Continuous glucose monitor for non-Diabetics

[fwafwow]

Has anyone without Diabetes tried a CGM?

 

[go_deep]

Honest question here, why would you?
Just as a test to see if it's accurate?

 

[3forks]

Honest question here, why would you?
Just as a test to see if it's accurate?

When you eat or drink something, the available glucose is either used as energy by your body or stored as fat.

You can fuel your body way more effectively with a glucose monitor, and they’re becoming about as common as heat rate monitors is endurance sports.

 

[fwafwow]

Honest question here, why would you?
Just as a test to see if it's accurate?

I first heard about it from Peter Attia - see this article (https://peterattiamd.com/are-contin...-a-waste-of-time-for-people-without-diabetes/). It isn’t cheap, and there is some disagreement as to whether it is worth it if you aren’t Diabetic, so I’m trying to get some feedback from members who have used them.

 

[go_deep]

My son is a type one, and uses one. I can imagine wearing one for any other reason than to stay alive.

 

[68Plexi]

My 9 year old son is type 1 and wears a Dexcom G6 CGM. IMO, it is the most user friendly and the phone app is the best I’ve seen.

With that said, without insurance you are looking at just under $5k per year in transmitter/sensor costs.

More importantly, CGM’s are good at tracking blood glucose trends, not current accuracy especially when exercising (they usually lag behind where your sugar actually is). When my son is exercising and his glucose rate is moving up or down quickly, the CGM can be off by as much as 50 points.

If you want to accurately check your blood sugar levels in real time, you’d be better off getting a blood glucose meter and pricking your finger. You can do it several times a day, right after you eat, while you’re exercising and chart your own trends with certain types of foods/exercise.

Or you can wait for Apple to integrate non invasive CGM into the Apple Watch. They keep hinting it’s on the horizon. Not sure how accurate that will actually be, but for non diabetics it will probably be accurate enough.


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[fwafwow]

My 9 year old son is type 1 and wears a Dexcom G6 CGM. IMO, it is the most user friendly and the phone app is the best I’ve seen.

With that said, without insurance you are looking at just under $5k per year in transmitter/sensor costs.

More importantly, CGM’s are good at tracking blood glucose trends, not current accuracy especially when exercising (they usually lag behind where your sugar actually is). When my son is exercising and his glucose rate is moving up or down quickly, the CGM can be off by as much as 50 points.

If you want to accurately check your blood sugar levels in real time, you’d be better off getting a blood glucose meter and pricking your finger. You can do it several times a day, right after you eat, while you’re exercising and chart your own trends with certain types of foods/exercise.

Or you can wait for Apple to integrate non invasive CGM into the Apple Watch. They keep hinting it’s on the horizon. Not sure how accurate that will actually be, but for non diabetics it will probably be accurate enough.


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Thank you. I was looking at the Dexcom G6, and have read about the forthcoming G7. The price you mention is consistent with what I’ve read, but I found some discounts online (including at Costco, but perhaps the $5k is after discounts). I would not anticipate for using it for a full year (maybe a month or two?), although I know that the costs are a mix of up front equipment and refills. My main goal would be to see how my levels vary, and which foods might cause spikes for me.

 

[68Plexi]

Thank you. I was looking at the Dexcom G6, and have read about the forthcoming G7. The price you mention is consistent with what I’ve read, but I found some discounts online (including at Costco, but perhaps the $5k is after discounts). I would not anticipate for using it for a full year (maybe a month or two?), although I know that the costs are a mix of up front equipment and refills. My main goal would be to see how my levels vary, and which foods might cause spikes for me.

Yes, you can get a transmitter (lasts 3 months) for $300-$400 and a sensor 3 pack (10 days each, so one month) for about the same. Less if you can find coupons. I wasn’t aware you could get them without a prescription but maybe you can.

 

[fwafwow]

Yes, you can get a transmitter (lasts 3 months) for $300-$400 and a sensor 3 pack (10 days each, so one month) for about the same. Less if you can find coupons. I wasn’t aware you could get them without a prescription but maybe you can.

I think I do need an Rx.

 

[Scoot]

You do need a script. You won't likely get one if your not diabetic.

 

[fwafwow]

You do need a script. You won't likely get one if your not diabetic.

Why do you say that?

 

[Scoot]

Why would you think you would get a script for something the device isn't indicated for? Do you think a Dr. would give you a script for hydrocodone because you are tired of have poor attention? You not being diabetic would mean the cgm would be for off label use, which Dr's aren't typically excited about.

That all being said, if you see enough docs you can get ascript for practically anything eventually.

Mostly unrelated, I use the freestyle libre. The g6 sounded better, until I used it. I much prefer the freestyle products.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Possibly helpful podcast episode on this topic:

How to know if you are metabolically healthy, with Kara Collier | Paul Saladino MD

carnivoremd.com

 

[horniac]

I am not diabetic (yet) but my A1C level is at 5.7 or .1 above the high end of the normal range (pre-diabetic). I wanted to know what foods elevated my glucose levels while I have been doing Keto so my doctor agreed to write me a prescription for the 14 day Libre. With insurance my out of pocket cost is about $35 per CGM or $70/month. The IOS Libre app is free from the app store and reads the CGM. It works fairly well to see what different foods do to your glucose levels though I don’t know how accurate it is overall because my A1C equates to an average glucose level of 117 while my Libre was recording a 90 or so average for the same time period...

Horniac

 

[gabenzeke]

Ive had several. Dexcom and freestyle Libra are the best.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Sapcut]

I am not diabetic (yet) but my A1C level is at 5.7 or .1 above the high end of the normal range (pre-diabetic). I wanted to know what foods elevated my glucose levels while I have been doing Keto so my doctor agreed to write me a prescription for the 14 day Libre. With insurance my out of pocket cost is about $35 per CGM or $70/month. The IOS Libre app is free from the app store and reads the CGM. It works fairly well to see what different foods do to your glucose levels though I don’t know how accurate it is overall because my A1C equates to an average glucose level of 117 while my Libre was recording a 90 or so average for the same time period...

Horniac

What food items are you eating that are not fat and protein?

 

[fwafwow]

Why would you think you would get a script for something the device isn't indicated for? Do you think a Dr. would give you a script for hydrocodone because you are tired of have poor attention? You not being diabetic would mean the cgm would be for off label use, which Dr's aren't typically excited about.

That all being said, if you see enough docs you can get ascript for practically anything eventually.

Mostly unrelated, I use the freestyle libre. The g6 sounded better, until I used it. I much prefer the freestyle products.

I wasn't trying to be argumentative or snarky, so apologies if my reply came across that way. Prior to hearing the Peter Attia podcast and doing follow-up reading, I would have never known of CGM, much less that people are using them other than for diabetes. I'm not sure that the hydrocodone example is a good analogy, as I think there is obvious material downside to any opioid. While I expect there are risks (perhaps most likely of infection) for the CGM, I expect they are relatively minimal - but if there are others, I welcome more knowledge.

As for my doctor, we have a pretty good relationship and we both often discuss and subscribe to the precautionary principle. As a result, he has been willing to prescribe me several medicines for off-label use in the hopes of curing my parosmia (none have worked). I fully expect my doctor will be circumspect about the efficacy of CGM for me, and part of what I'm doing is trying to be as well-informed as possible when I see him for my annual physical. If he does not want to give me a prescription, I'm not going elsewhere.

Thanks for the libre and g6 input. Do you mind sharing why you like the libre better?

 

[Scoot]

I wasn't trying to be argumentative or snarky, so apologies if my reply came across that way.

Me too- didn't mean to have a crappy tone in my reply. Sorry about that.

You're right about the analogy, but docs tend to be hesitant to do it in general.

I found the g6 to be uncomfortable on my abdomen. I much prefer the sensor on my arm. Also, the new Libre 2 has alarm settings that are nice (compared to the Libre 14 day system).

Hernias, I'm not at all surprised to hear that discrepancy between the two. Measurement error is part of the equation for both devices and I think the g6 acceptable error is 50 points (or maybe that was my traditional glucometer- can't remember). I'm guessing the Libre is similar. Regardless, no way to know which was closer to your actual glucose levels as you didn't have a "gold standard measurement" at the same time. All these devices are great, but their anything but perfect.

 

[fwafwow]

Me too- didn't mean to have a crappy tone in my reply. Sorry about that.

You're right about the analogy, but docs tend to be hesitant to do it in general.

I found the g6 to be uncomfortable on my abdomen. I much prefer the sensor on my arm. Also, the new Libre 2 has alarm settings that are nice (compared to the Libre 14 day system).

Hernias, I'm not at all surprised to hear that discrepancy between the two. Measurement error is part of the equation for both devices and I think the g6 acceptable error is 50 points (or maybe that was my traditional glucometer- can't remember). I'm guessing the Libre is similar. Regardless, no way to know which was closer to your actual glucose levels as you didn't have a "gold standard measurement" at the same time. All these devices are great, but their anything but perfect.

No worries - we are good! I am sure that I would also prefer a sensor on my arm - but one important topic I have omitted is how my wife would respond to this whole endeavor - if it pans out. She will mercilessly point out my OCD gear obsession and (understandably) go directly to the cost, and I will take some lumps.

 

[Scoot]

...but one important topic I have omitted is how my wife would respond to this whole endeavor - if it pans out.

Most of the rest if us on this site can relate all too well to that!