Diabetes is incredibly common. According to the American Diabetes Association, around 7 million people in the United States are undiagnosed, with 1 in 3 Americans at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you do not go on medication, you can manage the condition—a chronic metabolic disease that’s characterized by elevated blood sugar levels—by exercising and watching what you eat (very, very closely).
In the past few years, the tools that diabetics use to help manage their condition have become more widely available. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) like the Abbott Lingo and the Dexcom Stelo used to be available only by prescription. Now that you can buy them on Amazon, more and more people are realizing that eating like a diabetic isn’t a bad idea. It’s not revolutionary to say that prioritizing lean protein and fiber-rich vegetables and developing an exercise habit helps you get leaner.
You can buy a Stelo or Lingo sensor a la carte, so to speak. Each comes with their own proprietary apps, and both also partner with a wide variety of fitness trackers to let you easily track your glucose. Signos is a separate service that partners with Dexcom to use the Stelo sensors. A Signos monthly subscription includes two sensors (you have to replace the sensor every two weeks) and access to the AI-enabled weight loss management platform that offers insights, and plans, in addition to 24/7 glucose tracking.
Full disclosure: I am not actively trying to lose weight, but I am aware that my eating habits could be healthier. I was expecting to be more skeptical about this, given that when I’ve tried CGMs in the past, I have absolutely lost my mind. But speaking with a dietitian while testing Signos gave me a different perspective.
How to Use
Photograph: Adrienne So
First, you install the Signos app on your phone (iOS, Android). Then you put the CGM in your skin. CGMs work by using a dispenser to put a tiny needle just in your subcutaneous tissue to measure glucose in your interstitial fluid (ISF). (Every company calls this a filament to make it less scary, but yes, it’s a needle.)
CGMs are a bit tricker to use than the traditional finger-prick blood tests. (The gold standard is the venous blood draw, but I have had quite enough of those for the time being.) It takes time for glucose to diffuse into your ISF, and the readings can vary a lot.
According to Diane Stadler, a registered dietitian and professor at Oregon Health & Science University, there are a few general rules of thumb when it comes to placement:
