Ambulatory glucose profile (AGP) is a very useful tool for monitoring the intraday and interday variation in blood glucose levels. A single AGP sensor lasts for 14 days and records the glucose levels every 15 minutes throughout day and night without being noticed by the patient. AGP has brought down the cost of diabetes monitoring significantly in addition to providing detailed glucose profile of diabetic patients.

Why is AGP needed?

Blood glucose levels are dynamic and keep on changing in response to various factors like meals, action of drugs, stress etc. Only fasting and postmeal blood glucose or a few more premeal and postmeal readings are not sufficient to reflect the overall glucose profile of a patient. The patient with normal fasting a postmeal glucose levels may very well be going through many peaks and troughs that are never noticed by the patient. The unnoticed hypoglycemias are very risky and can even be life threatening. The blood glucose levels not only vary from time to time of a day but the readings might be very much different at the same time of two different days. Having a 14 days complete glucose profile with around 100 readings per day can be very useful not only in recognizing unnoticed hypo and hyperglycemias but also for adjusting the doses of drugs and insulin.

How is AGP performed?

A small sensor is attached to patients arm with the help of applicator. The sensor remains there for next 14 days and patient is free to perform all his routine activities including shower. At the end of 14 days or in between if needed the data from sensor can be easily captured by a receiver (which is with the doctor) wirelessly. The data can then be transmitted to the computer and reports be generated through a software.