Continuous glucose monitor - how did it help?

[Anonymous]

I’m stuck at a weight much higher than I would like to be at, for the first time in my adult life, and I’m trying to understand what’s in the way of my losing the weight. A friend recently mentioned using a continuous glucose monitor and how they’ve been able to lose weight pretty quickly since starting that. Did it help you? Help with weight loss? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Mine increases my attention to the effects of what I eat, when I eat it and what I eat it with. That alone helps reduce temptation and aids in better planning. I can also see when medicine is kicking in and when it is wearing off.

[Anonymous]

I can feel my blood sugar spike after eating and then I either avoid those foods or eat more fat and fiber before eating them. Pizza alone will spike it but an avocado salad before it helps. Fiber, fat, and protein first before carbs will help with any spike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine increases my attention to the effects of what I eat, when I eat it and what I eat it with. That alone helps reduce temptation and aids in better planning. I can also see when medicine is kicking in and when it is wearing off.

I assume you are a diabetic?

[Anonymous]

Aren’t they for diabetics? Don’t you need a doctor to get one for you?

[Anonymous]

They are primarily for old diabetics who need their glucose monitored by professional.

[Anonymous]

I thought you needed a prescription for a glucose monitor. I don't think they'll do much for weight loss since weight gain is more about calories than how fast your blood sugar spikes after you eat. My BIL got one when he was diagnosed as prediabetic so he could figure out which foods were affecting his blood sugar the most. (No surprise that processed carbs are the worst.)

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I'm a higher BMI (30) with a family history of type II diabetes, but I'm not currently diabetic or in pre-diabetes. My primary care practitioner prescribed a continuous glucose monitor for me to assist in losing weight. So you aren't required to have diabetes to get it. I ended going with weight loss medication instead and didn't end up trying it however. I ended up going with compounded semaglutide instead (through Noom). The glucose monitors aren't cheep and my insurance didn't cover a lot of the cost. The compounded semaglutide was 2x the cost but seemed more like a sure bet that it would work (it has - currently 25 lbs down in 4 months, 25 more to lose).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are primarily for old diabetics who need their glucose monitored by professional.

I think OP is referring to the type like the FreeStyle Libre sensor that is a white disk you put on your arm, then monitor with an app.

The type you're referring to my MIL had - she had a sensor on her abdomen she had to have inserted in a doctor's office then has a handheld receiver that transmits data (not a phone app). When she sees her endocrinologist they can print out months of data to see how well she's keeping her blood sugar controlled. An alarm will go off if her glucose is dangerously low or high. She got this when she was in her 70s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought you needed a prescription for a glucose monitor. I don't think they'll do much for weight loss since weight gain is more about calories than how fast your blood sugar spikes after you eat. My BIL got one when he was diagnosed as prediabetic so he could figure out which foods were affecting his blood sugar the most. (No surprise that processed carbs are the worst.)

Weight gain is not all about calories. That’s a myth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought you needed a prescription for a glucose monitor. I don't think they'll do much for weight loss since weight gain is more about calories than how fast your blood sugar spikes after you eat. My BIL got one when he was diagnosed as prediabetic so he could figure out which foods were affecting his blood sugar the most. (No surprise that processed carbs are the worst.)

You can purchase them now without prescriptions. Obviously insurance doesn’t cover and they are pretty pricey. I know several people who have found them useful to see how their blood sugar reacts to certain foods, even without diabetes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are primarily for old diabetics who need their glucose monitored by professional.

I think OP is referring to the type like the FreeStyle Libre sensor that is a white disk you put on your arm, then monitor with an app.

The type you're referring to my MIL had - she had a sensor on her abdomen she had to have inserted in a doctor's office then has a handheld receiver that transmits data (not a phone app). When she sees her endocrinologist they can print out months of data to see how well she's keeping her blood sugar controlled. An alarm will go off if her glucose is dangerously low or high. She got this when she was in her 70s.

The patients I work with are using the Libre sensor. It relays their glucose levels in real time to their endocrinology provider. They have smart phones but can’t figure out how to pair it, so diabetes education nurse just watches it instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are primarily for old diabetics who need their glucose monitored by professional.

I think OP is referring to the type like the FreeStyle Libre sensor that is a white disk you put on your arm, then monitor with an app.

The type you're referring to my MIL had - she had a sensor on her abdomen she had to have inserted in a doctor's office then has a handheld receiver that transmits data (not a phone app). When she sees her endocrinologist they can print out months of data to see how well she's keeping her blood sugar controlled. An alarm will go off if her glucose is dangerously low or high. She got this when she was in her 70s.

They do the same. FreeStyle goes back your upper arm and you can read using a meter or your app. DEXCOM (FreeStyle's competitor) goes on your tummy but does the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought you needed a prescription for a glucose monitor. I don't think they'll do much for weight loss since weight gain is more about calories than how fast your blood sugar spikes after you eat. My BIL got one when he was diagnosed as prediabetic so he could figure out which foods were affecting his blood sugar the most. (No surprise that processed carbs are the worst.)

Weight gain is not all about calories. That’s a myth.

I didn't say it was "all" about calories. I said "more" about calories [than other factors]. I will reiterate that when it comes to gaining or losing weight, calories consumed is the primary driver. Just because your woo-woo health blog thinks it's about carbs or exercise or apple cider vinegar, your weight comes from the calories in the food you eat. Period. Unfortunately, while exercise is very important for our health for many reasons, it doesn't factor in much for weight loss. (This is stated in an interesting Scientific American article which is behind a paywall.)

[Anonymous]

DH used one on and off for a few months. It really helped him to see the effect of various foods/beverages on his body. His biggest vices were crackers and booze. Now, he's chosen crackers that include certain seeds for protein and has cut WAY down on his booze intake. He's lost about 45 lbs since the beginning of the year and is keeping it off.