February 6, 2023 Weekly Newsletter
Is it for me?
Morsel of the Month
Advances in technology have been life-changing for people with diabetes (PWD). Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) allows PWD to monitor their blood sugar throughout the day and night without needing to stick their fingers multiple times per day. They can get real-time feedback on how food, exercise, sleep and stress impact their blood sugar and track it right on their phones. Lately, the use of CGM has grown in popularity for people without diabetes, especially on social media. The manufacturers of these products are also marketing them to people with promises of improved health, performance and prevention of diabetes. So should you try a CGM in 2023?
First, we’ll need to consider a few things. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is worthwhile to consider trying a CGM to help you understand what factors help or hurt your “time in range” (the percentage of time your blood sugar is in a safe zone for you, determined by you and your healthcare provider). Know that you will still need to have testing strips as a backup method of testing.
If you have prediabetes or your blood sugar is always “normal” in your labs, a CGM will probably not be covered by your insurance and can be a large out-of-pocket cost. Another thing to consider is that there is not much research on glucose variability in people without diabetes, meaning it’s hard to know if your numbers are “normal.” If there is no reliable information on what to compare your numbers to, then it’s not very meaningful to have those numbers in the first place. Finally, seeing all of that data can make us bypass our body’s innate wisdom. If you see a “low” number, you may be tempted to snack even though you’re not hungry. If you see that alcohol or greasy food do not raise your blood sugar, you may be tempted to include them more often in pursuit of a perfect score.
So what should you do instead? Eat regular balanced meals throughout the day. Include protein, healthy fat and fiber-rich carbohydrates at most meals. Have a snack if there is a long gap between meals. Move your body in a way that feels comfortable and joyful. Get a good night’s sleep. Manage your stress. See your doctor regularly and have your labs done as often as they recommend.
Meet with an Athens Nutrition dietitian for more tips to balance blood sugar.
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Meal Prep Monday: Taking Care of your Future Self!
We make your cooking experience fast and easy with 4 simple recipes to cook each week.
This week, we share a favorite snack for the big game.
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Check out last week’s cooking video when Judy made Chocolate Almond Oatmeal. Find all of our cooking videos on the Athens Nutrition YouTube page!
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