Naming CGM Graph Shapes for Type 1 Diabetes Management

Defining CGM Graph Patterns

• 💡 The episode aims to create a shared language by naming and defining common shapes seen on Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) graphs.
• 🎯 This is crucial for understanding glucose patterns, especially for audio-only discussions and analysis of CGM data.

Common CGM Graph Shapes

• 📈 Bell Curve: A post-meal rise that plateaus and then nicely curves back down, indicating well-timed insulin.
• ➖ Flat Line: A stable glucose level within range with no significant deviation, representing a steady state.
• ⛰️ Mountain Peak: A sharp rise after eating, followed by a sharp drop, often seen with simple carbohydrate meals.
• 🐪 Two Hump: A rise after eating, a dip from insulin, and then a rise again due to fat and protein content in the meal.
• 🎢 Roller Coaster: Characterized by significant swings up and down, which can be sharp or gradual, often indicating a chase for blood sugar.
• 🪜 Staircasing: A continuous climb with small plateaus, or an up-down pattern, potentially due to basal issues, infusion site problems, or food with high fat content.
• 🐱 Cat Ears: A meal spike followed by a quick drop, then a stable period higher than the initial baseline, followed by another spike.
• 🧗 Climb (Dawn Phenomenon): A slow, steady, and consistent increase in glucose levels overnight into the morning.
• 🕳️ Cliff Dive: A rapid, sharp drop in glucose, often seen with too much insulin or sensor compression.
• 🧊 Compression Low: A specific type of low where the sensor data appears to drop sharply but then stabilizes, often without the individual feeling low.
• 🏜️ Plateau: Glucose levels remaining elevated and steady for a prolonged period, indicating a missed meal coverage or ineffective basal insulin.
• 🏔️ Alpine: Multiple back-to-back spikes from closely spaced meals or snacks, resembling a mountain range.
• ⚡ Lightning Bolt: A jagged pattern with repeated spikes and short plateaus, often seen when meals are not well-managed or timed.
• ➡️ Drift: A gentle rise or fall in glucose levels over an extended period, potentially indicating a basal rate issue.
• 🦈 Shark Fin: A quick spike followed by a slow drift downwards, resembling a shark's fin shape.
• 📈 Hormonal Surge: A predictable spike linked to hormonal changes like menstrual cycles, puberty, or stress.
• 🌙 Night Rise (Growth Hormone): A significant rise in glucose after falling asleep, common in children due to growth hormone release, especially after early dinners.

Future Podcast Plans

• 🎙️ The podcast plans to release short episodes detailing each shape individually.
• 👂 Following this, they will analyze listener-submitted graphs in audio-only format, describing the shapes and potential causes.
• 📚 This series aims to build a comprehensive understanding of CGM data interpretation, complementing existing episodes on nutrition and insulin use.