During a recent editorial meeting, our CCO mentioned that she had talked to a friend about these cool devices that track your blood sugar in real time and provide info that can be used to improve your health. Her friend was using one, and it helped manage her sugar cravings.
The device: Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM).
The friend: Ellen Pompeo, aka Meredith freaking Grey. (Casual.)
A CGM tracks glucose levels in real time using a tiny sensor inserted under the skin. The readings get sent to a smartphone, showing how different foods and activities affect blood sugar levels. Yep, food isn’t the only thing that can impact blood sugar. Exercise, stress, sleep time and quality, and dehydration can also have an effect.
These devices are frequently used by people who have diabetes to manage their blood sugar. But there’s growing interest in how they can be used by non-diabetics in order to improve health.
“I have a real sweet tooth,” Ellen tells us. “So managing my sugar cravings was something I needed to get a handle on. This product helped me do exactly that. Even if you don’t like sweets and prefer salty foods, most of those are carbs, which will spike your glucose levels too.”
Ready to learn more? Check out our full Q&A with Ellen below.
Why do we need to track our glucose?
“Your body turns food into glucose to use as energy. Glucose sends a signal to your pancreas to release insulin, which is a hormone that directs the muscle and fat cells to take in glucose for energy. Your cells get energy from glucose or convert it to fat for long-term storage. Too many glucose spikes and signals to release insulin can lead to insulin resistance or even pre-diabetes or diabetes.”
Do you use a CGM? If so, have you noticed a change in your health or weight management habits since you started using it?
“I use the Signos app that pairs with a CGM. What I love about it is that you can track your glucose level 24 hours a day to see how your body reacts to food. It has a real psychological effect and helped me change my eating habits.
“For example, I used to think nothing of having pasta and a glass of wine for dinner. I didn’t realize that the sugar in the wine was raising my blood sugar and waking me up at 2AM, completely disrupting my sleep. Now, if I am going to have pasta and wine for dinner after the kids go to bed, I put on the news or a show for an hour and walk on the treadmill.”
Are we supposed to wear it all the time?
“It depends on what your goal for using it is.”
“Signos pairs with the CGM to continuously monitor your glucose levels and help you understand how food choices and daily habits impact your body.”
Do you find yourself being more conscious of the effect foods have on you now that you consider glucose? Does it change your choices or timing of choices?
“100%. Great question. It definitely changes the timing of choices. I try to eat carbs earlier in the day, which seems to cause a smaller glucose spike that doesn’t disrupt my sleep.
“But, if I can’t, I try to walk on the treadmill after I eat to burn off some of the extra blood sugar in my system. If you don’t have a treadmill, you can walk up and down the stairs while doing laundry or walk your dog to get the same results.”
How does it change users' workouts?
“It motivates you to move more. The app is getting data from the CGM that tells you when your glucose is spiking and to get moving. Then, in real time, you see you’ve burned off the glucose.”
What positive effects have you noticed in your body/mood/energy/weight/skin since considering and caring for your glucose levels?
“I have always been someone who has worked out, been strong, and never really had to watch what I eat. Since I turned 50, all of that has changed. It felt harder to stay strong, and I started gaining weight when I never used to. My metabolism completely changed, and Signos has helped me understand and manage my metabolic changes.
“Everyone’s metabolism is different and changes at different times in their life. With Signos (which is partnered with Dexcom), the best CGM technology out there, you can look at your phone to see your glucose levels, and it notifies you if your blood glucose is spiking and you’re in weight gain mode. It gives you the power to do something about it.”
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