Why We Use Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM)s with Clients

“Blood sugar is the small hinge that swings big doors for personal health and body composition” – Tricia Yap, Functional Medicine Health Coach

What is continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)?

Continuous glucose monitoring is wearable technology that makes it easier to track your blood sugar levels over time. Blood sugar is another term for blood glucose.

Understanding your current blood sugar management in real time is something that we haven’t been able to do (easily) – until now.  This is important because fasting blood sugar tests are only a snapshot in time.  These snapshots are not a true indication of how blood sugar is throughout the day. 

We know that high blood sugar in general is not good for you. What we don’t know is that short term low blood sugar events are not good either.  Short term low blood sugar can result in more stress on the body, bringing about an increase in adrenal stress, cravings, and so much more.  For body composition – short term blood sugar events can derail your fat loss goals. 

Normal blood sugar levels will fluctuate throughout the day, but only slightly. Blood sugar levels that are too high or too low can cause health issues. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, occurs when the levels drop too low.

To make it more complex, CGM has shown that some individuals respond better to certain carbs – irregardless of whether it is considered a “good” carb or “bad” carb. In a 2016 study, some participants had no blood sugar spike eating cookies vs bananas.

Insulin sensitivity changes on a daily basis. For example, poor quality sleep (which can be a result of short term low blood sugar events) – means that you may start your day as more insulin resistant. 

Insulin is a hormone that helps your body regulate blood sugar levels. If you have Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t produce enough (or any) of the hormone insulin. In Type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin but doesn’t use it effectively.

So in short, we use CGM to work out:

• optimal nutrition
• nutrient timing
• macro nutrient type and makeup per meal
• gauge the effect of favourite foods

You’d be surprised at what foods cause blood sugar spikes and which don’t, for you, uniquely!

—> The use of CGMs is a small but important part of our signature health program called The Metabolic Reset™, a comprehensive 6-weeks of gut health and habit change that positively impacts physical fitness, relationship with food, sleep, skin, and more.

Read more about it HERE. Or contact our personal trainers at Limitless for more information.