CGM Beyond Diabetes
See what food does to your body — real time.
What CGM shows
- Glucose every 5 minutes, 24/7.
- Spikes from food.
- Energy crashes.
- Sleep effect on glucose.
- Exercise effect.
- Stress effect.
- Game-changer for prediabetes prevention.
2024+ over-the-counter CGMs
- Stelo (Dexcom) — $89/2 sensors. NO prescription needed.
- Lingo (Abbott) — $99/sensor. NO prescription.
- 14-day sensor.
- Phone app shows readings.
- Try 1-3 months — change habits forever.
- Most senior-relevant tech of decade.
Senior insights
- White rice / bread spike huge for seniors.
- Walking 10 min after meals = much lower spike.
- Eating protein first = lower spike.
- Sleep deprivation raises glucose next day.
- Stress raises glucose.
- Adjust diet based on YOUR data.
- What works varies person to person.
Prediabetes prevention
- 50% of seniors have prediabetes.
- Most don't know.
- CGM catches issues before A1C blood test.
- Diet + exercise reverses prediabetes 60%+.
- Critical window — act now.
- Doctor can prescribe CGM if A1C 5.7+ on Medicare.
How to use
- Apply sensor to back of arm (painless).
- Lasts 14 days.
- Pair with phone app.
- Eat normally first 2-3 days = baseline.
- Then experiment.
- Same meal different times — see patterns.
- Walk after high-carb meals — note difference.
Caution
- Not medical advice — just data.
- Don't obsess over readings.
- Some people develop anxiety / disordered eating.
- Take breaks between sensors.
- Talk to doctor about findings.
- If diabetic — get prescription CGM (Dexcom G7, Libre 3) covered by Medicare.
Future of senior health
Personalized health = data + action. CGM cheap + accessible 2024+. Apple/Samsung adding non-invasive glucose to watches eventually. Smart rings adding too. Tracking your body = key to aging well. Many seniors lose 10-20 lbs + reverse prediabetes after 1 month with CGM.