How CGMs Can Help Identify Symptoms of Blood Sugar Imbalances
Blood sugar imbalances can affect your energy levels, mood, metabolism, and overall health. If you are experiencing fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, or cravings, these symptoms may be linked to fluctuations in glucose levels. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) offer real-time insights into how your body processes glucose, helping you detect patterns and make informed dietary and lifestyle changes.
Understanding Blood Sugar Imbalances
Glucose is a type of sugar that serves as a primary energy source for the body’s cells. While most cells can utilize both glucose and alternative fuel sources like fats, brain cells rely predominantly on glucose to function optimally.
The body obtains glucose primarily from the carbohydrates in food, which are broken down by the digestive system. Additionally, glucose can be produced from amino acids, the fundamental components of proteins, through a process called gluconeogenesis.
Since glucose is a form of sugar, the terms “blood sugar,” “blood glucose,” and “blood glucose levels” are often used interchangeably to refer to the amount of glucose circulating in the bloodstream.
Glucose itself is neither harmful nor unhealthy; it plays a crucial role in brain function and cellular energy supply. However, factors like poor diet, stress, and underlying medical conditions can cause imbalances in glucose levels, which can lead to common symptoms such as1,2:
Fatigue and energy crashes. Sudden drops in glucose can leave you feeling drained and sluggish.
Dizziness and lightheadedness. The rapid glucose dips can affect brain function and cause unsteadiness.
Irritability and mood swings. Fluctuating glucose levels can contribute to feelings of anxiety or irritability.
Cravings for sugar or carbs. A cycle of glucose spikes and crashes can drive intense cravings.
Brain fog and difficulty concentrating as the brain relies on stable glucose levels for cognitive function.
Excessive thirst and frequent urination. High blood sugar can lead to dehydration and increased urination.
Nighttime wake-ups and poor sleep. Blood sugar fluctuations during sleep can disrupt rest.
Recommended Readings:
Hypoglycemia in diabetes - Causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention
How CGMs Detect Glucose Imbalances
A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is a wearable device that provides continuous, dynamic glucose information up to every minute. Unlike traditional fingerstick tests, which provide single-point measurements, CGMs offer a continuous stream of data, allowing users to:
Identify glucose spikes and crashes. See how specific foods and lifestyle habits affect your glucose.
Understand how stress, sleep, and exercise impact blood sugar. Stress and sleep deprivation can elevate glucose, while exercise can help regulate it.
Detect prediabetes or diabetes early. Recurrent high glucose readings may indicate an underlying issue.
Optimize meal timing and food choices. Recognize which foods keep glucose stable and which cause fluctuations.
Is a CGM right for me?
If you are:
1. Someone with Unexplained Symptoms
If you frequently experience fatigue, dizziness, or brain fog, a CGM can reveal whether these symptoms correlate with blood sugar swings, helping you pinpoint dietary or lifestyle triggers.
2. At Risk for Diabetes
If you are someone with a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome, a CGM can provide early warning signs of insulin resistance, which in turn allows for preventative measures.
3. Athletes and Active Individuals
Exercise affects glucose differently for each person. CGMs help athletes track how their bodies utilize glucose during workouts and optimize fueling strategies.
4. Weight Loss Seekers
CGMs can help individuals make better dietary choices that prevent glucose spikes and crashes by tracking how the body responds to different foods, supporting steady energy and fat loss. Having a CGM is similar to having someone constantly monitor your food intake and letting you know how it affects your blood glucose.
5. Pregnant Women
Gestational diabetes can develop during pregnancy. CGMs can help monitor glucose levels closely to ensure both maternal and fetal health.
What are the ideal blood sugar targets?
A blood sugar target is the range that you should aim for as much as possible. The target range should be individualized depending on your goals, and should be decided with your doctor. Factors that could affect the targets include:
If you have diabetes: the type and severity of diabetes
Age
Duration of diabetes
Pregnancy status
The presence of diabetes complications
Overall health and the presence of other medical conditions
In general, the recommended blood sugar target ranges for continuous glucose monitoring are:
| Measurement | Recommended Range |
|---|---|
| Before a meal | 4 - 7 mmol/L or 70 - 130 mg/dL |
| 2 hours after the start of a meal | < 10 mmol/L or < 180 mg/dL |
| Time in Range (TIR) | > 70% of readings between: 3.9 - 10.0 mmol/L or 70 - 180 mg/dL |
| Glycemic Variability (%CV) | < 36% |
Note: TIR and glycemic variability are measures specific to the CGM. They provide additional data, beyond what the traditional fingerprick and HbA1c measurements are able to give.
TIR represents the percentage of time that your glucose levels are within the target range.
Blood sugar imbalances can significantly impact daily life, but many people remain unaware of their glucose fluctuations. CGMs provide valuable real-time insights, helping individuals detect patterns, recognize early warning signs, and take control of their metabolic health. Whether you’re experiencing unexplained symptoms, managing diabetes risk, or optimizing performance and weight loss, a CGM can be a useful tool for better health.
It can be difficult to make sense of the rich data from your CGM - especially when you are new to it. While it is exciting to learn how your body responds to your daily habits and figure out ways to improve your blood sugar control, the process could sometimes be frustrating if you don’t know what the data means. We encourage you to have a discussion with your healthcare provider before you start monitoring so that you get the appropriate support and guidance throughout the process. You should also share your data with your health care provider to better understand your condition, and to get personalized advice on how to better manage your condition.
Ready to take charge of your health? Shop for your CGM and start tracking your glucose levels today!
If you need support, feel free to reach out to us! Our doctors and nutritionists enjoy the process of optimizing someone’s daily habits and we would love to go through your data with you through an in-person or virtual consultation.
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