Who should be tracking their glucose?

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

blood sugar levels used to be something only people with diabetes did. But in recent years, glucose has become one of the trendiest biometrics to track for people striving to optimize their health. That's in large part because of the increasing accessibility of a tool called a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM.CGMs monitor levels of glucose — the body's main source of energy — in real time.

A tiny needle-like sensor sticks into the skin and reads glucose levels in the fluid between cells. That information is sent to a smartphone, where people can monitor it throughout the day. The devices were originally developed more than 20 years ago for people with diabetes who rely on insulin shots.

Now, there are at least five companies that market and sell apps and CGMs to people without diabetes, claiming that knowing your glucose levels can help you lose weight and improve your health. Abbott and Dexcom, the two largest manufacturers of CGMs, are also starting to target nondiabetic users. In Abbott's 2022 annual report, the company said it plans to expand the application of CGMs «for use beyond diabetes»; sales of the company's CGMs totaled $4.3 billion in 2022, a more than 20% increase from 2021.

Dexcom, which only manufactures CGMs, similarly shifted its mission from focusing exclusively on diabetes to health more generally. Revenue for that company was up nearly 20% in 2022. Endocrinologists say that CGMs are indispensable for people with diabetes who need to know when and how much insulin to give themselves.