Growing concerns Over Continuous Glucose Monitors as Use Spreads Beyond Diabetics
New York, NY – A surge in popularity of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) – devices traditionally used by diabetics to track blood sugar – is raising concerns among healthcare professionals about potential harm to individuals without medical need, including disordered eating and an unhealthy obsession with numerical data. While marketed for optimizing wellness, experts warn the devices can foster a damaging relationship with food and body image.
CGMs, typically worn on the arm, provide real-time glucose readings, alerting users to fluctuations after meals or exercise. Originally intended for managing diabetes, the devices have gained traction among biohackers and those seeking to personalize their diets, fueled by social media trends like those promoted by the “Glucose Goddess.” However, registered dietitian Jenna Shine reports seeing clients become “fixated” on lowering glucose levels, with one requiring hospitalization after fainting.Shine also notes a client experienced tooth enamel erosion from pre-meal apple cider vinegar consumption – a “hack” advocated for blood sugar control.
The increasing accessibility and marketing of CGMs to a broader audience are driving the debate. Dr. Judith Langer, a clinical psychologist specializing in eating disorders, argues that reducing food and bodily experience to numbers “creates this total disconnect between how we feel and what we want,” perhaps being “profoundly damaging” to one’s relationship with food and their body.
Recent personal accounts echo these concerns.One writer, experimenting with a CGM for two weeks, described a desire to “rip it off” and avoid the “scorecard” following meals, questioning the $24 monthly cost for data that doesn’t differentiate between nutritious and less healthy foods. The trend highlights a growing need for caution and informed decision-making regarding the use of these devices outside of a clinical context.
