Sujata Gupta in Science News:
Nicole Spartano does not have diabetes. But the Boston University epidemiologist has occasionally worn a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, a device once reserved for those with the condition. Her desire to understand how factors such as food, sleep and exercise influence her blood sugar levels stems from her own research into how CGMs might help individuals ward off diseases like diabetes and feel healthier overall. People with diabetes use CGMs to monitor their blood sugar level and need for supplementary insulin, the hormone (produced naturally in most people) that enables cells to consume that sugar for much-needed energy. Less is known, though, about how to interpret CGM readings in people without the condition, Spartano and others say.
Nonetheless, the devices’ popularity has exploded in recent years. That’s in part thanks to endorsements from influencers like Casey Means, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. surgeon general. In her 2024 book, Good Energy, Means, who cofounded a company that sells the devices, touted CGMs as “the most powerful technology for generating the data and awareness to rectify our Bad Energy crisis in the Western world.”
More here.
Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.