Continual glucose monitors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a needlephobe, I’m confused - how exactly do these work?

They snap onto your arm. It really doesn’t hurt. There is a “filament” that continuously samples the interstitial fluid and returns a glucose value, which you can read on your phone. If you’re a real needlephobe it might be out for you, but you don’t see an exposed anything until you remove it, and when you remove it you can see that it’s not rigid - it’s flexible. So may be less needlelike than you imagine.

[Anonymous]

My child and I both have T1 diabetes. The dexcom has really been life changing in the exhausting soul-crushing constant management of this horrific chronic disease and I find it….distasteful that it could become a bio hacking or weight loss tool for rich people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child and I both have T1 diabetes. The dexcom has really been life changing in the exhausting soul-crushing constant management of this horrific chronic disease and I find it….distasteful that it could become a bio hacking or weight loss tool for rich people.

Is it alright if I’m morbidly obese and middle class? You personally know the havoc that out of control blood sugar and insulin (or lack thereof) have on people and you think this shouldn’t be used for people other than diabetics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child and I both have T1 diabetes. The dexcom has really been life changing in the exhausting soul-crushing constant management of this horrific chronic disease and I find it….distasteful that it could become a bio hacking or weight loss tool for rich people.

+1. I am T1 as well and I completely agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child and I both have T1 diabetes. The dexcom has really been life changing in the exhausting soul-crushing constant management of this horrific chronic disease and I find it….distasteful that it could become a bio hacking or weight loss tool for rich people.

+1. I am T1 as well and I completely agree.

I don't get this attitude.

What if we give it to poor people for weight management and to prevent them from getting T2 diabetes?

The more people who use it, especially rich people, the more money will go int research into improvements

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child and I both have T1 diabetes. The dexcom has really been life changing in the exhausting soul-crushing constant management of this horrific chronic disease and I find it….distasteful that it could become a bio hacking or weight loss tool for rich people.

+1. I am T1 as well and I completely agree.

My DH is T1 and has been fighting this battle since he was 7 years old. Dexcom has made his control so much better. Very grateful for the technology but it’s still a burden. Can’t fathom doing that as a vanity project.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm hearing more and more non-diabetics are using this just to track their insulin levels for weight loss

Seriously? That's f'king crazy.

This, and insulting to T1D.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child and I both have T1 diabetes. The dexcom has really been life changing in the exhausting soul-crushing constant management of this horrific chronic disease and I find it….distasteful that it could become a bio hacking or weight loss tool for rich people.

Is it alright if I’m morbidly obese and middle class? You personally know the havoc that out of control blood sugar and insulin (or lack thereof) have on people and you think this shouldn’t be used for people other than diabetics?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child and I both have T1 diabetes. The dexcom has really been life changing in the exhausting soul-crushing constant management of this horrific chronic disease and I find it….distasteful that it could become a bio hacking or weight loss tool for rich people.

I’m sorry that you find non-diabetics improving their health and avoiding diabetes to be distasteful. If it makes you feel better, non-diabetics almost never use Dexcom - it’s a lot more expensive than Abbott’s Freestyle Libre, and isn’t covered by insurance for non-diabetics.

And it’s pretty misguided to object to nondiabetics using the Freestyle, considering it that Abbot’s profits in this area are making these monitors cheaper and more accessible for both diabetics and non-diabetics alike.

Gatekeeping is so weird. I have celiac disease and would never object to people following a gluten-free diet for their health or preference, although I know some people do object. I don’t understand it at all. If gluten-free food and CGM’s were a limited resource, it would make sense. But right now they certainly are not, and in fact increased use by people who don’t “need” them improves access for those have no choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wear one every so often and it has changed my life. My dad is diabetic and I noticed my A1C trending up. I found it fascinating to watch the slope of the spike after processed carbs vs from vegetables and other healthy carbs. As a lifetime gummy candy addict, I watched what happened after gummy bears and I haven’t eaten them since (6 months and counting). I cut out white rice, pasta, and gummy candy and now eat whole grains and tons of veggies, and if I’m gonna eat something less healthy, I balance it with protein. I dropped my A1C by 0.4% and also by chance lost a few pounds and I feel great.

I think they are the future.

Yep! DH is not diabetic, yet - but I know he eats way too much sugar and processed crap. Then he can't understand why he can't lose the belly fat. I'm going to suggest he get a CGM just so he can see what that handful of gummy bears does to his blood sugar. He too has a weakness for those. They may be small, but they're mighty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wear one. I’m not diabetic but pre-diabetic, and trying to NOT convert.

I wore one first with Zoe and now am wearing it independently via a prescription from Tastermonial. AMA.

OP here - I just signed up for Signos. I've lost 30 pounds from WW after 2 years and kept it off. I'd like to lose more. I'm ten pounds overweight according to BMI and would like to lose an additional ten for vanity.

I felt that I needed to shake things up. I listen to Dr. Mark Hyman podcast and he is obsessed with insulin levels. I'm struggling with hunger even when I think I've eaten enough. Trying to strategize about timing of meals etc. Every person responds differently to different foods. Supposedly it can prompt you to do certain things like exercise for 10 minutes if you have an insulin spike.

I'm a devotee of the Oura Ring too for sleep issues. I think I might have COVID - it showed a slight temperature increase. You can AMA about it.

Same! I really enjoy his podcast. It's probably the most informative health related out there, next to Dhru Purohit's podcast. I've also just discovered Max Lugavere's podcast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child and I both have T1 diabetes. The dexcom has really been life changing in the exhausting soul-crushing constant management of this horrific chronic disease and I find it….distasteful that it could become a bio hacking or weight loss tool for rich people.

+1. I am T1 as well and I completely agree.

what on earth?? So you're upset because people are using these monitors to AVOID the "horrific chronic disease" you have? You yourself said it is "soul crushing" and "exhausting". Why would you even think this way? Also where do you get off saying it's for "rich people"? I'm going to assume you wrote this during a time of high frustration. But please give some thought to what I just said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone explain the to me. When you're hungry, you're blood sugar is low, so you need to eat. If you consume too much sugar but have a functioning pancreas, insulin keeps your blood glucose from going too high. So if anything, a CGM can tell you when you need to eat but not when you've eaten too much. It's unclear how it can help healthy people lose weight. Sounds like junk science to me.

That is actually about dynamic blood sugar/insulin levels.
When you hungry, and you blood sugar is low, you eat something like pastry (fries/sweet potato/beets, whatever) that elevates blood sugar very fast. Pancreas release insulin, based on that spike, a lot of it, and lowers blood sugar significantly, essentially overshooting, and you're back at we're you were - hungry because of low sugar. And in people with metabolic abnormalities, insulin response might be delayed, causing minor hypoglycemia.
CGM allows you to single out food that cause spikes, and prevent high-low rollercoaster.

[Anonymous]

This summer everybody should shut off their air conditioners. I find it distaste unless you have a health reason you need conditioned air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child and I both have T1 diabetes. The dexcom has really been life changing in the exhausting soul-crushing constant management of this horrific chronic disease and I find it….distasteful that it could become a bio hacking or weight loss tool for rich people.

+1. I am T1 as well and I completely agree.

what on earth?? So you're upset because people are using these monitors to AVOID the "horrific chronic disease" you have? You yourself said it is "soul crushing" and "exhausting". Why would you even think this way? Also where do you get off saying it's for "rich people"? I'm going to assume you wrote this during a time of high frustration. But please give some thought to what I just said.

You just proved how little you know about type 1 diabetes You can't avoid Type 1 diabetes. You can all eat the carbs and of sugar you wand and never turn into a type 1 diabetic. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder.