Beeps, Buzzes & Alerts: A Guide to CGM Alarms (And How to Keep Your Sanity!)

If your child or teen uses a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), you’ve probably heard those familiar beeps and buzzes at all hours of the day (and night!). Whether it’s a high glucose alert, a low warning or just a reminder to change the sensor- CGM alerts are there to help. However, let’s be honest, sometimes they can feel like an overly enthusiastic car alarm that won’t stop going off.

So, how do you make the most of CGM alerts without feeling like you’re living in a non-stop concert of beeps?This guide will help you understand CGM alarms, customise them for your child’s needs and manage “alarm fatigue” so you don’t lose your mind in the process!

Why Do CGMs have Alarms?

CGM alarms exist for a very important reason: to keep your child safe! They help prevent dangerously high or low blood sugar levels by notifying you when action is needed. These alerts can be life-saving, especially at night or during activities like sports, sleepovers or school.

Key alarms include:

• Low glucose alert- Warns when blood sugar is dropping too low

• Urgent low alarm- Triggers when levels are critically low (often below 3.1 mmol/L)

• High glucose alert- Lets you know when blood sugar is too high

• Rising/Falling trend alarms- Shows if glucose is changing rapidly

• Sensor expiration/ reminder alarms- Tells you when it’s time to replace the sensor

• Signal loss alarm- Activates if the CGM loses connection with the phone or receiver

While these alarms are incredibly useful, they can also become overwhelming- especially if they’re going off constantly! So, how do you find the right balance?

Customising CGM Alarms: Finding What Works for Your Family

One of the best things about modern CGMs is that you can adjust alarm settings to fit your child’s needs (and keep your sleep from being interrupted unnecessarily!)

• Adjust High and Low Alerts Based on Your Child’s Needs

  • If your child’s glucose fluctuates a lot overnight, consider raising the low alarm slightly (e.g., from 4.0 mmol/L to 4.3 mmol/L) to catch drops before they become urgent.

  • If your child is active and gets frequent high alarms after eating, you might raise the high alert threshold slightly to avoid excessive notifications.

• Use Temporary Alarm Adjustments for Special Situations

  • Sleepovers or school? Raise or lower alert settings based upon who’s monitoring your child.

  • Sports & Exercise? Set a higher low alert to catch drops early.

  • Sick days? Lower the high alarm to stay on top of illness-related spikes

• Nighttime Alarms: How to Avoid Being Woken Up for No Reason

  • Nobody wants to be woken up at 3 AM for a glucose level of 10 mmol/L. Consider adjusting the high threshold overnight so you’re only alerted if it reaches a level that truly needs action

  • Tip: If your child is newly diagnosed, start with slightly more alerts at night, then tweak them as you get more comfortable.

Managing Alarm Fatigue (AKA: “Help, My CGM Won’t Stop Beeping!”)

“Alarm Fatigue” is when CGM notifications become so frequent that they lose their urgency- or worse, become an added source of stress for your child and family. If your CGM is beeping all day long, here’s how to fix it:

• Ask: Does Every Alert Need to Be On?

  • If certain alerts aren’t useful, turn them off or adjust the settings. For example, if your child experiences a predictable fast glucose rise after breakfast, you may not need an alert every single time.

• Use Vibrate Mode Instead of Loud Beeping

  • Most CGMs let you switch to vibrate mode, which is great for school, work or sleep. Your child still gets the warning, but it’s less disruptive.

• Set a Delay for High Alarms

  • Some CGMs allow you to delay high glucose alarms (e.g., alerting after 30 minutes instead of immediately). This prevents unnecessary alarms for temporary spikes.

• Discuss Potential Changes to Carb Ratios with Diabetic Care Team

  • Sometimes frequent alarms for Highs and Lows can mean adjustments to carb ratios are needed

• Talk to Your Child About What Works for Them

  • For teens especially, loud CGM alarms in class or at a party can feel embarrassing. Let them help choose settings that balance discretion and safety.

CGM Alarms & Parents: How to Keep the Whole Family Sane

If you share CGM alerts with your phone, consider these strategies to avoid stress:

• Decide Who Needs Notifications- If both parents, grandparents and the school nurse are getting the same alarm, it might be too much. Pick who should receive which alerts.

• Set “Do Not Disturb” for Non-Urgent Alarms- Most CGM apps allow you to mute certain alerts at night while keeping urgent low alerts active.

• Take Turns Monitoring at Night- If you’re exhausted from waking up every night, consider switching off with a partner or using a baby monitor app to listen for alarms.

• Empower Your Child to Take Control- As they get older, encourage your child to respond to their own alarms when possible. This builds independence and reduces the burden on parents.

Final Thoughts:

Yes, CGM alarms can be frustrating, but they’re also one of the best tools we have to keep those with T1D safe and healthy. With a little fine-tuning, you can customise alerts to work for your family, reduce alarm fatigue and improve your child’s independence- all while keeping your sanity intact!

Remember: it’s okay to adjust, experiment and find what works best. If you ever feel overwhelmed, just know- you’re not alone, and you and your child are doing an incredible job managing this journey.

Now, go enjoy some beep-free time!