{"id":194742,"date":"2024-01-03T20:52:36","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T20:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=194742"},"modified":"2024-01-09T15:19:19","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T15:19:19","slug":"cgm-in-cycling-what-is-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2024\/01\/03\/cgm-in-cycling-what-is-it\/","title":{"rendered":"CGM in Cycling \u2013 What is It?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been a term increasing in popularity in cycling and sports in general. It\u2019s time to take a closer look at it to see if it\u2019s something that you should consider trying or if it\u2019s just a fad that will soon go away. Let\u2019s start with a simple question today: what even is it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What does glucose do in your body?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most cyclists know that glucose is a simple sugar that fuels muscles during hard rides. Fewer know what happens to glucose at other times of the day. The body constantly keeps a very close eye on glucose levels. It has mechanisms in place to make sure it stays inside a safe range to prevent negative symptoms that could progress to life-threatening situations.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of blood glucose being too low \u2013 sweating, shakiness, extreme hunger, nausea, dizziness<\/p>\n

Symptoms of blood glucose being too high \u2013 increased thirst, urination, fatigue, light-headedness<\/p>\n

Thankfully, the body is really good at preserving glucose when there\u2019s not enough by switching to fats (ketones) and even breaking down protein to quickly get more glucose. Similarly, it\u2019s quick to send excess glucose to the cells that need it or to the liver for storage.<\/p>\n

Eating is the most common way to increase your blood glucose levels just as exercise is a quick way to bring them down. This is common knowledge but it\u2019s not easy to know just how much will certain foods increase your blood sugar and how quickly it will start to fall under what intensity of exercise. This is why glucose monitoring is interesting both to people with diabetes and athletes.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s not easy to know just how much will certain foods increase your blood sugar. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How does continuous glucose monitoring work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Unlike traditional blood glucose meters that require a finger-prick, CGMs measure glucose in the interstitial fluid, which is a thin layer of fluid that surrounds the cells below your skin. A CGM system typically consists of a tiny sensor inserted under the skin, it can stay inserted long-term to monitor your blood glucose continuously. This sensor is connected to a transmitter that sends data to a device, which then displays the glucose levels and trends.<\/p>\n

Continuous glucose monitoring is a technology originally developed for people with diabetes<\/a> who can\u2019t rely on their bodies to automatically maintain stable glucose levels. Seeing how their blood glucose changes after meals, after exercise, and recognising patterns makes it easier to make decisions about medication and lifestyle adjustments. For similar reasons, CGM proved to be useful even for healthy individuals wanting to optimise athletic performance.<\/p>\n

What do continuous glucose monitors tell you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

They allow you to see your glucose levels at any moment but that\u2019s not really where the biggest benefit lies. Here is an overview of the main types of data CGMs provide:<\/p>\n