Quest for an Affordable Continuous Glucose Monitor

My clinical focus with my clients has always centered on blood sugar regulation.

Naturally, because this was key to my own healing, I'm passionate about it now. 

I grew up in the fat-phobic 80s and lived on cold cereal, skim milk, low-fat salad dressings, plain bagels and pasta for way too long. Struggled with my weight, binge eating, low blood sugar, anxiety... all the things that go along with that yo-yo blood sugar.

Understanding how to regulate it finally gave me food PEACE.

So now I help other people find their food peace and make peace with their bodies and relationship with food through helping them balance their blood sugar. So naturally, when a continuous glucose monitor came on the market that was in my price range, I jumped on it.

What is a continuous glucose monitor?

Just what it sounds like.  It measures your blood glucose (almost) continuously. Usually, if you want to test your blood glucose (aka blood sugar), you have to prick your finger and take a sample for your glucose monitor.  This is still an excellent method. But it hurts, and it's time-consuming.

A CGM samples automatically every so many minutes and stores the data to give you a readout of your day.  At any time, you can look at your data to see how a past (or present) meal, workout, sleep or event affected things. It gives you real-time feedback to help you make choices that are ideal for your unique biochemistry.

Why use this if we know what we're supposed to do already?

I find there are people out there (like me) who just need to learn the hard way. They have to learn it for themselves for it to have meaning. For them, this data is incredibly valuable. 

But it's not just information (thought you had me at that). It's accountability. You are going to have to see the glucose spike if you eat that doughnut. BUT... you'll also learn that if you eat that doughnut after you lift or maybe you go for a walk around the block afterwards, you can modulate its effects.  So it's an accountability tool as well.

I don't want to wear one of these things for the rest of my life!

Me either. And you don't have to. You could wear one for 1-3 months and take that knowledge and behaviour modification and run with it.  In fact, another nutritionist friend of mine recently tried one out and found out all SORTS of useful things she learned from the monitor that were spiking her glucose levels. She learned NEW things. And if SHE can learn new things, we all can. After a month, she left it behind and continues to reap the benefits of that insight.

Aren't they expensive?

They can be. But not all of them. And your insurance MIGHT cover it.

There are two main bits of hardware on the market. Abbott's FreeStyle Libre systems and DEXCOM's G6.  DEXCOMs CGM is quite good with a nice app. But it's expensive. If you are using insulin, it's really the way to go and your insurance will cover it. For children with type 1 diabetes, it's a game-changer.

But for those who have diabetes not taking insulin, you may or not be eligible. Those of you who are pre-diabetic or just want to really improve your health and know glucose control is a big part of that picture, you may need something affordable with a cash pay.

That's why I like the FreeStyle Libre system. I've been experimenting with it and am finding it to be really affordable. At the most, you'll pay $75/month. And their customer service is excellent.

There are a few companies offering this CGM along with a cool app and services. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But I want to find a way to make this REALLY affordable to some. And offer actual human support for those who want it.

Stay tuned!

I hope to start offering this as a service in the New Year to my clients with some other great perks like a cool, fully customisable, online meal planning program. Getting and staying healthy will never be so easy and feel so supported.