FAQs

What is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)?

The Freestyle Libre 3 CGM consists of a tiny sensor that is inserted under your skin, usually on your upper arm, with a simple one-piece applicator that acts sort of like a stamp. The manufacturer claims it is the world’s smallest, thinnest, and most discrete sensor—smaller than two stacked pennies. You need to replace the sensor every 14 days if you choose to wear it for longer. When finished, it simply peels off.

We typically recommend members wear it for 14 days every 6 months to see how their metabolic health has changed and experiment with new combinations of foods, meal times, and daily routines for exercise.

What causes my blood glucose to go up?

Blood glucose levels can go up when you eat food, especially carbohydrates, or when you are under stress, sick, or have an infection.

What causes glucose to go down?

Blood glucose levels can go down when you exercise, skip meals, or drink alcohol and take insulin or other drugs that function similarly to diabetes medicines.We typically recommend members wear it for 14 days every 6 months to see how their metabolic health has changed and experiment with new combinations of foods, meal times, and daily routines for exercise.

Why is my blood sugar high in the morning?

Some members may experience the “dawn phenomenon” which releases hormones, like cortisol and growth hormones which send a signal to the liver to produce glucose for the energy to wake up.

Why is my blood sugar low when I sleep?

There are several factors that can cause blood sugar levels to drop during the night. These include leading an active lifestyle through the day, skipping meals, drinking alcohol before bed, or having an infection. All these can increase insulin secretion or reduce glucose production, resulting in lower blood sugar and potentially hypoglycemia (though not dangerous unless you are on insulin or certain oral diabetic medications).

How often does the Libre 3 CGM check my blood glucose level?

The Libre 3 CGM checks your blood glucose level every minute and sends it to your smartphone. You can see your current glucose level and a trend arrow that shows where your glucose is headed.

How accurate is the Libre 3 CGM?

It is very accurate for the intended purpose. For diabetics with treatment decisions, the readings can be confirmed with a finger prick blood test. The Libre 3 CGM has a mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of 9.3% compared to a blood glucose meter.

Why does my blood sugar go up/down after working out?

Exercise can affect your blood sugar in different ways depending on the type, duration and intensity of the activity. In general, exercise can lower your blood sugar by increasing your insulin sensitivity and muscle glucose uptake. However, some high-intensity exercises can raise your blood sugar by stimulating the release of stress hormones.

What is the optimal range I should strive for when using my CGM?

At Bionic we are looking at three things. Average glucose and we want it 100 or below. How much does blood glucose vary based on standard deviation and we want that 15 and below. How many spikes per day over 140 and we want you to have an average of less than 1 per day and ideally 0.

What are the benefits of wearing the CGM?

A CGM can help you see your glucose trends in real time and provide you more information on how your unique body reacts to certain foods and activities. This can help change your habits as well. By default, it can also alert you when your glucose level is too high or too low with real-time alarms. These alarms are optional and very loud by default, so we provide instructions on how to turn them off.

After your measurement period, we analyze your data and provide you a report with recommendations.

What are the best foods to lower my blood sugar?

It is best to increase foods with a low glycemic index and lower carbohydrates. These foods cause a slower and smaller rise in blood sugar levels, which can help you avoid spikes and crashes. Some examples of low glycemic foods are non-starchy vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, lean proteins, fruit and healthy fats.

Can stress increase blood sugar levels?

Stress can elevate blood sugar when you experience either physical or emotional stress. This is because stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released, which trigger the liver to produce more glucose and make the cells less sensitive to insulin.1 Sometimes it’s a good sign, for example when doing very vigorous exercise, your muscles are releasing their stored glucose and you can get a small spike.

After your measurement period, we analyze your data and provide you a report with recommendations.

What do I need to do to manage my blood sugar?

Exercise – Regular exercise is important to support blood sugar stabilization and stress control. Your liver and your muscles store glucose, the more muscle you have the more glucose your body can handle, so adding muscle always helps. Also, muscles burn glucose which also helps.

Eat well – Lowering your refined carbohydrate consumption and prioritizing foods with a lower glycemic index.

Eat less –Reduce calories and portion control your meals.

Hydrate – Drink when thirsty and stay well hydrated.

Relax – getting quality sleep can reduce sugar cravings, boost mood, and increase weight loss.

Track- Each member is different so wearing the CGM can support you in real time if this is an area to continue to address in your treatment plan.

Will I have to wear the CGM again? If so, when?

The collection of these data points and experiments provides valuable insights into your unique bio-individuality, enabling us to make well-informed decisions going forward. We will ask you to wear the CGM again in the next 6 months. Wearing the CGM periodically can help you monitor your progress and adjust your plan accordingly.

Will it hurt to attach or remove the CGM?

The CGM uses a needle to insert a small filament beneath your skin. The needle is withdrawn and this all happens in a few milliseconds and most members report the feeling of a slight pinch but many report no pain at all.

What should I do if my CGM stops working?

You can visit this website for support from Abbot and to request a new sensor. https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/support/sensor-support-form-questions.html

Using a Continuous Glucose Monitor

How to apply your CGM

How to use the CGM app

A few things to keep in mind:

How to turn off CGM alarm

FAQs