A thing as a continuous glucose monitoring system

>Is my memory fouled up, or isn't there a blood-sugar monitoring device (perhaps looking like a watch) that will let you keep track as often as you want or need to without strips?<

There is such a thing as a continuous glucose monitoring system, but I'm not sure how affordable it is, or how practical. I'm pretty sure it involves some kind of tiny needle-like probe that stays in the skin and gets changed periodically.

>I would think the technology is there--Doesn' t the insulin pump depend on a similar monitor to know when to pump in added insulin?<

Most pumpers test their glucose the same way we do, with a monitor and test strips. Some of the newer insulin pumps are including CGT in their technology, but again, I don't know how affordable that is, if insurance pays for it, etc. An insulin pump is programmed for the individual's basal dose, which is doled out bit by bit 24/7, but it can never know how much (or when) to dose for each meal, since that all depends on what's about to be eaten and how much. At meals, first the person has to determine roughly how many carbs they're about to eat. Then they use their individual carb-to-insulin ratio to figure out the number of units needed to cover that amount, after which they program in the dose and push the button to release the insulin.