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Say goodbye to painful fingerpricks†

If you’ve ever had to pause your day for a fingerprick†, you know how disruptive it can be. With a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), checking glucose levels becomes easy and painless1,2.

Man reviewing his LibreLink app data Man reviewing his LibreLink app data Man reviewing his LibreLink app data

What’s the difference between CGM and BGM?

A blood glucose monitor (BGM) is like a photo—it gives you a single snapshot of glucose3 by measuring it directly from your blood with a fingerprick†.

But a CGM is like a movie—showing you an ongoing overview4 of how your glucose changes.

That means it can catch glucose spikes and dips that occur between fingerpricks†.

Diagram showing the Time In Range graph Diagram showing the Time In Range graph Diagram showing the Time In Range graph

Why might CGM and BGM readings differ?

When you compare numbers from your Libre sensor5 to BGM, you might notice small differences. That’s completely normal. Both are accurate, but at slightly different points in time.

Glucose takes a few minutes to move from your bloodstream into your interstitial fluid6, which is where your sensor gets its measurements from.

If you find that your BGM readings differ from your CGM readings, check both readings again.

Rest assured, you can count on a high degree of accuracy from sensor start and over 15 days of sensor wear1.

Diagram showing why CGM & BGM readings differ Diagram showing why CGM & BGM readings differ Diagram showing why CGM & BGM readings differ
LibreLink LibreLink

Notice what happens after a meal.

Try looking at your LibreLink app or Libre 3 app before and 1-2 hours after eating to see how your meal impacted your glucose. Those observations help you understand what works for your glucose.

Further reading

Start your journey

⏱ 2 minutes read

See how meals and movement connect to glucose.

Learn more

What your alarms¤ mean

⏱ 2 minutes read

Discover what your alarms mean and how they help you stay one step ahead.

Learn more

References & Disclaimers

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Not real patients or data.

† Finger pricks are required if your glucose alarms and readings do not match symptoms or when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol during the first twelve hours.

¤ Notifications will only be received when alarm settings are enabled and turned on and sensor is within 6 metres (FreeStyle Libre 2 system) or 10 metres (FreeStyle Libre 3 system) of the reading device, unobstructed.

1. Alva et al. Diabetes SciTechnol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1177/19322968251329364.

2. Haak, T. Diabetes Therapy (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-016-0223-6.

3. Mayo Clinic Staff. "Blood Sugar Testing: Why, When and How." Mayo Clinic, January 16, 2024. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/blood-sugar/art-20046628.

4. Unger, J. Postgraduate Medicine (2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2020.1744393.

5. Libre sensor refers to the Libre 2 Plus and Libre 3 Plus sensors.

6. Cengiz, Eda, and William V Tamborlane. “A Tale of Two Compartments: Interstitial Versus Blood Glucose Monitoring.” Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics 11, Suppl 1 (June 2009): S11-6. https://doi.org/10.1089/dia.2009.0002.

ADC-2690644 v1.0

 

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