CGM Device Guide
GlucoMen iCan
A 15-day CGM from Sinocare, distributed in the UK by Menarini Diagnostics. Non-adjunctive: approved to replace fingerstick blood glucose testing for diabetes treatment decisions. In the published multi-centre study, 92% of adult readings and 93% of paediatric readings fell within the tightest agreement band (within 20% or within 1.1 mmol/L of the reference), and fewer than 0.5% of readings fell outside the widest band (within 40% or within 2.2 mmol/L). CE marked for ages 2 and older. GNL reports CGM accuracy using ±20/20 and ±40/40 agreement only.
Framework status
Data sufficiency: Met. Adults n=142 (38,913 paired CGM-reference points), paediatric n=129 (11,046 paired points), at least 70% with type 1 diabetes. Source: Christiansen et al, 2026 (True Vie i3 multi-centre evaluation), assessed against the DSN Forum UK CGM Comparison Framework v3 (June 2026).
Device at a glance
| Model | o3 (True Vie i3 sensor platform) |
| Manufacturer | Sinocare Inc (China) |
| UK distributor | A. Menarini Diagnostics |
| Wear duration | Up to 15 days |
| Warm-up | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Published accuracy (within ±20/20) | 92% adults, 93% children. Outside ±40/40 under 0.5% in both. Source: Christiansen et al, 2026 (True Vie i3). GNL does not use MARD; see the accuracy page. |
| CEG Zone A+B (manufacturer manual) | 100% in both adult and paediatric populations (user manual UM2025-EN) |
| Calibration required | No (factory calibrated) |
| Transmitter | Bluetooth Low Energy, 6m range, non-rechargeable |
| Readings | Every 3 minutes (up to 480 per day) |
| Measurement range | 2.0 to 25.0 mmol/L |
| Reader available | Yes (in addition to the iCan App) |
| Alarms | High and low alarms yes; predictive alarms no |
| Smartphone app | iCan App (Android 8.1+, iOS 14.1+, Huawei AppGallery) |
| Data share with HCP | GlucoLog Web and Glooko |
| Data share with friends and family | iCan Reach (up to 10 followers) |
| Indication | Non-adjunctive; intended to replace fingerstick blood glucose testing for diabetes treatment decisions |
| Age indication | 2 years and older |
| Placement | Abdomen, back of upper arm |
| Shelf life | 18 months |
| Operating temperature | 10 to 42 degrees C |
| iCGM (FDA QBJ) cleared | No |
| UK GP prescription (FP10) | Yes |
| UK NHS Supply Chain | No (not on the NHS Supply Chain at present) |
| HCL (closed-loop) compatible | No |
| AID compatible | Not confirmed |
Accuracy
GlucoMen iCan now has published accuracy data behind it. The GlucoMen iCan uses the Sinocare True Vie i3 sensor platform; on that basis (the same sensor hardware and algorithm, the same manufacturer, distributed in the UK by Menarini under the GlucoMen iCan name), GNL applies the True Vie i3 multi-centre accuracy data to this UK-distributed product. That study was reported by Christiansen and colleagues in 2026, presented at the American Diabetes Association. The DSN Forum UK CGM Framework v3 carries this equivalence in scoring GlucoMen iCan a 5. GNL reports CGM accuracy using ±20/20 and ±40/40 agreement only; see the accuracy page for why.
In that study, 92% of adult readings and 93% of paediatric readings fell within the ±20/20 band (within 20% of the reference above 5.6 mmol/L, or within 1.1 mmol/L at or below 5.6 mmol/L). Fewer than 0.5% of readings in either group fell outside the ±40/40 band, meaning more than 99.5% of readings agreed to within 40% or 2.2 mmol/L of the reference. The adult arm contributed 38,913 paired CGM-reference points (142 participants) and the paediatric arm 11,046 paired points (129 participants), with testing from age 2 and older.
| Population | Within ±20/20 | Outside ±40/40 | Participants | Paired points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | 92% | under 0.5% | 142 | 38,913 |
| Children (age 2+) | 93% | under 0.5% | 129 | 11,046 |
Source: Christiansen M, Broyles FA, Bode BW, et al. Multi-center performance evaluation of the True Vie i3 CGM System in Adults in the US and EU. American Diabetes Association, 2026. Figures cross-referenced through the DSN Forum UK CGM Comparison Framework v3 (June 2026), Chart 2.
Manufacturer-manual layer (secondary)
For completeness, the earlier manufacturer user manual (UM2025-EN) reported its own pivotal data, run against the YSI 2900D venous blood reference in adults and the EKF Biosen C-Line in children. Both populations reached 100% Consensus Error Grid Zone A+B in that manual. This sits below the published study above as a manufacturer-manual layer; the headline accuracy and framework status on this page come from the published v3 framework data.
| Population (manufacturer manual) | CEG Zone A+B | Reference method | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | 100% | YSI 2900D | 60 |
| Children (left abdomen) | 100% | EKF Biosen C-Line | 78 |
| Children (right abdomen) | 100% | EKF Biosen C-Line | 78 |
A note on trial data and real-world performance
The headline figures above are from the published True Vie i3 multi-centre evaluation (Christiansen et al, 2026). As with all CGMs, real-world performance may differ from controlled study conditions: sensor day, wear site, rate of glucose change and individual physiology all affect agreement. The manufacturer-manual CEG figures are a separate, lower-tier source retained for completeness. See the accuracy page for a full explanation of how study data relates to everyday use.
Features
15-day wear
Among the longest sensor lives currently available, at up to 15 days. Fewer sensor changes per month means less device management and potentially lower cost per day of wear. Warm-up is 120 minutes (2 hours).
3-minute readings
Up to 480 glucose readings per day, more frequent than the 5-minute interval used by most other CGMs. More data points may give a more detailed picture of glucose trends, particularly around meals and exercise.
Published paediatric data from age 2
CE marked for ages 2 and older, with dedicated paediatric accuracy data in the published study (129 participants, 11,046 paired points, 93% within ±20/20). Testing covered age 2 and older.
Non-adjunctive
The user manual explicitly states the device is “intended to replace fingerstick blood glucose testing for diabetes treatment decisions”. This is a significant regulatory distinction: it means the device can be used as the sole basis for insulin dosing without a confirmatory finger prick.
Reader, alarms and sharing
A separate reader is available alongside the iCan App. High and low alarms are supported; predictive alarms are not. Data can be shared with a healthcare professional through GlucoLog Web and Glooko, and with friends and family through iCan Reach (up to 10 followers).
Broad app support
The iCan App is available on Android 8.1+, iOS 14.1+, and Huawei AppGallery, making it accessible to users on all major mobile platforms including Huawei devices that do not have Google Play Services.
What is not yet known
The published True Vie i3 study is a real step forward in the evidence base, but several questions remain open:
- AID compatibility: No AID system integration has been confirmed, and the device is not HCL (closed-loop) compatible. For people on automated insulin delivery, this is a significant limitation until compatibility is established.
- Real-world performance: The headline figures come from a controlled multi-centre study. Trial-to-real-world accuracy gaps are common across all CGM manufacturers, and independent real-world studies in routine UK use are still awaited.
- UK NHS Supply Chain: The device is available on UK GP prescription (FP10) but is not yet on the NHS Supply Chain. Long-term NHS availability is still emerging.
- iCGM (FDA QBJ) status: The device is not cleared as an integrated CGM (iCGM) under the FDA’s QBJ pathway, which is one route by which sensors qualify for AID interoperability.
How this page is graded
This page follows the DSN Forum UK CGM Comparison Framework v3 (June 2026), which lists GlucoMen iCan as a Study Design Score 5 device. The headline accuracy comes from the published True Vie i3 multi-centre evaluation (Christiansen et al, 2026, presented at the American Diabetes Association); the framework itself carries the True Vie i3 = GlucoMen iCan equivalence, citing that study as its reference for the GlucoMen iCan row. The manufacturer user manual (UM2025-EN) is retained as a secondary layer.
The overall evidence grade is B: the accuracy data is strong and published, and is presented as an American Diabetes Association 2026 presentation; the grade moves towards A once the Christiansen evaluation is confirmed as a full peer-reviewed journal publication. Real-world UK performance, AID compatibility and NHS Supply Chain availability are still emerging, as set out above.
Evidence backbone
This page is built on the GNL CGM Evidence Pack. John Pemberton is lead or contributing author on the framework and methodology entries below, and an author or contributor to the DSN Forum UK framework (copyright DSN Forum UK). The Evidence Pack itself sits inside Grace, the GNL clinical knowledge engine; the source papers are linked here for independent verification. This page is a teaching and clinical summary, not a reproduction of the DSN Forum UK chart.
- Christiansen et al 2026 (True Vie i3). Christiansen M, Broyles FA, Bode BW, et al. Multi-center performance evaluation of the True Vie i3 CGM System in Adults in the US and EU. American Diabetes Association, 2026. Published accuracy source for this page; GlucoMen iCan is the UK-distributed True Vie i3 sensor.
- GlucoMen iCan User Manual (UM2025-EN). Official user manual, Sinocare Inc / A. Menarini Diagnostics. Source of the technical specifications and the secondary manufacturer-manual CEG Zone A+B layer on this page.
- Pemberton et al 2026. International clinical opinion on transparency, standardisation, and calibration alignment in CGM. Modified Delphi consensus, 21 international authors. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. DOI: 10.1111/dom.70460
- Pemberton et al 2023. CGM accuracy: contrasting CE marking with the FDA and TGA. Narrative review. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. DOI: 10.1111/dom.14962
- Pleus et al 2025. IFCC Working Group clinical assessment guideline for CGM system performance. John Pemberton co-author. Clinica Chimica Acta. DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2025.120728
- Moser & Pemberton 2024. Rethinking the safety and efficacy assessment of HCL systems. The CGM-AID safety bridge. Diabetic Medicine. DOI: 10.1111/dme.15305
- DSN Forum UK CGM Comparison Framework v3 (June 2026). The practical UK clinical reference (copyright DSN Forum UK), authored and maintained with John Pemberton as an author and contributor. DSNFUK chart
Overall evidence grade: B (published multi-centre accuracy data via the True Vie i3 evaluation, carried by the DSN Forum UK v3 framework which scores GlucoMen iCan a 5 and cites that study for its row, and reported as an American Diabetes Association 2026 presentation; plus the v3 framework, clinical opinion, consensus guidelines and methodology papers; manufacturer user manual retained as a secondary layer). Confidence: HIGH for the published study figures and technical specs; MODERATE for real-world UK performance pending independent real-world studies. Grade moves towards A once the Christiansen evaluation is confirmed as a full peer-reviewed journal publication.