As a teenager, I was the type of boy that people called, "lean" or "skinny." I played football, basketball and road my bicycle in the neighborhood during summers in Buffalo, and skied and built snow forts during my town's endless winters. But as I approached 65 years old, my body no longer respected my thin youthful heritage. It was almost as if I could hear the scale scoffing at me each morning as I dumbfounded watched the numbers climb. Most frustrating, I eat a healthy diet full of vegetables and fruit, without meat or fried foods.
I hated not eating enough to fill my tummy. It made me cranky. Something had to change. And then I read a popular book by Dr. Peter Attia entitled, Outlive. Of course, I read a lot of health books and articles, and I'm perpetually dubious of opinions provided without evidence as facts. But one thing struck me as something I wanted to try: CGM, otherwise known as a Continuous Glucose Monitor.
All my prior glucose laboratory testing was normal, but I was curious for myself, and I wanted to be able to better discuss the technology with my diabetic patients. (I'm not diabetic.) But in fact, I discovered using a CGM that I am "Glucose Intolerant." While my fasting blood sugars were normal and steady, some foods triggered my body's glucose to rise far above the normal limit of 140 for non-diabetics. Some foods caused me to spike to 190! And each time I spiked a high glucose, my insulin revved up to try to drop it. How does it do that? By converting glucose and storing it in the body as fat. Ah hah! With the help of the CGM, I'm eating enough to feel full but eating the RIGHT FOODS to keep my blood sugar in line. The best part? I'm losing weight for the first time in two years. If you're not diabetic, GoodRx.com online coupons make this affordable to try for a month or two. See my comparison of CGMs HERE. Talk with your doctor. If you're 65 or older, share what you've learned at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/turning-65.
