Why glucose monitors are trending among those without diabetes

You may have recently noticed your favorite athletes and influencers wearing glucose monitors despite them not having diabetes. Are there benefits to jumping on this bandwagon? 

“There could be a lot of reasons behind the uptick in continuous glucose monitor (CGM) usage among people without diabetes,” says Carolyn Thiede, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Aurora Health Care. “It could be the increased use of CGM devices among people with diabetes, the availability of several non-prescription CGM options, and social media and news outlets increasingly drawing attention to the benefits of tracking various health metrics, including blood sugar.” 

CGMs continually monitor your blood sugar levels through a sensor on your arm that transmits your blood sugar data to a phone or receiver device. They provide real-time updates and are commonly used by people with diabetes. The technology specifically allows you to track your blood sugar level throughout the day so you can prevent hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. 

Thiede answers some more questions about glucose monitors and their rise in popularity among those who don’t have diabetes: 

1. Why would someone consider using a glucose monitor? 

There are a lot of reasons why someone without diabetes might use a glucose monitor. One of them is to gain a better understanding of their blood sugar trends over a period of time so they can make targeted changes to their lifestyle that improve their values.  

They also may choose to wear a CGM as part of a weight loss approach because it provides accountability for food choices and awareness of how certain foods impact blood sugar levels.  

Additionally, elite athletes may use CGMs to help optimize physical performance. 

2. How can glucose monitors help people without diabetes? 

Glucose monitors, particularly CGMs, can help people assess how their blood sugar levels change throughout the day, particularly in response to modifiable lifestyle factors, like physical activity, diet, stress and sleep. Glucose monitoring can also help identify any abnormal trends that may not have been caught through annual blood tests. This can help people address issues in their early stages, when they are more easily reversible and before they’ve had a chance to negatively impact long-term health outcomes.  

3. Is it risky to use a glucose monitor if you don’t have diabetes? 

Individuals with a history of, or who are currently dealing with, disordered eating, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or anxiety may find that frequent blood sugar monitoring can exacerbate these conditions and lead to excessive dietary restriction, obsessive health tracking and higher levels of health-specific anxiety.     

4. What should people know about glucose monitors, especially if they don’t have diabetes? 

People should be aware that CGMs have some variability when it comes to accuracy. Therefore, when you receive a single abnormal value, it’s best to take it with a grain of salt and instead focus on overall trends and patterns. It may be helpful to review your data with a medical professional, such as your primary care provider or a dietitian, to see if any changes or interventions are necessary.  

Blood sugar testing supplies can also be cost prohibitive for people who do not have diabetes as they are often not covered by insurance without a specific diagnosis. Generic versions exist, but CGMs can vary in price. 

Want to learn more about your risk for diabetes? Take a free online quiz.