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Last week, I embarked on a fascinating journey of self-discovery using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). 🌐 This tiny device has become my nutrition companion, helping me unravel the mysteries of how the food I eat and my lifestyle influence my health. This is the 3rd CGM trial I've undertaken in the past couple of years, allowing me to keep check on my wellbeing. 🤔✨
Excitingly, my blood sugar control has generally been within the healthy range of 4 - 6 mmol/L. 📊
Along the way, I've stumbled upon some interesting findings:
🌙 Late Dinners & In-Between Snacking: Eating dinner late and the time between meals affect my response. So, I'm tweaking my eating schedule for a healthier balance.
🥖🍝 Bread & Pasta: Surprisingly, staples like bread and pasta don't cause big spikes for me. It's all about understanding what works for your body!
😓 Stress & Spikes: Stress seems to give my blood sugar a little kick ... it's not all about the food! Managing stress and adding things to promote self-care, such as a daily yoga practice, will be a focus going forwards.
🌱 Next Up: Microgreens Experiment! 🌿 Over the next week, I'll be playing around with adding microgreens at different stages of my meals to see if they help stabilise my glucose response. 🥗 Excited to see the results!
Why Consider a Blood Glucose Trial?
👁🗨 Personalised Nutrition Insights:
Understand how specific foods impact YOUR blood glucose levels. Your body is unique, and this trial can help tailor your diet to your needs.
🚦 Risk Assessment and Prevention:
Catch early signs of insulin resistance or impaired glucose metabolism to prevent conditions like type 2 diabetes.
⚖️ Health and Weight Management:
Optimise your diet for weight management, consistent energy levels, and overall well-being.
🏋️ Optimising Physical Performance:
For fitness enthusiasts, monitor blood glucose levels to fine-tune nutrition for better endurance and recovery.
Frequency & Approach:
📆 Testing Schedule:
Kickstart with an initial assessment, monitoring regularly over a few weeks. Adjust based on your goals—whether it's quarterly, bi-annually, or as needed.
Choosing Personal vs. Formal Trials:
👤 Personal Trial:
Accessible and tailored to your real-life context. Perfect for personalising your diet based on your unique preferences.
🔍 Formal Study Participation:
Contribute to scientific knowledge under more controlled conditions. Great for those who want to impact broader research. A good example is Zoe
Considerations for Formal Trials:
👨⚖️ Ethical Approval: Ensure adherence to ethical guidelines and approval from research ethics boards.
📘 Structured Protocols: Formal trials follow protocols for consistent and reliable data.
🌐 Research Contribution: Contribute to the broader scientific understanding of nutrition and metabolic health.
Conclusion:
Embarking on a blood glucose trial, whether personal or formal, can be a game-changer for your health journey. Use the insights gained to make informed choices, promote well-being, and potentially prevent metabolic conditions. Always consult with healthcare professionals or researchers for guidance on interpreting results. 🩺💡 #BloodGlucoseJourney #HealthDiscovery #NutritionInsights