Non-Diabetics Utilizing Glucose Monitors: Insights Explored
Tracking Blood Sugar Levels Beyond Diabetes: Are Continuous Glucose Monitors Worth It?
In the era of health tracking, the latest trend involves monitoring blood sugar levels, even for individuals without diabetes. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are wearable devices designed to provide real-time data on blood sugar levels, offering widespread possibilities for both diabetics and non-diabetics.
For people with diabetes, CGMs can be an invaluable tool. They provide notifications of hyper- and hypoglycemic episodes, enabling timely treatment and effective management of the condition in collaboration with healthcare professionals.
However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent decision to make some CGMs available over the counter has sparked interest among individuals without diabetes. These people believe that wearing the monitors can help prevent blood sugar spikes and provide insights into how different foods impact their health.
Yet, the question remains: Is it truly beneficial to wear a CGM if you don't have diabetes?
Understanding Blood Glucose Levels
Blood glucose is the sugar found in your blood that your body uses for energy. After food consumption, glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to your cells.
The glucose level in your blood is referred to as your blood glucose or blood sugar. When blood glucose rises, the body releases insulin, which moves the sugar from the blood into the cells, lowering blood sugar levels.
Normal blood sugar levels for people without diabetes typically fall between 70 to 160 mg/dL during the day.
How Do Continuous Glucose Monitors Work?
CGMs measure the glucose circulating in the fluid between the cells in your body, rather than directly in the blood. A sensor in the monitor records readings continually, sending data to a receiver, such as a smartphone application. The monitor will alert you if your blood sugar reading is either too high or too low.
Over-the-counter CGMs consist of a small filament with a sensor and adhesive patch. You can install the monitor yourself with a small needle, or a doctor can insert it just under the skin on your arm.
Who Should Use a Continuous Glucose Monitor?
CGMs are recommended for all type 1 diabetes patients and type 2 diabetes patients who are on insulin. Insurance usually covers the cost of CGMs for these patients, though not always for those with type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin.
According to Dr. Lorena Alarcon-Casas Wright, an endocrinologist and clinic director of the LatinX Diabetes Clinic at the UW Diabetes Institute at South Lake Union, CGMs can be helpful for people at risk for diabetes or those with diabetes but not taking insulin. This group may include people with pre-diabetes or other medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), that increase the risk of developing diabetes.
"CGMs can be very useful when someone can learn about what kinds of foods affect their blood sugar the most," Dr. Wright explains. "They can see the benefit of exercise, too."
Should You Use a Continuous Glucose Monitor to Prevent Blood Sugar Spikes?
After eating, blood sugar typically rises. Though this is a normal response, a sudden and dramatic increase in blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia, is potentially dangerous, especially for individuals with diabetes.
If you do not have diabetes or are not at risk, you should not experience significant blood sugar spikes. Even when consuming large quantities of sugary foods, as long as it is not a regular occurrence, your blood sugar should not rise abnormally.
Since people without diabetes do not have to worry about hyperglycemia, wearing a CGM to prevent spikes is generally unnecessary. Wright does not discourage people from wearing a monitor if they genuinely want more information about their blood sugar, but she cautions against taking a single blood sugar reading too seriously.
"CGMs are not 100% accurate," Wright asserts. "If someone without diabetes is using a CGM, they might get concerned when their blood sugar goes up or down, but the CGM is just a guide."
Should You Use a Continuous Glucose Monitor to Try Nutrient Sequencing?
Recently, the concept of nutrient sequencing has gained popularity, particularly among influencers. This technique involves using a glucose monitor to note the effects of various foods on blood sugar, then adjusting meal sequences to avoid spikes. The idea is to eat fats and proteins first, followed by carbohydrates, to slow down glucose absorption and prevent rapid spikes.
Though nutrient sequencing can help those with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, Wright only advises it for her diabetes patients. For healthy individuals, there is no need to worry about the sequence of meal consumption.
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
While a CGM might offer insight into blood sugar patterns, it alone will not help prevent diabetes. Maintaining a balanced diet, prioritizing sleep, staying active, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight are crucial for promoting overall health and reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
"Try to be mindful of your health without becoming overly anxious about it," Wright advises.
- The use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can provide insights into how different foods impact an individual's health, even for those without diabetes.
- Dr. Lorena Alarcon-Casas Wright, a specialist in the field, suggests that CGMs can be beneficial for people at risk of diabetes or those with diabetes but not taking insulin, as they can help individuals learn about the foods that most affect their blood sugar levels and the benefits of exercise.
- Wright emphasizes that while CGMs can offer guides, they are not 100% accurate and individuals without diabetes should not overly rely on them to prevent blood sugar spikes.
- Preventing type 2 diabetes requires a holistic approach, including maintaining a balanced diet, prioritizing sleep, staying active, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight, rather than relying solely on CGMs.
