The buzz out there right now in preventative health and wellness is ALL about the use of a continuous glucose monitor. Here’s my take on it!
It wasn’t until I started using one that I realized I was having low blood sugar episodes in my sleep 😳 and the worst part about it? My body was NOT waking me up.
Now this isn’t some scare tactic meant to get you to buy one. But one beneficial thing this did for my health as someone needing to track blood sugar was it helped me track my eating and how my body was responding to my meals.
If you’re on the fence about getting one and truly have the need to track your metabolic needs, it could work for you. I learned quite early (through gestational diabetes) just how time consuming and AWFUL it is having to poke yourself multiple times a day and still feeling in the dark. My diet and exercise worked at that point until it didn’t. Eventually, I was put on insulin.
However, one thing that slipped my mind post-pregnancy and was never caught by my OB/Gyn or primary was how important that A1C check would’ve been in the postpartum phase. Which is why I’m here. 🤯
Long story short, continuous glucose monitors can do a number of things in tracking – not only are we looking at numbers before you eat (fasting), but we also want to know what your response is after you eat (post-prandial). In addition to that, your body does a pretty great job at regulating the balance of blood glucose and insulin output while you’re sleeping (unless you’re insulin resistant).
In insulin resistance, your cells are less likely to be responsive to insulin meaning your circulating blood glucose (sugar) is going to be high. The role of glucose and insulin is complicated and multifactorial. But with a trained expert, it can be monitored if needed.
I truly never believed I’d be sporting one of these things, but I can’t believe how beneficial it’s become for me. If you’re looking for an affordable option and you own an Oura ring, my suggestion is the Stelo! It’s easy to order, I order mine through Amazon on a subscription and it’s great. I never have to worry about being without it.
All this to say, there are many benefits to CGM. And there are options out there these days that are more affordable than you’d think (without insurance). Because if you’re pre-diabetic or slightly trending high on your A1C, it’s a good idea to start looking into tracking these numbers. So if you’re in the 30s and 40s range, it’s never a bad idea to ask your primary for a look at your A1C. Metabolic health starts early.
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