Table 1.

Features of the Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems

	Abbott Free Style Navigator	DexCom Seven Plus	Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm or Guardian Real Time
Range of glucose values	20–500 mg/dL	40–400 mg/dL	40–400 mg/dL
Update of glucose values	Every minute	Every 5 minutes	Every 5 minutes
Sensor duration	Up to 120 hours (5 days)	Up to 168 hours (7 days)	Up to 72 hours (3 days)
Sensor length, angle, and gauge	6 mm, 90°, 21 gauge	13 mm, 45°, 26 gauge	12 mm, 45°–60°, 23 gauge
Transmitter size	2.05″ × 1.23″ × 0.43″	1.5″ × 0.9″ × 0.4″	1.4″ × 1.1″ × 0.3″
Number of components to wear/carry	Receiver, transmitter (home glucose meter built in to receiver)	Receiver, transmitter, and home glucose meter	Receiver, transmitter, and home glucose meter
Warm-up period before glucose readings displayed	10 hours	2 hours	2 hours
Required frequency of calibration	4 times at about 10 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 72 hours after sensor insertion	2 times a day (every 12 hours)	2 times a day (every 12 hours)
Available alarms	High and low glucose alarms; projected high and low glucose alarms	High and low glucose alarms	High and low glucose alarms; Guardian also has projected high and low glucose alarms
Glucose display graphs	2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours	1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours	Paradigm has 3 and 24 hours; Guardian has 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours
Trending arrows	Yes	Yes	Yes
Capacity to enter events	Insulin, meals, exercise, health, other	Insulin, meals, exercise, and health	Insulin, meals, exercise
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval status	Age 18 and older with blood glucose testing using a home glucose meter	Age 18 and older with blood glucose testing using a home glucose meter	Age 7 and older with blood glucose testing using a home glucose meter