While the standard fingerstick test records a snapshot of a person's glucose level, a recent FDA-approved device called STS-7 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) from DexCom measures glucose levels every five minutes throughout a seven-day period. The new STS-7 CGMS utilizes a disposable sensor placed just below the skin in the abdomen to measure the level of glucose in the fluid found in body tissues. By detecting trends in glucose levels throughout the week, the sensor enables patients to better monitor and control the disease, An alarm can be programmed to sound if the patient's glucose reaches predetermined lows or highs.

"The STS-7 system supplements standard fingerstick meters and test strips, providing diabetics ages 18 and older with a way to see trends and track patterns," said Daniel Schultz, M.D.. director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "It can help detect when glucose levels drop during the overnight hours, show when glucose levels rise between meals, and suggest how exercise and diet might affect glucose levels."