This is the first time I have heard glucose meters being used specifically for weight loss, very interesting. If this is a safe and effective way to encourage weight loss, this could be a huge business opportunity.
I had actually read about it last year. In the study, they used continuous glucose monitoring rather than glucose meter to track the blood sugar response to different foods precisely. They found that different people had different blood glucose response to different foods. The study only tracked participants for 1-2 weeks, but they do speculate on using personalized interventions devised from glucose measurements to treat and prevent such conditions as obesity and prediabetes. I decided to try it for myself.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) could be extremely effective for weight loss.
Dexcom has a CGM system that hooks up to your phone/watch, but is only available with prescription (and is extremely expensive without coverage), so this is effectively only available if you already have severe health problems.
To me these sorts of subcutaneous CGM systems seem more convenient for users than other initiatives (e.g, the contact lens projects). The sensor stays embedded for a week at a time, you can sleep with it in, and you get measurements every 5 minutes or so.
Sadly, Glucovation's latest update on their site was from 2014. I did some research recently, and it looks like Nemaura has a device aimed at launching at the end of 2016. Echo Therapeutics and Sano appear to be actively building/testing devices, but there are no firm dates.
My "extremely expensive" was unfair. Some quick searching suggests ~$650 for the transmitter ~$100/week for sensors. "Not cheap" would be more accurate.
No, $5000+/year is definitely "extremely expensive," and out of reach for the majority of Americans. (Particularly as it seems very unlikely that there's any actual technical need for replacing the sensor weekly.)
Don't let the fact that lifesaving treatments are often even more unaffordable shift your frame of reference.
> If this is a safe and effective way to encourage weight loss
It is, presuming that your macros and micros are still in line. It's easy to eat the same meal for lunch and dinner every day and lose weight but be very unhealthy while doing so.
Could you elaborate? What are macros and micros, and how can i measure them? Assume i'm hypothetically interested in trying the (C)GM method of diet modification.
I assume pc86 means macro and micro nutrients. The point being that regardless of what your blood glucose monitor tells you, you still need the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc.
Its the golden goose for wearables - the problem is there's no technology to continuously and reliably measure blood sugar without taking samples of blood (pricking).
If everyone had an apple watch, fitbit, etc that told you your blood sugar levels, with an immediate effect you could usher in a hugely effective treatment and prevention of diabetes and obesity. Assuming you can get people to wear it and you don't have to prick their fingers.
