My Journey with Type 2 Diabetes and Why I am a Champion for Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM)

In April 2024, I went in for my annual physical. I brought up the same concern I usually do: my blood sugar seems to plummet about 1-2 hours after I eat, along with other frequent bouts of hypoglycemia. In the past, all my blood work had come back stellar, so I was shocked when this time it returned as pre-diabetic. As someone who has always been conscious of my health—working out regularly, eating well, and maintaining a fit lifestyle—this news felt like a betrayal. 

How could this happen to me? I wasn’t prepared to hear that. I’d always associated hypoglycemia with being on the opposite end of the spectrum from diabetes, so the idea that I could be pre-diabetic didn’t make sense to me. Learning I was pre-diabetic felt like a gut punch. Despite all my efforts to stay healthy, I was facing a diagnosis I never expected. It was as if my body had betrayed me after years of hard work and dedication to fitness. This realization was not just shocking—it was deeply personal and emotional. 
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I felt even more betrayed when my doctor's office called and told me to cut out sugar and simple carbs, and to continue working out. What?! There was no sugar and simple carbs to cut out, as far as I was concerned, because I was living a lifestyle my clients would want to strive for. I was a role model—or so I thought. I was not going to take this lying down. No way! Honestly, I was embarrassed and didn’t want to tell anyone. So, I set out to prove the test and the doctor wrong. I needed to catch these low blood sugars and see how if my blood sugar was rising to cause my blood work to come back as pre-diabetic.
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I bought an Accu-Chek Guide Me glucose monitor and started doing finger sticks upon waking, before eating, 1 hour after eating, and 2 hours after eating. I became tired of pricking my fingers, and then I saw an ad for a free Abbott Freestyle Libre 2 continuous glucose monitor. I called my doctor, obtained the prescription, went to the pharmacy, and got my free monitor!

​The CGM: My Eye-Opener

When I started using the CGM, it was a game-changer. Right away, it became clear that this wasn’t just pre-diabetes I was dealing with—my blood sugar levels were fluctuating in ways I never expected. The CGM revealed spikes after meals that I would have never guessed were happening. Foods I thought were healthy, like blueberries or non-dairy powdered creamer, were sending my blood sugar soaring to levels over 180, sometimes even topping 200 mg/dL. I noticed that when they soared like that, they would also drop—real low. Sometimes as low as 54 mg/dL. Depending on the rate of the drop, it would correlate to the blood sugar level at which I would start to feel hypoglycemic. Because of this, I was convinced I had something called Reactive Hypoglycemia and even joined a Facebook group. There, I noticed that those diagnosed with RH never really had high blood sugar levels, and everyone was telling me I was diabetic, not dealing with RH. I was confused and still in denial. No way was I diabetic.
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This real-time data, from the CGM, was invaluable. It prompted me to dig deeper, and I requested a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) from my doctor. During the test, I was getting real-time numbers from the CGM and also did finger sticks. At the 1 hour and 45 minute mark, my blood sugar rose to 300 mg/dL! The results were alarming—I was not just pre-diabetic but indeed full-on, Type 2 diabetic. Without the CGM, I might have continued thinking that my occasional hypoglycemia episodes were just anomalies. Instead, I realized that these episodes were part of a larger, more concerning pattern.

Learning from the Data
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The CGM didn’t just alert me to the spikes; it also taught me about the lows. I could see when I was about to go hypoglycemic, often before I even felt any symptoms. This allowed me to take action, whether it was adjusting my diet or timing my meals differently. Just because I wasn’t eating sugar-laden foods didn’t mean I wasn’t consuming things that could raise my blood sugar.

Over a year ago, I decided to stop putting dairy and any sweetener in my coffee, switching to a dairy-free powdered coffee creamer instead. I was addicted to that stuff, drinking six cups of coffee a day and using it as a snack instead of actually eating. Every morning, I’d have my coffee, and right before I worked out, I’d go hypoglycemic—almost every damn morning! It ruined my workouts. So one morning, I had my coffee and tested my blood sugar before heading to my home gym. I was shocked! My blood sugar was over 200 mg/dL. I stared at that number, confused. I was only drinking coffee with two teaspoons of the creamer—no sugar and only three carbs, it said.
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I started Googling the ingredients and learned that maltodextrin, which isn’t a sweetener but has a high glycemic index upwards of 100, could cause significant blood sugar increases. This awareness completely changed how I approached my diet. This was a big checkmark in the “Pro” section for the CGM. Understanding the significance of early intervention became clear to me as I saw how my blood sugar levels fluctuate. Catching these issues early on, before they progress, can make a huge difference in managing diabetes effectively. The sooner you take action, the better your chances of preserving beta cell function and slowing the disease’s progression

Managing the Challenges

While the CGM was incredibly useful, it wasn’t without its challenges. Wearing the sensor on the back of my arm, as recommended, led to a lot of questions from people who noticed it, and it was often prone to getting knocked or banged. I decided to move the sensor to my chest, which turned out to be a better option for me but not FDA approved. It solved the issues of sleep compression which caused critical low blood sugar alerts to go off in the middle of the night, visibility, and reduced the risk of it being dislodged during my workouts.

Another challenge was the accuracy. Sometimes, the readings could be off by as much as 20 points compared to a finger stick especially when it showed my blood sugars were low and I did not feel low. While this didn’t negate the value of the CGM, it did mean I had to be cautious, particularly when the readings were close to the borderline.
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There was also the issue of obsessiveness. Having access to this much data all the time can make it easy to become fixated on the numbers, which was something I had to manage carefully. Using the CGM not only helped me catch those unexpected blood sugar spikes but also allowed me to plan my meals more effectively, and gave me peace of mind by providing real-time data on what was happening inside my body. These practical, day-to-day benefits made the challenges worth it.

The Worthwhile Investment

Despite the challenges, I firmly believe that using a CGM, even for just a few months, was worth every penny. My insurance covered it, so my out-of-pocket cost was about $75 a month for the Libre 2 from Abbott, but I would have paid the full $150 if necessary. For those without insurance, companies like Dexcom are now offering their CGMs over-the-counter at prices as low as $99 a month, or even $89 with a subscription. This accessibility is a huge step forward for people who need this technology but might be hindered by insurance limitations. 

Now, back to my diabetes journey and figuring out why I have it. I finally saw an endocrinologist who explained that, besides bad genes, being over 55 years old, postmenopausal, and having endured chronic extreme stress throughout my life all contributed to my diabetes. I probably had it for years, but because I lived a healthy lifestyle, it stayed hidden. This is one of the reasons why I advocate for over-the-counter CGMs. I believe women over 50, especially those entering menopause, would truly benefit from seeing how the foods they eat affect their blood sugar. This awareness can help with the dreaded weight gain that often comes with menopause and the natural slowing down that occurs as we age.

Diabetes is progressive, starting in the pre-diabetic range and often getting worse over time. It begins when your body becomes resistant to insulin, the hormone that helps sugar enter your cells for energy. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to keep your blood sugar normal. But as time goes on, your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar levels start to rise. Over time, the cells in your pancreas that make insulin, called beta cells, can get damaged from working too hard. This makes it harder for your body to produce enough insulin, leading to even higher blood sugar levels. Eventually, you might need insulin shots to control your blood sugar. However, with early lifestyle changes like healthy eating, exercise, and medications, you can slow down or even stop this progression.

I’m sure you’ve had the HbA1c blood test done. It measures what your blood sugar has been over a 2-3 month period. Below is a list showing the approximate range of average blood sugar levels corresponding to HbA1c levels from pre-diabetes to Type 2 diabetes:
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• HbA1c of 5.7%: Corresponds to an average blood glucose level of about 117 mg/dL.
• HbA1c of 5.8%: Corresponds to an average blood glucose level of about 120 mg/dL.
• HbA1c of 5.9%: Corresponds to an average blood glucose level of about 123 mg/dL.
• HbA1c of 6.0%: Corresponds to an average blood glucose level of about 126 mg/dL.
• HbA1c of 6.1%: Corresponds to an average blood glucose level of about 129 mg/dL.
• HbA1c of 6.2%: Corresponds to an average blood glucose level of about 132 mg/dL.
• HbA1c of 6.3%: Corresponds to an average blood glucose level of about 135 mg/dL.
• HbA1c of 6.4%: Corresponds to an average blood glucose level of about 138 mg/dL.
• HbA1c of 6.5%: Corresponds to an average blood glucose level of about 140 mg/dL (this is the threshold for diagnosing Type 2 diabetes).
• HbA1c of 6.6% and above: Corresponds to average blood glucose levels of 143 mg/dL and higher, indicating diabetes.

Unfortunately, my insurance has since changed its criteria and now only covers CGMs for those on insulin. But the insights I gained from using a CGM during that critical period of my diagnosis were invaluable. It gave me the knowledge and tools to manage my Type 2 diabetes more effectively, allowing me to adjust my lifestyle in ways that have kept my blood sugar under control.

The CGM was more than just a device—it was my guide through the confusing and often frustrating early stages of my Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. I would recommend it to anyone facing similar challenges, especially now that it’s available without a prescription. Understanding what’s happening inside your body, in real-time, is empowering. It’s not just about managing diabetes; it’s about reclaiming control over your health.

Research shows that prolonged high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the body, even at levels that might not show immediate symptoms. For instance, blood sugar levels over 140 mg/dL, particularly after meals, can start to damage organs like the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. This is the point where microvascular complications, such as retinopathy and neuropathy, begin to develop. When fasting blood sugar levels consistently stay above 126 mg/dL, the risk of more severe complications, including cardiovascular disease, increases significantly. Even in the pre-diabetic range, where fasting blood sugar is between 100-125 mg/dL, elevated levels over time can quietly start causing harm. That’s why maintaining blood sugar within recommended ranges is crucial—not just to avoid diabetes but to prevent the damage that starts to occur even before a formal diagnosis. This evidence seals the deal for me to use a CGM.

Knowing the blood sugar levels where damage in the body starts to occur is critical, here is a diagnostic tool that indicates the need for more aggressive management to bring blood sugar levels down to safer ranges:
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Non-Diabetic:

• Fasting Blood Glucose: 70-99 mg/dL
• Postprandial (2 hours after eating): Less than 140 mg/dL
• HbA1c: Less than 5.7%

Pre-Diabetic:

• Fasting Blood Glucose: 100-125 mg/dL
• Postprandial (2 hours after eating): 140-199 mg/dL
• HbA1c: 5.7% - 6.4%

Type 2 Diabetic:

• Fasting Blood Glucose: 126 mg/dL or higher
• Postprandial (2 hours after eating): 200 mg/dL or higher
• HbA1c: 6.5% or higher

Diet, Lifestyle and navigating the overwhelming information on the internet.
As a fitness professional for the past 17 years, I thought I knew exactly what I should eat, but I became overwhelmed with the vast amount of information out there. I tried to stick to reputable sources like the ADA (American Diabetes Association) and the CDC, but I was ashamed to admit that I had some gaps in my knowledge. Unfortunately, many members of diabetes Facebook groups were not as supportive as I had hoped and often shared misinformation, which made it difficult to find reliable advice. I decided to hire a dietitian (covered by insurance) to review my diet with a fine-tooth comb. She didn’t have to change much but suggested some alternative food choices and adjusted the combination of foods on my plate. For instance, she suggested swapping out certain high-glycemic foods for lower-glycemic options and combining protein with carbohydrates to slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. These small adjustments had a significant impact, helping me manage my blood sugar spikes more effectively.which made a significant difference in how my blood sugar behaved—whether it spiked quickly, stayed elevated, or crashed.
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On the internet, you’ll find products, ads, books, and gurus claiming they can reverse diabetes. Even in Facebook groups, some members assert that diabetes can be reversed, implying that beta cell dysfunction can be completely corrected. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Diabetes cannot be fully reversed. Damage to beta cells, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, is typically difficult to reverse, especially if the damage is significant or has occurred over a long period. Maintaining the remaining function of beta cells is crucial for long-term diabetes management. While reversing the damage may not be possible, taking steps to protect these cells from further damage can help in managing blood sugar levels and delaying the need for more aggressive treatments. However, early intervention—such as with medications, improved diet, increased physical activity, and, if needed, weight loss—can help preserve or improve beta cell function, slowing the progression of the disease.

Final Thoughts
If you're newly diagnosed or simply trying to better understand your body, consider trying a CGM. Yes, there are challenges, and it’s not perfect, but the insights it provides could be the key to managing your health in ways you never imagined. For me, it was a lifesaver, and it could be for you too.