High glucose levels in people living with diabetes can lead to many health complications. Also, there can be incidents of high blood glucose as well as low blood glucose levels that are very harmful.
For these reasons, it is very important for people with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose levels continuously and keep a check on fluctuations.
In the last few years Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices have become very popular to ascertain TIR (Time InRange) which is a critical measure to manage diabetes effectively.
So, let’s first understand
What is TIR (Time in Range)
Time in Range (TIR) is a new metric that has gained increasing attention as a more comprehensive indicator of diabetes management. TIR refers to the percentage of time that a person’s blood glucose levels are within a target range. The target range is defined by the individual’s healthcare provider and may vary depending on factors such as age, type of diabetes, and presence of co-morbidities.
High glucose levels in people living with diabetes can lead to many health complications. Also, there can be incidents of high blood glucose as well as low blood glucose levels that are very harmful.
For these reasons, it is very important for people with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose levels continuously and keep a check on fluctuations.
In the last few years Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices have become very popular to ascertain TIR (Time InRange) which is a critical measure to manage diabetes effectively.
So, let’s first understand what is TIR (Time in Range)
Time in Range (TIR) is a new metric that has gained increasing attention as a more comprehensive indicator of diabetes management. TIR refers to the percentage of time that a person’s blood glucose levels are within a target range. The target range is defined by the individual’s healthcare provider and may vary depending on factors such as age, type of diabetes, and presence of comorbidities.
Why is TIR (Time In Range) important?
Traditionally, glycemic control has been measured by the A1C test, which provides an average blood glucose level over the past three months. However, this measurement has limitations, as it does not provide information about blood glucose fluctuations or the impact of lifestyle changes or medication adjustments.
Several studies have shown that TIR is a more accurate predictor of diabetes outcomes than A1C.
Why should a person with diabetes know about Time in Range?
There are many factors that bring fluctuations in someone’s glucose levels, which ultimately impacts TIR (Time in Range)
These could include:
CGMs record blood glucose levels every few minutes and create a continuous glucose trace that shows the patterns of glucose levels over time. By analyzing the data collected by CGMs, healthcare providers can determine the TIR and identify any patterns of high or low blood glucose levels that need to be addressed.
FreeStyle Libre is a CGM device that provides real-time data of glucose levels. While monitoring the glucose levels using a CGM device such as the FreeStyle Libre, a TIR (Time InRange) report is created to help the patient see how food, activity and medications impact the glucose level.
FreeStyle Libre automatically calculates the percentage of time a person spends in, above and below the target range. Increasing the TIR (Time In Range) will have a direct impact on reducing HbA1c.
In addition to providing a more comprehensive picture of diabetes management, TIR has several other benefits. First, TIR can motivate people with diabetes to take an active role in their diabetes management by setting achievable targets and monitoring their progress. Second, TIR can provide valuable feedback to healthcare providers, allowing them to make personalized treatment recommendations based on the individual’s glucose patterns. Finally, TIR can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of new medications or technologies in improving glycemic control.
Thus it is necessary that a person with diabetes is aware about TIR (Time in Range) to take corrective steps as and when fluctuations in the glucose levels are observed. And most importantly this data helps the doctor to devise an ideal medication plan for the patient.
Learn more about Continuous Glucose Monitoring .
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The information mentioned in this document is only suggestive/for patient education and shall not be considered as a substitute for doctor’s advice or recommendations from Abbott. Please consult your doctor for more information
Any photos displayed are for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in such photos is a model.
Reference links :https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7814148/
https://www.freestyle.abbott/in-en/time-in-range.html