Fitness trackers have revolutionised the health and fitness industry in the last 10 years by providing metrics to people engaging in training themselves. What started as distance, time and heart rate has now evolved into metrics like stress, sleep and effort. Metrics provide motivation and focus for a lot of people and now there's a new kid on the block that is tracking a whole new metric.
The continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a revolutionary device that has revolutionized the way individuals with diabetes manage their condition. It is worn on the back of the arm and gives information about glucose levels in the blood stream. But what about those without diabetes? Can non-diabetics benefit from using a CGM?
In my recent blog (you can read it HERE) I discussed how blood sugar spikes are the precursor to metabolic disease and its outcomes of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Altzheimers disease, Type 2 diabetes and more. With many people unaware of the consequences of what they are eating on their blood sugar level, wearing a CGM can give valuable insight as to what is happening in their body.
By tracking your real-time glucose levels, you can see how your body reacts to different meals and determine which food best fuels your body. It has been shown that glucose response varies from individual to individual so this knowledge is invaluable to people looking to turn around metabolic disease or even detect metabolic disease that they were not aware that they had.
CGMs can also help you make more informed decisions about when and how often to exercise based on your glucose levels. CGMs can also be extremely helpful for those trying to lose weight. By monitoring your glucose levels, you can see how different foods affect your body and adjust your diet accordingly. This can lead to more satiety and hence not needing to eat as much.
Additionally, CGMs can provide valuable information about your body’s response to physical activity, helping you determine the best time to exercise for maximum benefit.
CGM’s can also give you valuable insight into the workings of your body. By learning the link between stress and blood sugar, lack of sleep and blood sugar and the impact of the hormonal cycle on blood sugar, it encourages people to be more involved in their own health and wellness through knowledge.
I do want to address some concerns that have been expressed in the health and wellness community of late about CGM’s. Like all metrics, it is possible to become too obsessed (for example in the case of eating disorders and over exercise) which is possible with whatever metrics tracker you use. To say that these metrics are the be all and end all is a mistake as the body is hugely complicated and no one metric can give you any indication of the total health and wellness of the body. It just doesn't work like that. I do however think that awareness of this metric will bring a much greater understanding to the vast majority of people who do not yet understand the benefit of limiting the amount of spikes that they have.
CGMs can be a great tool for those looking to optimize their overall health and wellness. By tracking your glucose levels, you can get a better understanding of your body’s inner workings and make more informed decisions about what to eat and when to exercise.
So, if you’re looking to better understand your body and take your health and wellness to the next level, consider investing in a CGM. It’s a great tool for both diabetics and non-diabetics alike.
CGM’s are manufactured by a company called Freestyle Libre (www.freestylelibre.com) however in many countries you can only get these with a doctor's prescription.
In Australia Vively Heath (www.vively.com.au) provides CGM’s to non diabetics with a focus on managing PCOS.
In the UAE a company Ultrahuman provides CGMs with a fitness spin (www.ultrahuman.com)
I’ll add more companies worldwide as i learn of them.
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