{"id":63524,"date":"2023-02-08T06:59:21","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T11:59:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/?p=63524"},"modified":"2023-02-08T06:59:26","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T11:59:26","slug":"my-experience-with-the-nutrisense-cgm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/my-experience-with-the-nutrisense-cgm\/","title":{"rendered":"My Experience with the NutriSense CGM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In January I wore a NutriSense CGM<\/a> to monitor my blood glucose. I was gifted the two week experience, but this post is not sponsored. My code, AHS25, will get you $25 off if you are looking to try it yourself.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My mom and I geek out over health together. We listen to the same podcasts, debate best foods for our bodies, and pour over our bloodwork results. It’s our strange kind of fun. When we first learned about continuous glucose monitors (CGM) a couple years ago, we put it on our radar to try together at some point. Growing research shows that blood sugar control has a sincere impact on our health and a CGM allows you to track in real time how different factors (foods, drinks, stress, sleep, exercise, etc) impact your blood sugar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the past two weeks, mom and I wore NutriSense CGM<\/a>s. This is my honest assessment of the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is a CGM?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) works\u00a0through a tiny sensor inserted under your skin (NutriSense’s monitor goes on the back of your arm).\u00a0The sensor measures your interstitial glucose level, which is the glucose found in the fluid between the cells. The sensor tests glucose every few minutes and wirelessly sends the information to the app on your phone when you scan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did I want to try it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This was the question I was asked most- as a non diabetic, why would I want to track my blood sugar? The short answer is that blood sugar control affects us all and has an impact on our health from how we feel to how well we sleep to deeper health issues we can’t necessarily feel the impact they’re having on our health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The long story is that I have a long history of blood sugar issues. 15 years ago I had to keep a granola bar next to my bed to eat first thing upon waking because if I waited even 30 minutes to eat breakfast I’d feel light headed and nauseated- a sign of poorly managed blood sugar. When I was pregnant with Hailey I failed my glucose test then went on to pass out and throw up all over myself during my three hour test<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started learning more about balancing blood sugars during pregnancy and had a good start on the basics- check out this 2015 post about how I was working on balancing my blood sugar with food<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then I’ve learned more about what works best for my body after experimenting with basically being vegan for over a year and seeing how much that messed with my hormones. Then taking the steps necessary to correct it<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the past year or two now I feel like I have a good handle on my blood sugar and how to control it, at least for me. So trying the CGM was more for curiosity sake (am I doing as well as I think I am?) and for experimental purposed (if I just eat a slice of sourdough and butter, will it spike me?). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of resources online now to see CGMs in action (the Glucose Goddess<\/a> shares a plethora of CGM results and awesome tips for example- her book<\/a> is on my radar to read), but since results can be vary slightly person to person, I wanted to see first hand how I reacted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NutriSense CGM Application and Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One thing I was most nervous about was the application and wearing of the device. Like a lot of the population, I’m not a fan of needles. The set-up is that the applicator quickly punctures the skin with a tiny needle, then leaves a filament behind to monitor your blood sugar. The application was easy to implement and I was happily surprised to discover it wasn’t uncomfortable. You then cover the monitor with a provided waterproof patch. The patch lasted me the duration of the two weeks easily, even through showers, though the edge of it withered slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From there, you wirelessly connect your CGM with your app and you’re off the races. You log your meals and exercise (my exercise logged automatically; I’m thinking it was through the apple watch?). You then scan to get your blood sugar results at least every 8 hours, through I did it far more often than that. To scan, you simply open the app, hit the scan button, then touch your phone to your CGM. It’s instant!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the two weeks I enjoyed checking in on my data. A lot of what I have learned about controlling blood sugar proved to be true. I had to branch out a bit though because I at first I felt like I was playing a game to see how well controlled I could keep it. While fun for my competitive nature, I wanted to use this time to experiment, like seeing how just carbs would effect me, how certain drinks would effect me, how the order of what I ate effected me, and if I could feel it when I spiked. So the second week I played around a bit more with foods, drinks, and habits I wasn’t quite so sure of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The subscription comes with unlimited access to a RD assigned to help you navigate your results. At first I felt like I wouldn’t need this much, but it turned out to be incredibly valuable to have a trained professional there to help me interpret my data. She was able to give me tips and I loved having someone to answer the questions- how much of a spike is too high? Is this a normal level to see overnight? Is it possible stress effected my blood sugar here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My biggest takeaway from the experience was confirmation that I have learned over the years how to best control my blood sugar well through lifestyle and diet… though I don’t always necessarily play by those rules<\/em>. Seeing the results of my healthier and not as healthy choices was motivating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few surprises for me included learning that we will have a glucose response to almost anything we eat unless it’s pure fat, so it’s the height of the spike (you want it less than 30) that matters more rather than aiming for no rise. I also was surprised to learn the spike takes place not immediately after eating, but generally closer to about an hour afterwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My biggest spike was when I started a meal with a Hazy IPA beer- it SHOT UP, even more so than when I ate Tres Leches cake on an empty stomach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I loved that after 14 days, I was sent a wrap-up of my results. Here’s a peek: <\/p>\n\n\n\n