Nicole Spartano does not have diabetes. But the Boston University epidemiologist has occasionally worn a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, a device once reserved for those with the condition. Her desire to understand how factors such as food, sleep and exercise influence her blood sugar levels stems from her own research into how CGMs might help individuals ward off diseases like diabetes and feel healthier overall.
People with diabetes use CGMs to monitor their blood sugar level and need for supplementary insulin, the hormone (produced naturally in most people) that enables cells to consume that sugar for much-needed energy. Less is known, though, about how to interpret CGM readings