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TESTING BLOOD GLUCOSE
• Do you have any acute, unstable medical conditions?
• Are you currently pregnant or breastfeeding?
• Are you taking any medication for diabetes or high blood
pressure?
If you answered "YES" to any of the above, talk to your
doctor before starting low-carb!
• Do you have obesity, diabetes or another metabolic
problem (high blood pressure, fatty liver, PCOS,
cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea)?
• Are you interested in losing belly fat, halting or reversing
diabetes, and/or lowering your likelihood of cardiovascular
diseases?
If you answered "YES" to any of the above, low-carb may
be right for you!
Is Low-carb Right for Me?
Standard Glucometer versus Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
Testing your blood glucose before and after meals as well as with exercise is
essential to figure out how your body works. In the authors' opinion, there is
nothing more powerful than seeing your own response to food and glucose curve
and correspond to how you feel. The technology has become more accessible,
affordable, and user friendly in the last year with the Freestyle Libre as an entry
level CGM. Watch for reactive hypoglycemia.
Large post-meal spikes are a big issue with patients who have standard high
carbohydrate dietary patterns, are insulin-resistant, and in later stage T2D with
beta cell insufficiency. The CGM shows these patterns as well as a resolution of
patterns with an individualized approach.
Testing Blood Glucose is Empowerment and a Behavior Modification Tool