Last week I wrote that I scored a 5.7 on the HbA1c test during my annual checkup. That number is just into the range of pre-diabetic, which is rather alarming. With no other levers to pull - my sleep and exercise regiment is on point, the only lifestyle choice I am making is to limit carbohydrates. More so than I’ve already been doing for over a decade. It’s kind of difficult to cut carbs when I hardly eat any sugary products to begin with. I would be cutting into the staple carbs I eat with meals: rice, bread, noodles, fruits, et cetera.
Ideally, I want to be able to see which of those carbs are spiking my blood glucose level. It’s not prudent to cut out carbs completely, because I need some of it for sustenance, especially after workouts. Therefore it would be helpful to see if white rice spikes blood glucose, but a slices of wheat bread does not (or vice versa, I don’t really care). I will then only eat the carbs that do not elevate blood glucose.
Turns out there are devices called continuous glucose monitors (CGM). Exactly as the name suggests, it constantly measures a person’s blood glucose level (every five minutes). An app on a smartphone collates the data, and users can see in real time if it’s normal, elevated, or too low. Originally developed for type one diabetics - they need to check their blood glucose constantly, CGM devices are now broadly used by people (diabetic or otherwise) wanting a clear picture of their glucose profile.
I asked my doctor to prescribe one to me, and she agreed. But there’s a problem: because I am not a type one diabetic - or any form of diabetic, Kaiser Permanente insurance does not cover the CGM. I will have to pay out of pocket (in the American healthcare system, there is no money in prevention). The primary cost driver are the patches that sticks to the skin (for measuring). Those need to be replaced every 10 - 14 days (depending on the brand).
It’s a necessary expense. I need to see if my blood glucose level is indeed higher than what is considered normal. No better method than measuring (kind of) at the source. Sometimes HbA1c results can skew higher by other factors, so I want to check if that 5.7 might be a false positive (if you will). More to come!
From the window…