Non-diabetics using glucose meters
MaltedTea
Posts: 6,286 Member
Is there anyone here tracking their blood sugar even though they have not been diagnosed with diabetes or had a recent discussion about pre-diabetes with their healthcare team?
When 4 Hour Body came out back in 2010, I tried it for a while marathon training. It was a literal pain then and my levels seemed within proper ranges all the time anyway. Furthermore, I don't think there were meters with phone apps back then so tracking the data was also a pain.
But 2010 was a long time ago so...
Has this biohacking conversation/debate (in the absence of comorbidities like PCOS or other medical conditions) already been had in a dedicated thread?
These were the only two I found, but they're also pretty old:
* Blood glucose monitors
* "Non-diabetic" with a reading of 234 half-hour after eating
When 4 Hour Body came out back in 2010, I tried it for a while marathon training. It was a literal pain then and my levels seemed within proper ranges all the time anyway. Furthermore, I don't think there were meters with phone apps back then so tracking the data was also a pain.
But 2010 was a long time ago so...
Has this biohacking conversation/debate (in the absence of comorbidities like PCOS or other medical conditions) already been had in a dedicated thread?
These were the only two I found, but they're also pretty old:
* Blood glucose monitors
* "Non-diabetic" with a reading of 234 half-hour after eating
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Replies
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I’m really interested in this. I have a BP cuff, and am looking at getting glucose and lipid meters. Plus weight and waist measurements, and I’ll have some good data. Fun science project.5
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I love experimenting. I can see myself testing this out in the future. I was told I was pre diabetic 10ish years ago. I know my glucose numbers change pretty drastically depending on if I have grains in my diet vs just fruit and veg, it would be cool to have the numbers held against my food diary!1
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Like the two of you, it seems, I like data. That and toying about with my body ( 😐 ) with extra tweaking especially once considered clinically healthy is - dare I say? - fun.
I do hope someone who has tried this recently chimes in.
Otherwise, I'll be boring everyone with posts to this thread for at least part of 2021.3 -
If anyone has recommendations for glucose and lipid meters, I’m all ears. Amazon is a black hole of options.2
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I have issues where my blood sugar drops so I do have a meter even though im not diabetic. if youve had lab tests recently and you random glucose is within normal levels not sure you need to check it.1
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I got a BG meter. The thing is the strips are not that cheap, and insurance will not pay for them since I don't have diabetes... so I stopped using it.1
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I got a BG meter. The thing is the strips are not that cheap, and insurance will not pay for them since I don't have diabetes... so I stopped using it.
Budgeting was one of my concerns back when I first did this method. Mind you, I got two boxes of test strips and didn't finish those before the summer was out. The rest were just thrown away because, if I'm not mistaken, they had an expiry date (ETA: I could be remembering that part wrong though, after 10 years).
I'm kinda hoping my motivation to track and the results themselves will be of more interest to me this time around.0 -
Like the two of you, it seems, I like data. That and toying about with my body ( 😐 ) with extra tweaking especially once considered clinically healthy is - dare I say? - fun.
Me too.Otherwise, I'll be boring everyone with posts to this thread for at least part of 2021.
If you do, I'll happily read. It's something I've considered doing off and on too.3 -
There is a website, Optimising Nutrition, where one of the things they do is use blood glucose readings. I haven't really looked at that aspect of their stuff, but there is a recent blog post on it https://optimisingnutrition.com/why-your-blood-sugar-before-you-eat-is-the-most-important-thing-you-can-measure-to-lose-fat-and-optimise-your-metabolic-health/
They seem to use it to gauge if you really do need to eat ('refuel'), as opposed to just wanting to.
Disclaimer: not affiliated with Optimising Nutrition in any way, I stumbled across the site when looking into maximising nutrient density.4 -
Nope. I just eat low glycemic, and monitor how food and food combos make me feel.
That said: I totally monitor other things (fitness related) for data and fun.1 -
Not sure if this was the one, but j was briefly looking into the with this (or similar) product https://www.dexcom.com/g6/how-it-works1
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@Nony_Mouse Yes! Actually, it's that site (but a different page that's a REALLY long read) that got me thinking about this topic again. Up until this weekend, I had never heard of them before.
@SModa61 I read about one person's experience with it. It sounds interesting (and she seemed to love the analytics from hers) but it's dramatically conspicuous.
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I use a Relion BS monitor. You use the test strips. The meter, lancet and strips were all relatively inexpensive. It is a Walmart brand. I have been using it for years. I try to eat to my meter. If you have questions let me know.2
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@Nony_Mouse Yes! Actually, it's that site (but a different page that's a REALLY long read) that got me thinking about this topic again. Up until this weekend, I had never heard of them before.
@SModa61 I read about one person's experience with it. It sounds interesting (and she seemed to love the analytics from hers) but it's dramatically conspicuous.
WOW, super interesting read thanks for sharing. I would love to try this out and see my readings over the week.2 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »@Nony_Mouse Yes! Actually, it's that site (but a different page that's a REALLY long read) that got me thinking about this topic again. Up until this weekend, I had never heard of them before.
@SModa61 I read about one person's experience with it. It sounds interesting (and she seemed to love the analytics from hers) but it's dramatically conspicuous.
WOW, super interesting read thanks for sharing. I would love to try this out and see my readings over the week.
How much does this cost?
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[/quote]
WOW, super interesting read thanks for sharing. I would love to try this out and see my readings over the week.[/quote]
How much does this cost?
[/quote]
In Canada a think they are just above $125 without insurance.1 -
Continuous glucose monitors for sports are becoming a thing. They aren't cheap at around $120 per month for the sensors for the ones I've seen. Cost/benefit for what I do just isn't there.1
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@Nony_Mouse Yes! Actually, it's that site (but a different page that's a REALLY long read) that got me thinking about this topic again. Up until this weekend, I had never heard of them before.
@SModa61 I read about one person's experience with it. It sounds interesting (and she seemed to love the analytics from hers) but it's dramatically conspicuous.
@MaltedTea I wish I could find the actual unit I was looking at but it was likely back in September when I was looking at the idea of P:E ratio diet. And I am assuming that Naiman must have mentioned or recommended the brand I looked at. It was still large but if I recall it had a sticker type thing to wear over it, kind of like people wearing kinesiology tape. There had been a video showing the install and then applying the sticker over. I will continue to look, but not sure I will have any luck.
As for cost, I know nothing about the cost.
Just glancing around Nutrisense might be the brand I had seen, or even the freestyle libra. It was definitely round and flatter.
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@Nony_Mouse Yes! Actually, it's that site (but a different page that's a REALLY long read) that got me thinking about this topic again. Up until this weekend, I had never heard of them before.
Yeah, I think I found that page after I posted. Still haven't finished reading it
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Abbott Laboratories also have something similar and the sensors are less visible imo
https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/strategy-and-strength/freeStyle-libre-3-worlds-smallest-sensor-is-here.html
I am not affiliated with them in any way. They were recommended to my father by his doctor and they have worked well for him.1 -
If someone is not diabetic, then I don’t see why anyone would do this.2
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@Nony_Mouse Yes! Actually, it's that site (but a different page that's a REALLY long read) that got me thinking about this topic again. Up until this weekend, I had never heard of them before.
@SModa61 I read about one person's experience with it. It sounds interesting (and she seemed to love the analytics from hers) but it's dramatically conspicuous.
@MaltedTea I wish I could find the actual unit I was looking at but it was likely back in September when I was looking at the idea of P:E ratio diet. And I am assuming that Naiman must have mentioned or recommended the brand I looked at. It was still large but if I recall it had a sticker type thing to wear over it, kind of like people wearing kinesiology tape. There had been a video showing the install and then applying the sticker over. I will continue to look, but not sure I will have any luck.
As for cost, I know nothing about the cost.
Just glancing around Nutrisense might be the brand I had seen, or even the freestyle libra. It was definitely round and flatter.
I think you are talking about Grif Grips (the "sticker" to put over it).1 -
I've been using CGM's for more than a decade, but I'm a type 1 diabetic. The data is probably interesting, but not sure what you would do with it if not diabetic. Also, is it interesting enough to be worth the cost? As someone pointed out, insurance usually isn't paying for it (which makes it expensive up front for the equipment, and then expensive for the replacement supplies). Also, CGM's still require a prescription... though I'm sure you could find a dr. willing to write a script for that because it isn't exactly going to harm you like medications you don't need.1
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If someone is not diabetic, then I don’t see why anyone would do this.
@nooshi713 = if you feel like quite a long read: https://optimisingnutrition.com/data-driven-fasting/
In a nutshell, it's using your blood glucose level as a gauge for when to eat, ensuring you've burnt off any energy from your previous meal (and are therefore pulling energy from fat reserves) before eating again.3 -
Nony_Mouse wrote: »If someone is not diabetic, then I don’t see why anyone would do this.
@nooshi713 = if you feel like quite a long read: https://optimisingnutrition.com/data-driven-fasting/
In a nutshell, it's using your blood glucose level as a gauge for when to eat, ensuring you've burnt off any energy from your previous meal (and are therefore pulling energy from fat reserves) before eating again.
But if you’re in a deficit at the end of the day, you will burn fat regardless of when you eat.3 -
Nony_Mouse wrote: »If someone is not diabetic, then I don’t see why anyone would do this.
@nooshi713 = if you feel like quite a long read: https://optimisingnutrition.com/data-driven-fasting/
In a nutshell, it's using your blood glucose level as a gauge for when to eat, ensuring you've burnt off any energy from your previous meal (and are therefore pulling energy from fat reserves) before eating again.
But if you’re in a deficit at the end of the day, you will burn fat regardless of when you eat.
Not necessarily. It could be that you use glycogen or convert lean tissue to glucose for use. But I'm not sure you would be able to tell these things very well (or how much lean glycogen and lean tissue you used vs. body fat) with a CGM.0 -
Nony_Mouse wrote: »If someone is not diabetic, then I don’t see why anyone would do this.
@nooshi713 = if you feel like quite a long read: https://optimisingnutrition.com/data-driven-fasting/
In a nutshell, it's using your blood glucose level as a gauge for when to eat, ensuring you've burnt off any energy from your previous meal (and are therefore pulling energy from fat reserves) before eating again.
But if you’re in a deficit at the end of the day, you will burn fat regardless of when you eat.
It's an alternative to calorie counting.1 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »If someone is not diabetic, then I don’t see why anyone would do this.
@nooshi713 = if you feel like quite a long read: https://optimisingnutrition.com/data-driven-fasting/
In a nutshell, it's using your blood glucose level as a gauge for when to eat, ensuring you've burnt off any energy from your previous meal (and are therefore pulling energy from fat reserves) before eating again.
But if you’re in a deficit at the end of the day, you will burn fat regardless of when you eat.
Not necessarily. It could be that you use glycogen or convert lean tissue to glucose for use. But I'm not sure you would be able to tell these things very well (or how much lean glycogen and lean tissue you used vs. body fat) with a CGM.
Just to note, that site doesn't advocate using a CGM. Just normal finger prick and glucose meter.1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjGjDxjB8W4
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