The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the first continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for over-the-counter sale. This is a huge victory for health freedom and common sense.
“Providing more individuals with valuable information about their health, regardless of their access to doctors or health insurance, is an important step forward in increasing health equity for patients in the United States.” said Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a press release announcing the change.
A CGM is a wearable device that continuously monitors blood sugar levels in real time. These are invaluable for diabetics, but the possibilities extend even further. For example, a person who does not meet the diabetes threshold but has chronically elevated blood sugar levels may Can use CGM To take care of your health early and avoid future diagnosis.
flat in metabolically healthy peopleby avoiding blood sugar spikes and blood sugar crashes, you can lose weight, maintain stable energy levels, and overall sense of well-being This is because elevated blood sugar levels can cause oxidative stress and inflammation.
Before CGMs, the best way to test your blood sugar levels at home was with a finger prick and a glucose test strip. I used this method several years ago when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. It was uncomfortable and inconvenient, required lancets, test strips, and readers, and could only measure blood sugar levels at one point in time, giving very limited insight. If your blood sugar spikes above normal levels, but then drops quickly, you won't catch this by pricking your finger 1-2 hours after a meal, as recommended.
CGM provides a more convenient way to gather information about blood sugar responses. Blood sugar responses vary widely from person to person, depending on different variables, and even within the same person. (Carbohydrates are known to spike blood sugar levels more than proteins or fats, but individual bodies can still react very differently to foods.)
Until this year, Americans needed a prescription for CGM, which was only officially approved for use by diabetics. That means people who simply want to know how their blood sugar is responding are either out of luck or have had to find a doctor or program that will write them an off-label prescription.
As interest in CGM for non-diabetics grew, companies such as Levels, Signos, and ZOE emerged to serve the market.
I enrolled in Cygnos after learning that the “gestational diabetes” I had been diagnosed with was actually an ongoing issue with insulin production. Using the CGM provided by Signos (Dexcom's G7 sensor) was less intrusive and yielded more useful information than the finger prick method. However, obtaining CGM through Signos was not as easy or affordable as purchasing it over the counter, as it required an online consultation and approval from a Signos doctor. And with the Signos program, which comes with apps, community groups, weight loss tracking tools, and challenges and tests for users, I was paying for a lot of extra features I didn't really need.
If you need additional support, something like Signos might be a good fit. And it's worth recognizing companies that are innovating in highly regulated fields. But I've become increasingly frustrated that I can't just go to the drugstore and buy CGM.
Thankfully, in March 2024, the FDA Cleared Dexcom Granted legal authority to sell the Stelo glucose biosensor system directly to consumers. Indicated for diabetics who are not using insulin and According to the FDA, “people who do not have diabetes but want to better understand how diet and exercise affect their blood sugar levels.” Abbott also received FDA clearance to launch two over-the-counter CGMs, one for people with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin (Libre Rio) and one for people without diabetes (Apple). I am also getting
After over a year of not using CGM, I decided to try Stelo. It was easy to get, just go to Stelo's website, add to cart, and check out just like any other product. Plus, it was easier on my wallet.
Signos CGM costs $449 per month or $199 per month for subscription. Stelo's, on the other hand, costs just $99 per month, or $89 per month with a subscription. You can also get one Lingo biosensor (lasts for 2 weeks) for $49, or a 12-week supply for $249. CGM prices are expected to fall further as more over-the-counter versions are approved.
how useful is it CGM is for non-diabetics It's a problem still hotly debated in the science and wellness community. However, a CGM is simply a device that monitors health metrics. By restricting CGM to prescriptions and people with diabetes, the FDA was not protecting consumers and was keeping them in the dark.