72
Fingerstick: 104

Or maybe the opposite.

And your first thought is, “Which one is wrong?”

The answer is that they are measuring glucose in two different places.

A fingerstick measures glucose directly from your blood.

A CGM measures glucose in the interstitial fluid underneath your skin. Glucose has to move from the bloodstream into that fluid before the sensor can detect the change.

That creates a physiologic delay.

Think of your blood like a river and the interstitial fluid like a pond next to it. When the river changes quickly, the pond takes a little time to catch up.

That means the difference can become much more noticeable when glucose is changing rapidly.

Going up quickly? Your CGM may temporarily read lower than your fingerstick.

Going down quickly? Your CGM may temporarily read higher than your fingerstick.

And then there are other factors that can contribute to discrepancies, including pressure on the sensor, sensor site and local tissue factors.

This is also why I don’t want patients thinking, “My CGM is inaccurate because it doesn’t exactly match my meter.”

They aren’t supposed to be identical numbers.

When glucose is relatively stable, they generally track much more closely. When glucose is changing quickly, the difference can be much larger.

And remember: one of the biggest advantages of your CGM isn’t just the number. It’s the trend.

The number tells you where you are.

The arrow tells you where you’re going.

Part 2 is coming because there are also situations where I want you to grab that meter before making a treatment decision.

This practice is for the T1D community, so we want the community to have a voice in what we talk about.From the content ...
10/16/2026

This practice is for the T1D community, so we want the community to have a voice in what we talk about.

From the content we share here to the topics we cover during visits, we want to make sure we’re talking about the things that actually matter to people living with type 1.

So we’re asking you directly:

What topic should we explain next?

What do you wish your providers covered during your visits?

What questions do you wish someone would answer?

Tell us in the comments. We’re listening 💙

10/14/2026

Three lows last night.

Compression low? Poor dinner bolus? Something else entirely?

Honestly… I don’t know.

And sometimes, that’s the truth with type 1 diabetes.

As clinicians, we look for patterns. We look at the CGM data, consider what was happening around the highs and lows, and make changes when we see something that consistently needs adjusting.

But sometimes you can do everything “right” and your blood sugar still decides to take the scenic route.

And I think that’s one of the things that gives us an edge as a type 1 diabetes providers. We know what it’s like to stare at a CGM and have absolutely no idea why your blood sugar did what it did.

We’re not looking at your data trying to find what you did wrong.

We’re looking for patterns. And when there isn’t a pattern, sometimes we simply don’t know.

That’s okay, too.

And honestly? Three overnight lows feels like enough of a reason to call for a little fall latte today.

We’re walking this Saturday! 💙Type 1 Telehealth will be at the Breakthrough T1D Community Walk, and we would love to see...
10/09/2026

We’re walking this Saturday! 💙

Type 1 Telehealth will be at the Breakthrough T1D Community Walk, and we would love to see you there.

📍Urbanovsky Park, Texas Tech Campus
🗓️ Saturday, October 10th
⏰ 10 am

Come say hi, meet other T1Ds and families, and learn how virtual care can make life with type 1 a little easier. No one has to manage T1D alone.

Tag a friend who’s coming, and tell us in the comments if you’ll be there!

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