My CGM story

I’ve helped clients using continuous glucose monitors (CGM) for years but have never had the chance to experience using one for myself. During a recent diabetes conference my ears perked up at the offer of a free sample of Dexcom’s Stelo continuous glucose monitor.  I jumped at the chance to experience the power of CGM and learn how it might help clients with weight loss goals. *Side note – check out an entire blog article on CGM basics and how they help with weight loss here.

Fast forward to me in front of my bathroom mirror, preparing to place the biosensor.  The biosensor is housed in a cup-like applicator that is spring-loaded.  A quick review of the directions made it seem doable, but a little tricky.

I pushed the applicator against the back of my arm, hit the button and heard the spring release. Suddenly there was a silver dollar-sized biosensor attached to my arm – no pain, no blood, and no needle left in my arm. The sensor warmed up in about 30 minutes and began transmitting my blood sugar readings to an app on my phone.

I slept poorly the first night, wanting to protect the sensor from my tossing and turning. I quickly realized there was no need to handle it with care – it wasn’t going anywhere!  The first couple of days I wore it I felt a little obsessive about checking it and looking at the cause and effect between food or exercise with my blood sugars.

It was fascinating…everything I teach clients about the ups and downs of blood sugar was being validated in my own body! Here are a few scenarios that made a noticeable impact on my blood glucose:

·       Poor sleep on my first night of use lead to high numbers overnight, showcasing the relationship of stress hormones to increased blood sugars.

·       Afternoon exercise sessions decreased my blood sugars by about 10-20 points and the benefit was maintained for two hours or more.

·       My blood sugars trended higher in the afternoon and evening, leading me to choose lower carb foods for my 3:00 snack.

·       Sitting for long periods of time bumped up sugars slightly, whereas using my standing desk off and on throughout the work day kept my sugars steady.

·       High carb meals lead to spikes – I had two readings jump above the goal of 140. Flatbread pizzas for dinner (crust made from white flour) and Asian noodles on a date night drove my sugar close to 160.

This information is really valuable to me personally; with a strong family history of diabetes it is important to me to be aware of any blood sugar issues and to take care of my health as I age. As a dietitian I think this data would be so valuable for clients who are struggling to lose weight. If clients wore just one sensor for 15 days and shared their data with their dietitian it would help us to create an even more customized, beneficial meal plan.

Interested in using CGM? Find out more about these powerful devices, including average cost, benefits of use, and, where to get one here.

Author: Jodi Serafin RDN, CDCES