You may have heard by now, I’m running a Blood Sugar Challenge in February. I am truly excited about this because I have been using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for my own health and in my private practice for about as long as they have been around, and I am a huge fan!
It is fun and informative to “see under the hood” of your own body and learn how different foods and choices affect my blood sugar and how that subsequently makes me perform and feel. It also provides motivation to my clients when they can see exactly what their choices are doing and what they can do to improve.
Now, I want to talk a little bit more about a common question I receive, “Is a CGM Useful For Me?” The following information is adapted from the free eBook everyone who signs up for the challenge will receive. It includes much more information in addition to this and a full testing guide teaching you exactly how to best use a CGM.
Why is a CGM Useful?
The data from a CGM is like performance indicators for a business or an athlete. It gives you feedback on what works well and what doesn’t so you can continue to improve. However, there are some researchers and doctors who argue that unless someone has T1 Or T2 Diabetes there is no use for them to use a CGM.
I don’t agree, and I will give you an analogy to explain why…
When a light comes on in your car signaling a problem or if there is a strange sound emanating from under your hood, do you take it to a repair shop to get the problem diagnosed and fixed, or do you keep driving waiting for the car to break down completely?
I’m sure that most of us choose the former option. Why?
It saves us money in the long-run as we can fix problems before they become major, and it leaves our cars running optimally. The same thing is true with our bodies, but in the current medical paradigm we are taught to choose the later option.
Instead of giving heed to the warning signs (chronic fatigue, sugar cravings, irritability, eating every 90 minutes, bad sleep, poor exercise performance, limited motivation, headaches, chronic health problems, etc.) we simply shrug them off and tell ourselves that we just need to keep going and develop better self-control.
This proceeds with many of us living suboptimal lives until one day a doctor diagnoses you with diabetes or any other chronic health problems. Suddenly it is all hands on deck, you are given medications, lifestyle advice, blood tests, and more from a team of medical professionals… But now, for many, it’s too late.
These chronic conditions compound leaving a large proportion of our population living miserable lives controlled by their health problems.
It doesn’t have to be this way!
We can take control of our own health, learn what our body truly needs to function optimally, and prevent or fix any problems before they get out of hand. For many of my clients and likely for you, a CGM can play a huge role in this process. Poor glucose management is connected to so many health problems and can make life downright miserable. The reason a CGM is valuable is because it gives you a 24/7 view into what is happening inside your body in response to everything you do.
You can take that information and learn the effect of different activities and foods.That information can then be applied in your life to better manage your blood glucose, and with your CGM you can see in real time how effective your interventions truly are. It is like a professional swimmer using a timer for their lap times. Without that timer, they would be blind to their performance and wouldn’t know if they had any improvement. This is why a CGM can be so useful for you.
A few things I learned the first time It tried it include:
- Rice is a no-go for me, it spikes my glucose a lot!
- A small walk after a meal does wonders to keep my glucose in check
- Alcohol dramatically impacts my glucose levels through the night and into the next day
- Winter squashes and other carbs don’t spike my glucose as much as I thought
- When my glucose is level, my sleep and overall energy is amazing!
I know that when you start making changes and feeling the effects in your life – increased energy, less cravings, better sleep, and reduction of health problems – that will give you the motivation to keep transforming your life for the better.
Now, I have talked to many people who have seen the enormous potential a CGM has to allow them to take control of their health and live optimally, so they got a CGM but sadly, they came away disappointed from the experience as they were never taught how to properly use a CGM.
My guided Blood Sugar Challenge will give you clear, practical, and easy-to-follow advice and steps you can take to take full advantage of everything a CGM has to offer. You can use your own CGM, or check out the one from Levels, who has partnered with me to offer anyone who signs up to get two months free with their membership.
If you are interested, sign up here!
As soon as you sign up, you’ll get my free e-book, helpful emails along the way, and two free live zoom calls with me. Plus, don’t forget the awesome offer from Levels for two free months. It’s a great deal, so don’t miss out.
