Monitoring glucose levels isn’t just for those with diabetes—research shows even healthy individuals can benefit. CGM technology reveals hidden glucose fluctuations that traditional tests often miss, enabling earlier intervention and improved health outcomes.

Key takeaways:

• Individuals with normal glucose levels may still experience significant glucose variability, which standard tests like fasting glucose and HbA1c often fail to detect.
  
• Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) provides real-time insights into personal glucose responses, enabling more precise dietary and lifestyle adjustments.
  
• Elevated glucose fluctuations are associated with increased inflammation, higher cardiovascular risk, and greater likelihood of weight gain.

Understanding glucose: A cornerstone of metabolic health

Maintaining stable blood glucose levels is essential, not only for people with diabetes but for anyone aiming to optimise their metabolic health. Recent evidence indicates that even Australians who appear metabolically healthy can significantly benefit from tracking their glucose levels using Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM).

CGM technology uses a small subcutaneous sensor to measure glucose levels every five minutes from interstitial fluid beneath the skin, closely matching blood glucose levels.

While traditionally used for managing diabetes, emerging research strongly supports its use in broader populations, including individuals with seemingly normal glucose metabolism.

Why glucose variability matters: The role of individual 'glucotypes'

Blood glucose responses differ widely among individuals, even in non-diabetic populations. Groundbreaking research by Hall et al. (2018) demonstrated that individuals can be classified into distinct "glucotypes" based on their unique glucose response patterns.

Approximately 24% of healthy individuals experience substantial glucose fluctuations throughout the day, spending a significant portion of their time within prediabetic glucose ranges, despite normal fasting glucose or HbA1c results.

Using CGM to identify these personal glucose dynamics allows early detection of subclinical metabolic dysfunction, which traditional testing methods (fasting glucose, HbA1c) frequently miss.

The health implications of glucose variability

Frequent and large fluctuations in blood glucose, even in non-diabetic individuals, significantly increase health risks. Research from Ceriello et al. (2008) revealed that higher glucose variability, rather than higher average glucose, leads to increased oxidative stress and inflammation, key contributors to cardiovascular diseases.

A landmark study published in Diabetes Care found individuals within the highest quintile for glucose spikes had a 2.7-fold greater risk of cardiovascular-related mortality over 20 years compared to those with lower glucose swings.

Additionally, significant glucose oscillations correlate with increased body weight, higher BMI, and greater hunger sensations leading to overeating and weight gain.

How CGM can empower behavioural change

The immediate feedback from CGM offers a powerful way for users to pinpoint dietary and lifestyle triggers that cause harmful glucose fluctuations. For Australians striving for healthier lifestyles, CGM provides the means to:

• Optimise dietary choices: Real-time data helps users identify specific foods causing excessive glucose spikes. Diets higher in carbohydrates, particularly refined sugars and processed grains, tend to produce more dramatic glucose elevations compared to balanced meals containing healthy fats and proteins.
• Enhance sleep quality: Research highlights that high glucose levels before bed negatively impact sleep duration and quality. Improving bedtime glucose control can significantly enhance sleep, subsequently leading to better glucose management the following day. A study by Knutson et al. (2011) emphasises this reciprocal relationship, where poor sleep worsens next-day glucose responses.
• Maximise exercise benefits: Regular physical activity, especially after meals, dramatically reduces post-meal glucose spikes by enhancing insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in muscles. A systematic review by Borror et al. (2018) confirmed that even modest post-meal activity significantly blunts glucose excursions.

Practical implications: CGM use in the Australian context

At Vively, our mission is to empower Australians with personalised metabolic health insights. Our use of CGM goes beyond diabetes management; it forms part of an integrative approach to health, involving dietitian support, personalised diet plans, and actionable lifestyle modifications to mitigate disease risk.

Given Australia's ageing population, CGM is especially beneficial for those aged over 60, who often unknowingly experience extended periods of elevated glucose, thus carrying higher risks of chronic conditions.

Vively’s integrated platform leverages CGM insights to provide tailored dietary and behavioural guidance, maximising health and longevity.

Is CGM for everyone?

While the long-term, continuous use of CGM may not be necessary for young, healthy individuals without metabolic conditions, short-term use (2-4 weeks) is incredibly insightful. It reveals personal glucose response curves, identifies specific triggers, and informs healthier dietary and behavioural choices long-term.

In Australia, Medicare currently does not cover CGM for non-diabetic individuals. Nevertheless, the short-term investment in CGM significantly outweighs the cost, considering its potential in disease prevention and health optimisation.

Towards personalised metabolic health

CGM represents a significant advancement towards truly personalised health management, aligning closely with Vively’s commitment to personalised medicine. By giving Australians actionable data and tailored health advice, CGM can significantly enhance metabolic health and overall quality of life, far beyond diabetes management alone.

For more detailed, personalised insights and guidance, explore Vively’s integrated metabolic health platform and join our community dedicated to proactive, data-driven wellness.

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References:

• Hall, H. et al. (2018). Glucotypes reveal new patterns of glucose dysregulation. PLoS Biology.
• Ceriello, A. et al. (2008). Oscillating glucose is more deleterious to endothelial function and oxidative stress than mean glucose in normal and type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes.
• DECODE Study Group. (2001). Glucose tolerance and mortality: Comparison of WHO and ADA diagnostic criteria. Diabetes Care.
• Knutson, K.L. et al. (2011). Impact of sleep and sleep loss on glucose homeostasis and appetite regulation. Sleep Medicine Clinics.
• Borror, A. et al. (2018). Postprandial exercise timing affects glucose responses. Sports Medicine.