Exploring the Trend of Wearable Blood-Sugar Monitors: A Deep Dive
Last June, Cindy Bekkedam was startled awake by an unfamiliar alarm blaring from her phone. This sound was not a typical notification but an alert from a newly installed app connected to a glucose sensor embedded in her arm. According to the app, her blood sugar levels had plummeted to dangerous lows while she slept, triggering the alarm.
“I got up in the middle of the night and ate a granola bar,” she recounted.
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have long been used by millions of diabetics to monitor glucose levels in real time. Ms. Bekkedam, a dietitian from Ontario, Canada, decided to try one herself to better understand the technology for her diabetic patients. However, her two-week trial turned into an eye-opening experience.
“I was freaking out,” she admitted. “I actually questioned, oh my goodness, do I have diabetes?”
She didn’t. After further research, she found her glucose levels were normal. However, constantly receiving updates on her blood sugar highs and lows, without needing to for medical reasons, caused unnecessary anxiety.
“That’s where I think people could go down a rabbit hole,” she noted.
These devices might soon be more widespread due to recent FDA approvals for over-the-counter CGMs, including ones for non-diabetics. Abbott Laboratories recently received federal clearance for two such CGMs. The use of CGMs is already on the rise, often seen on people during morning commutes in major American cities. Experts, however, caution that while there is no proven harm, there is also little evidence supporting the significant cost—up to $300 per month—if you’re not diabetic.
Abbott’s Lingo, a CGM for non-diabetics, is marketed to those looking to understand and improve their health and wellness. An Abbott spokesperson emphasized the importance of understanding glucose levels for managing metabolism and overall health.
Yet, many experts argue the benefits of CGMs for non-diabetics are unproven. They warn that these devices could become distractions, or worse, lead to unhealthy fixations.
CGMs: A Growing Industry
The CGM market is booming, with projected global sales reaching $20 billion over the next four years. Earlier this year, the FDA approved an over-the-counter CGM from Dexcom, aimed at Type 2 diabetics who avoid regular finger-prick tests. New startups like Signos, Nutrisense, and Levels Health are marketing prescription CGMs off-label as tools for energy, mood, and metabolism monitoring.
These devices are gaining popularity in the health, wellness, and sports sectors. Dutch marathoner Abdi Nageeye, set to compete in the Paris Olympics, uses a CGM to better track his energy levels. Other scientific communities are also interested in the effects of glucose on metabolic health. Nick Norwitz, a Harvard medical student with a PhD in nutrition from Oxford, believes CGMs can be valuable tools for understanding hormonal changes in the body related to glucose levels.
However, he cautions that glucose is just one metric and shouldn’t drive all health decisions. “I don’t think that means if you eat a mango and your blood sugar goes up, it’s worse for you than having a plate of bacon,” he explained.
Influencers and the Glucose Monitor Trend
On social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, testimonials from health and wellness influencers about CGMs are common. Brittney Bouchard, a 41-year-old health coach from Los Angeles, promoted a CGM startup on her TikTok, offering followers a discount code. She reported immediate benefits in her energy, sleep, and mental clarity after adjusting her diet based on her CGM readings.
“I could tell a difference immediately, in my energy, my sleep and my brain fog,” Bouchard said, noting her sensitivity to carbohydrates.
A Solution Looking for a Problem?
Despite the claims, many in the scientific community remain skeptical about the benefits of CGMs for non-diabetics. Dr. Nicola Guess, an Oxford researcher and dietitian, pointed out that there is “no benefit” to CGMs for non-diabetics. She criticized the approach as backwards: “It’s like we’ve got this technology, now we just have to find groups of people who we can convince that they need this technology.”
Experts also note the lack of comprehensive data on blood sugar patterns in healthy individuals, making it difficult to interpret CGM results meaningfully. Dr. Ethan Weiss, a clinical cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, acknowledged that while diet changes can reduce glucose spikes, there is no evidence that tracking glucose levels improves health outcomes.
Moreover, there is concern that CGMs could shift focus away from essential health practices like regular exercise and a balanced diet, and instead foster unhealthy obsessions. “I worry that instead of doing simple things to improve our health, we are turning mealtimes into scientific experiments,” Dr. Guess said.
In conclusion, while CGMs are revolutionary for managing diabetes, their benefits for the general population remain questionable. The potential for unnecessary anxiety and unhealthy fixations is real, and the technology may be a solution in search of a problem.