Monitoring My Glucose Levels: A Snapshot from My CGM Data

Understanding and managing blood sugar is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being. As part of my journey to keep my glucose levels in check, I use a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) from Levels Health. Today, I want to share an early screenshot of an entire day’s data to illustrate the importance of staying within target glucose levels and what those levels mean.

What the Data Tells Us

Levels Health recommends that we aim to keep our glucose levels below 110 mg/dL for most of the day. This guideline helps minimize the risk of high blood sugar and the associated health issues that can come with it.

An important factor to remember that a CGM measures your glucose from levels in interstitial fluid, which is the fluid that surrounds cells in the body. This means that the CGM reading can be inaccurate at that specific timeframe because it lags behind your blood glucose reading.

I like to use the continuous glucose data by looking at trends instead of relying on just the number on my app.

In the screenshot above, you can see a metric called “time above target.” For me, this meant that for 53 minutes during the day, my glucose levels were higher than the optimal range. This is a valuable insight because prolonged periods of elevated glucose can indicate that my body is producing more insulin than necessary to cope with the excess glucose.

Why Keeping Glucose Levels Stable Matters

Ideally, after consuming a meal, our glucose levels should return to normal within two hours. Prolonged elevated glucose levels suggest that our system is overloaded with glucose, forcing the pancreas to produce more insulin to manage the surplus. Over time, this can lead to insulin resistance and other metabolic issues.

How to Use This Data

1. Monitor and Adjust Diet: By closely monitoring your glucose levels, you can identify which foods cause spikes in your blood sugar and adjust your diet accordingly.
2. Incorporate Physical Activity: Regular exercise helps to manage blood sugar levels. Even a short walk after meals can significantly reduce postprandial glucose spikes.
3. Stay Hydrated: Drinking water can help flush out excess glucose through urine, assisting in maintaining stable levels.
4. Manage Stress: Stress hormones can raise blood sugar levels, so incorporating stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises can be beneficial.

Conclusion

Using a CGM provides real-time insights into how different foods, activities, and stress levels affect your blood sugar. This data empowers you to make informed decisions about your health. Remember, the goal is not only to avoid high glucose spikes but also to maintain a stable, healthy glucose level throughout the day.