If you have PCOS, it is important to routinely test your metabolic markers to monitor for existing or new insulin resistance. PCOS and insulin resistance both have adverse consequences, including vision loss, infertility, and blood clots, so it is important to be aware of your condition so you can determine what treatment works best for you.

A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) device is a type of glucose monitor that works through a tiny sensor inserted under your skin. It measures your interstitial glucose level, or the fluid between your cells, every few minutes. A transmitter in the device wirelessly sends the information to a mobile app on your phone so that you can monitor what your blood sugar is doing throughout the day. If you do not have diabetes, you may be wondering: aren’t glucose monitors not needed for someone like myself? Even if you do not have prediabetes or diabetes but are insulin resistant - or borderline insulin resistant - committing to several months of using a CGM can be a powerful way to discover what foods, exercises, and habits keep your blood sugar stable and thereby reduce your risk of developing a more serious condition down the line.

The instant and personalised feedback about your dietary and lifestyle choices that a CGM provides feedback about what specifically works for your body to optimise your hormone balance, fertility, and overall health. For example, both brown rice and quinoa are whole grain carbohydrates. But perhaps your body metabolises quinoa in a way that does not cause a blood sugar spike or vice versa. Or maybe it's a matter of whether you are eating a certain food before or after a workout that makes your body tolerate it better. See where we're going here?

Great question. At $129 per sensor, that could get quite expensive and out of reach for lots of people. Fast!

That’s why Vively has designed a system that only requires 14 days worth of glucose data every 3 months. Once we have your data, our dietitian and algorithms use that data to help you implement your insights and learnings, in a measurable way. Then in 3 months time, its recommended that you re-calibrate your glucose data with another sensor. That way, we bring the cost right down for you, but you’re still able to adapt to any changes in your diet and lifestyle, and give you the control over when you monitor your glucose.

You can purchase additional sensors through the app at cost price whenever you like. Free shipping included.

Yes, we do. Occasionally there will be faulty sensors, and we'll replace them for you free of charge. We won't be able to replace sensors that have been damaged or mis-used by the user.

Insulin is a hormone secreted by your pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. Its function is to convert glucose, or blood sugar, into energy for bodily functions.
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Insulin resistance occurs when your muscles, fat, and liver do not respond to insulin. If your body does not respond to insulin, your blood sugar remains higher (since it is not being converted into energy as efficiently) and your pancreas will produce more insulin, leaving your insulin levels high as well. People who are insulin resistant are likely to develop type 2 diabetes and inflammatory conditions down the line.

Oftentimes, individuals may not exhibit any symptoms, but over time as the condition worsens, the pancreas is no longer able to produce enough insulin, which results in elevated blood sugar levels. As a result of high blood sugar levels, symptoms such as hunger, energy spikes and crashes, stubborn weight gain, frequent urination, thirst, headaches, and skin infections can occur.

There is a strong link between insulin resistance and PCOS in a majority of cases.
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Research has shown that high insulin levels can impair ovulation and increase testosterone production in the ovaries. Increasing insulin levels leads to a rise in male hormones, which can contribute to fat accumulation around the abdomen, thereby contributing to increased insulin resistance.

Additionally, insulin resistance can lead to a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. Researchers have found that women with PCOS are four to nine times more likely to develop diabetes than women without it. Furthermore, women with PCOS have a much higher risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

At Vively we take our data security very seriously. All of your data is 256 bit SSL/TLS encrypted. Access to your medical records are encrypted with the industry standard AES-256 encryption algorithm to protect your data at all times. You can read more about this in our privacy policy.
Only our health professionals and authorised staff will have access to view your medical records. Data can be stored on third party servers, but it’s always encrypted.