August 2025

SWEET, SWEET STATUS

First it was Ozempic.  Now another tool in the diabetic’s arsenal has become all the rage among the longevity-obsessed.  But will the sugar buzz wear off?

There are a handful of items that, in the first warm days of spring, had already proved to be the accessories of the summer.   Among them: Prada crochet bags, Chloe jelly sandals, and…glucose monitors.  The sticky oblong devices are far less chic than their counterparts, but that hasn’t stopped them from becoming ubiquitous.  One New Yorker reports she’s seen them everywhere from her personal trainer’s studio to black tie affairs.  Another wore one (briefly) at the urging of a “health-obsessed” friend.  Momfluencers are hosting glucose challenges (complete with click-to-buy links for the devices), gyms are advertising them and you can’t walk down the street with spotting the telltale patch on at least one arm.  Until recently, tracking blood sugar using continuous glucose monitor (GCM) was just for diabetics and only by prescription.  But in 2024 the FDA approved the first over-the-counter CGM, ushering in an era of healthy non-diabetics monitoring glucose in the name of general metabolic health and longevity.  Now you can watch glucose levels change hour to hour, minute to minute.  These data alert users to the warning signs of insulin resistance and pre-diabetes, but it may offer other benefits, too.  Maintaining stable glucose levels can improve energy and endurance.  And it can contribute to enhancing your memory, mood, and cognitive performance.  More important, it makes you aware of how the type and amount of food you’re eating is changing the most important metabolic variable we have.  It’s like having a dashboard for your metabolism.

That said, there aren’t many studies yet available to show benefits in individuals without diabetes.  But it can be, especially for the health-obsessed, a compelling experiment with some useful takeaways.   Generally speaking, keeping glucose levels in a tight range of 70-110 mpg is correlated to a very healthy metabolism.  High glucose after eating is normal, but spiking into the 160-180 range over a protracted period can cause vascular damage and inflammation.  This can be particularly important for longevity, since our muscle tissue and ability to process carbohydrate decreases as we age.  If we can eliminate the large glucose spikes, we can prevent the onset of many age-related chronic illnesses.   Now users can track glucose levels in real time using AI-driven algorithms alongside a CGM.  Everyone’s body is different, so it’s really a way to understand baselines and trends.  Though a healthy person may not need the information a CGM provides, it can’t hurt, as long as you have a good relationship with your data.  You can over-optimize.   Paying too much attention to your readings can lead to anxiety, which can in turn contribute to orthorexia, an obsession with only eating healthy food.   This is a growing problem in relation to all health trackers, not just CGMs.  Before you embark on this journey, have a clear understanding of why you’re choosing to do this and what your goals will be. 

Garrett Munch