Although it might happen soon, a man jogs through the appealing countryside on a dirt path. At an overlook, he stops and checks his phone. A number flashes on the phone's screen, informing him that his blood sugar is normal. After smiling, he continues running.
You may wonder what makes this advertisement unique. There is no diabetes in the jogger. Now tell me how his phone knows his blood sugar level. And why does he want to know the outcome while running? Let’s find out.
If you don't have diabetes, should you monitor your blood sugar?
As they start marketing implantable blood sugar measuring devices to people without diabetes, several companies are working hard to make this kind of advertisement a reality. People with diabetes frequently use continuous glucose monitoring systems, or CGMs, such as the FreeStyle Libre or Dexcom. These businesses stand to gain significantly from persuading healthy individuals to begin blood sugar monitoring. Many of us already monitor our weight, heart rate, or daily step count.
The wireless transmitter on the CGM also transmits the glucose data to a monitor. The monitor could be a stand-alone gadget, a part of an insulin pump, or something a person carries in their pocket or bag. Some devices can send data straight to an app.
Blood sugar monitoring for people with diabetes offers undeniable health benefits
Maintaining blood sugar levels within the normal range is one of the main treatment objectives for diabetic patients. This contributes to life extension, improved quality of life, and prevention of symptoms and complications.
Care for millions of people with diabetes has been transformed by the development of CGM devices that can easily and frequently monitor blood sugar levels without finger sticks. Some devices have alarm settings that notify the user or other people if blood sugar levels fall or rise dangerously, in addition to reporting the results of blood sugar levels. Additionally, if desired, some systems can send results to the user's physician.
Where's the health benefit in this?
Nothing particularly shocking was discovered by the best study I could find: 96% of the time, among 153 people without diabetes, blood sugar levels were normal or very close to being normal. The majority of the abnormal levels were thought to be errors or implausible. In another small study, sedentary people who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes were the focus. In addition to using a CGM and an activity tracker for 10 days, participants underwent counseling regarding the impact of physical activity on blood sugar levels. They claimed to feel more inspired to work out afterward.
A CGM device manufacturer published a study on its website citing improved blood sugar results among healthy users of its product. The study was not, however, published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, it needed more information that would permit critical evaluation, and it focused on what appeared to be arbitrary blood sugar ranges rather than real health outcomes like heart disease, nerve damage, or hospitalizations.
We won't know whether spending the money and time to implant one of these systems is worthwhile or is just the latest health monitoring fad that wastes time and resources until more studies demonstrate the value of CGM for people without diabetes.
Why not monitor your blood sugar?
According to some CGM manufacturers, knowing your blood sugar levels can help you make changes to keep them within an "ideal range" that will help you perform at your best, fend off diabetes, or otherwise improve your health. You could alter when or what you eat, for instance. All of these marketing theories have yet to be established or thoroughly researched. Even the ideal blood sugar range for someone not diabetic is uncertain, as you might have guessed.
Even if you don't take any immediate action, knowing more about your body may give you a sense of control over your health.
Blood sugar testing is typically advised for healthy individuals every three years or so; if prediabetes is identified, repeat testing is advised more frequently, at least once a year. Early detection of diabetes or prediabetes may be possible with CGM. People taking medications that can raise blood sugar and those at higher risk for diabetes due to family history or other factors may find this especially helpful.
How to use a CGM without diabetes
Blood glucose levels are elevated in those with prediabetes, but not until Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed. They might use CGMs to monitor their blood sugar levels and take precautions against diabetes.
A CGM could help obese or overweight people learn to spot risk factors like impaired glucose tolerance or insulin resistance early on. Given that they already have a higher than average risk of developing diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, this could aid their prevention.
CGM would allow for earlier intervention, delaying the onset of metabolic disease or even possibly preventing it.
How to get a CGM
Regardless of whether you have diabetes, you must have a doctor's prescription before purchasing a CGM. Discuss one with your healthcare provider if you could benefit from using one. Not all healthcare professionals will advise people without diabetes to use a CGM.
The device and the sensors would need to be purchased, and their prices can vary, with some costing more than others, particularly if you use them in conjunction with a program. A CGM program typically costs between $134 and $399 per month without factoring in the device's price.
The FreeStyle Libre 2 typically costs around $117 in cash. Your insurance plan might pay all or part of the cost of a CGM if your doctor prescribes one and you have diabetes. You can use an online tool run by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) to find out what your insurance will cover.
Conclusion
Some CGM system manufacturers push their products onto healthy people without waiting for conclusive research findings. Consumers and marketing experts may drive the demand for the product rather than researchers or doctors.
To determine when to use any new technology, there is a scientific learning curve. I believe that when it comes to learning how to monitor blood sugar levels at home in people without diabetes, we are just getting started. We need to learn a lot more before committing to what may turn out to be the newest fad in health monitoring.
Speak with your healthcare provider if you don't have diabetes but are curious about how continuous glucose monitoring might benefit you. You can decide whether it makes sense to try CGM, especially if you know your diabetes risk.
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