How CGM Apps Are Changing the Way We Understand Our Bodies

Now that the new year is here, improving health is on everyone’s mind. There is a lot of “noise” when it comes to achieving better health, from advice on social media to which tracking tools to use, to which rules to follow.

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The biggest problem with most health data is that it is delayed and disconnected from daily behavior. It’s hard to understand how habits impact our health if we can’t see the relationship quickly. 

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That’s where continuous glucose monitor (CGM) app features come in: trend arrows, blood glucose history, and real-time data provide personalized insight into how habits affect health. From CGM apps for non-diabetics to those for weight management, there are several to choose from, and they can be used for a variety of reasons.

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Continue reading to learn how CGM apps help us better understand our bodies and the impact of food, emotions, sleep, and exercise on our health.

Benefits of CGM Apps: Food Choices 

When you think of nutritious food, fruits and vegetables likely come to mind. However, protein-containing foods such as meat, fish, and eggs, as well as whole grains, including brown rice, popcorn, and whole wheat bread, are part of a healthy eating pattern too. 

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What makes foods even more beneficial for health is pairing carbs with protein and healthy fat sources to create balanced meals and snacks. Unfortunately, the focus is usually on calories, fat, and avoiding “junk” food rather than on which foods should be eaten together.

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It’s also difficult to understand the big picture when calorie-counting and eliminating certain foods are involved. Food tracking doesn't show how specific foods impact each person individually. The effects of different food choices on energy levels and mood are usually delayed or go unnoticed.

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Not having access to personalized health data increases the likelihood of glucose spikes or crashes, energy dips, cravings, or confusion about why eating “healthy” doesn’t lead to better health outcomes.

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CGM data insight sheds light on blood glucose responses to the foods you eat in real time. And if you’re wondering, “What is a CGM app?” don’t worry. While an app might feel overwhelming at first, CGM apps display graphs of blood glucose readings. That information tells you how your body reacts to different factors, from meal timing to the order in which you eat your food. 

When people understand their personal nutrition patterns, a mindset shift from focusing only on healthy foods to how their bodies respond to certain foods can occur. 

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Apps Give Insight into Stress and Emotions 

If you ask friends and family whether they are stressed, chances are they’ll say yes. Between deadlines, caring for loved ones, and going to work, life is busy. It’s difficult not feel overwhelmed. 

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When chronically stressed, it’s easy to get used to the feeling and ignore it. Eventually, you might forget about the impact of stress on overall health, which is easy to do when you don’t have a tool available that highlights that relationship. 

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Stress affects overall health, including blood glucose levels. This means that even when you’re doing everything right (eating nutritious foods, exercising, and sleeping well), you might not see the results you want. This causes frustration and a sense of helplessness because you don’t understand why that is.¹

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Fortunately, CGM apps for wellness show how blood glucose levels are affected by stress, removing the mystery of why you’re not getting the results you’re after. The graphs make it easy to notice correlations between stressful events and your body’s physiological response. 

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Thanks to CGM apps, stress goes from being an abstract idea to something that has real time impact on the body. As a result, people are more likely to incorporate stress management into their wellness journey.

Understanding CGM Data in the Context of Sleep 

Many of us feel tired all the time, usually because we don't get enough sleep. While it’s common knowledge that lack of sleep negatively affects health, it’s difficult to understand just how extensive the relationship is. 

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Research shows that severe sleep deprivation is associated with glycemic variability, or “swings” in blood sugar throughout the day. Glycemic variability can predict complications such as heart attack and damage to organs such as the kidneys and eyes.²

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Knowing that sleep not only helps prevent common illnesses like the cold or flu but also impacts major events like heart attacks, using real-time glucose monitoring apps is a crucial part of improving your health. 

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Using CGM apps to monitor energy levels might inspire you to turn out the light earlier and practice good sleep hygiene, such as turning off your phone and reading before bed, or keeping your bedroom at a lower temperature.

How CGM Apps Work With Exercise 

Physical activity is a great way to improve mood, increase energy, and manage blood glucose levels. However, exercise is usually measured in steps, time, or calories burned. It’s difficult to understand how your body responds to certain workouts based on those metrics.

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If you don’t know how your body reacts to various types of exercise, you likely feel confused about the type or timing of workouts that are best for you. Glucose crashes or energy dips might even happen later on in the day, leading to frustration and confusion.

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Having glucose trends explained in CGM apps lets you see your body’s glucose response before, during, and after physical activity. This way, you can choose different types of exercise that benefit your metabolic health and get the most out of your exercise routine. 

Glucose Monitoring Apps Help You Learn the Language of Your Body

CGM apps are powerful tools that provide real-time data so you can understand how your body responds to various factors. Signos uses CGMs, along with support from registered dietitians and personalized AI insights, to guide your wellness journey. 

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Learn more about how Signos works today!