Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) for PCOS: What you need to know

Continuous Glucose monitoring (CGM) is mostly used by diabetic patients. However, its use for PCOS has also become quite common. While CGM for PCOS is not in popular use, it has become rather important. If you’re wondering how CGM can help you manage PCOS symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, excessive body hair growth, and blood sugar fluctuations. Keep reading to learn how.

According to the WHO, PCOS is associated with a variety of long-term health problems that affect physical and emotional well-being. These health problems include diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, and endometrial cancer. A leading cause of this is the abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism in PCOS patients. So, how exactly does CGM help with this?

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The relationship between CGM, blood sugar, and insulin

When you eat carbohydrate-rich foods, your body breaks them down into glucose, which enters the bloodstream. Insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas, acts like a key, allowing glucose to enter cells where it can be used for energy. In PCOS, insulin resistance occurs, meaning the body's cells become less responsive to insulin. As a result, glucose remains in the bloodstream at higher levels, prompting the pancreas to produce even more insulin in an attempt to compensate. This leads to high blood sugar, irregular periods, and retention of adipose tissues & fat, which cause increased body weight. Since energy is not produced, fatigue also occurs.

As a result, your body tries to overcompensate for this by overproducing insulin as a response. This overproduction of insulin affects ovulation, increases androgen levels, and predisposes you to type 2 diabetes, stimulating an unending cycle of insulin resistance.

A study found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were found to have a higher biological variability in insulin resistance. It also found insulin resistance to be higher and variable in women with anovulatory PCOS than in their counterparts with ovulatory PCOS.

Since anovulatory PCOS imitates the insulin resistance features of type 2 diabetes, the risk is higher in such individuals.

Adjusting your diet for sugar levels helps to manage insulin resistance in PCOS, no matter the type of PCOS you have. 

How CGM for PCOS can help

CGM serves as an insulin resistance monitor. By monitoring your glucose, you can see your body’s response to different kinds of foods and be able to make food and diet changes on glucose levels your body can tolerate. This keeps you accountable for food choices that reduce your fasting blood glucose. For example, you’d be surprised to learn what foods increase your sugar levels and which ones keep it steady.

Compared to other monitoring methods like the finger-prick test or blood glucose meter, a study found that CGM provides magnitude, duration, and frequency of blood glucose levels and a better understanding of the shifting levels throughout the day. Continuous glucose monitoring parameters allow observation of fluctuations in blood glucose levels and stability. Adequate exercise and enough sleep also improve the efficiency of a CGM to maintain sugar level stability.

What is a CGM, and is it worth it for PCOS?

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases define a continuous glucose monitor as a device used to estimate blood glucose or sugar levels at any time.

It’s a small needle-bearing sensor that’s held in place with a patch. It’s ideal for short-term use as it only lasts a maximum of 14 days.

A continuous glucose monitor is a small wearable device with 3 parts;

• A sticky sensor that’s inserted in the skin
• A transmitter that sends information
• A software program that is stored on the receiver, which is usually a mobile device

A CGM is painless and simple to use, and here’s exactly how.

First, clean the area–usually the back of your arm with an alcohol swab to make sure there are no bacteria. This is to prevent you from sleeping on it. The pressure can compress the CGM and give false readings. Cleaning the skin surface helps the CGM to stick better.

After cleaning, press it down for a few seconds and connect it to the device to start tracking.

How does CGM work?

Continuous glucose monitoring measures glucose in the interstitial subcutaneous tissues regularly by recording values every 5 minutes. It provides a detailed surveillance of your blood glucose levels throughout the day.

Remember to not stress over insulin resistance monitor readings as they’re not usually 100% accurate, and stress is not good for PCOS. The readings are meant to give you an idea of how to manage your sugar consumption and levels to avoid aggravating your symptoms. They shouldn’t be misinterpreted. For example, it’s normal to see a spike in blood glucose after meals as it’s a natural reaction. It doesn’t mean your sugar levels have now become high. 

It's recommended to check within 2 hours; if the value drops below your fasting level or stays elevated, that can mean a problem in glucose sensitivity. Continuous glucose monitoring can detect changes comprehensively in women with PCOS.

What type of CGM should you use?

There are three types of CGM

1. Real-time CGMs that automatically send data to your smartphone
2. Intermittent-scan CGMs that require manual screening to view data
3. CGMs that collect data for doctors to review later

When selecting the best continuous glucose monitor, it’s important to understand the difference between real-time and intermittently scanned CGMs. Also, consult your healthcare provider to help you choose the best fit for your needs.

How to get a glucose monitor for PCOS

Many CGMs require a doctor’s prescription to get one, but there are also prescription-free options you can explore. Usually, insurance doesn’t cover a PCOS glucose monitor unless you’re diabetic. So, consider paying for it out-of-pocket or use an HSA or FSA to help with the costs. 

You can get a glucose monitor for $149 per month. This cost covers a monthly delivery with an aspect kit containing a 14-day CGM and two branded patches.

Conclusion

While there is no known cure for PCOS, proper glucose monitoring can help decrease insulin resistance and PCOS symptoms. Though it’s mostly used by people with diabetes, it can also be useful for women with PCOS. This is because PCOS is often linked to insulin resistance. By using a CGM, you can better understand how the body reacts to different foods and make healthier choices to stabilize blood sugar levels.

CGM works by measuring glucose in the tissues just under the skin, recording changes throughout the day. This helps you to see patterns and avoid spikes in blood sugar that can worsen your PCOS symptoms. CGM provides continuous updates, making it easier to adjust lifestyle habits like your diet, exercise, and sleep.

While CGM readings are not always 100% accurate, it’s a helpful guide for managing insulin resistance and improving your overall health. Using a CGM for PCOS will help you feel better and take control of your health.

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