Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are crucial in diabetes prevention and management. Naresh Chand, Ph.D., Courtesy of ADRxSynergy,

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are crucial in diabetes prevention and management. Naresh Chand, Ph.D., courtesy of ADRxSynergy,?

Continuously monitor blood sugar levels, providing real-time data to help individuals make informed decisions about their diet, lifestyle, and medications.

Conditions like food addiction and weight gain tendencies, which often lead to obesity and prediabetes, are silent killers that affect the lives of over 150 million Americans, including Dr. Chand. Diabetes, a condition that affects over 30 million Americans of all ages, is often a result of these underlying human vulnerabilities. ?Profound liking for ultra-processed foods, food additives, artificial sweeteners, too many calories, and soda are the leading causes of loss of satiety, leading to overeating and visceral fat accumulation, facilitated BIOLOGICAL aging- neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, atherosclerosis, vision-kidney disease, hypertension, dementia, frailty - poor circulation in the brain, and body, especially hands and feet, etc. and beyond.

Personal note: Dr. Chand has prediabetes and sometimes moves into the diabetic range, and he is often successful in managing his diabetes with plant-based foods and consuming – chewing 3-12 g of Indian bitter melon with the first bite at dinner time and gentle yogic practices, etc. He tried to get one CGM to monitor and identify foods that cause a massive swing in plasma glucose spikes after eating, and the insurance company refused him because he was not using medications, highlighting the challenges many face in accessing this crucial technology. This approach identifies foods that cause a massive swing in plasma glucose spikes and can reduce the prevalence of diabetes by 30-70%. Sadly, there is no incentive for prevention- the sicker we are, the more money for the CEOs of Insurance companies and many nonprofits such as ADA and big pharma. More humans suffer from stroke, heart attacks, amputation, vision loss- blindness, frailty., falls, fractures, and beyond. ?

Dr. Chand strongly believes that most people can reduce or eliminate such foods by identifying the foods and drinks that cause a massive swing in plasma glucose spikes. All people with preclinical diabetes and other commodities must be allowed and encouraged to identify foods that cause an enormous swing in plasma glucose spikes.

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A friend is using the latest version of CGM and has had low glucose levels many times, while finger tests show normal to high levels. This discrepancy highlights the need for further improvement in CGM technology, a topic that should engage and interest us all.?

This very educational article from Harvard (minor edit by Dr. Chand):

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Continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, are powerful tools that empower individuals with diabetes. They offer valuable and accurate insights into blood sugar levels, allowing for better-informed decisions about medications, diet, exercise, and overall diabetes management. This puts the control back in the hands of the individual, a significant step towards managing their condition effectively. As their popularity increases, it's essential to understand who CGMs are most appropriate for.

Living Well with Diabetes helps you better understand and manage your diabetes. It includes detailed, updated information about medications and alternative treatments for diabetes and a special section on weight-loss strategies. You’ll also learn how your body metabolizes sugar, how and when to monitor your blood sugar, and how to cope with the disease's short- and long-term complications. Most importantly, you’ll see that it’s not just possible to live with diabetes — it’s likely to live well

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What are continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)?

A CGM is a device that can monitor blood sugar levels continuously throughout the day and night.

Unlike traditional fingerstick tests, which provide periodic, infrequent snapshots of blood sugar levels, CGMs measure glucose levels every five minutes, allowing a person with diabetes to know if their blood sugar is trending high or low. The devices offer greater convenience, accuracy, and potential for control for individuals with this condition.

According to Dr. David Nathan, director of the Diabetes Center and Clinical Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor at Harvard Medical School, continuous glucose monitoring has been revolutionary for some patients with diabetes.

How do continuous glucose monitors work?

CGMs need three parts to work: a sensor, a transmitter, and a receiver. In older models, the sensor and transmitter are separate devices, but newer models combine them in one device.

The sensor is a tiny catheter inserted under the skin and held to the skin by an adhesive. It must be changed every 10 to 14 days. Dr. Nathan says the sensor is painless; most people forget they are wearing one. Newer CGMs are about three quarters in size stacked together.

The sensor measures glucose levels every one to five minutes in the interstitial fluid between your cells. It then communicates those levels to the transmitter, which sends the glucose readings to a receiver or smartphone app. The receiver or smartphone app acts as a display unit, showing the user their current glucose levels and trends.

Using advanced algorithms, CGMs analyze the data to give users insights into their blood sugar trends and patterns throughout the day and night. "CGMs show you where your blood sugar levels are and where they are going," says Dr. Nathan. "It shows you the graph of whether you're on the upslope or the downslope."

However, users should be aware that there is a delay of about 20 minutes between the CGM's display and the glucose levels in the blood.

Benefits of continuous glucose monitoring

With a more detailed picture of glucose levels and patterns, an individual with diabetes can make informed decisions regarding diet, exercise, medication, and overall diabetes management.