Glucose Monitoring Metrics

A deep dive into continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and its impact on health optimization, particularly focusing on how blood glucose affects overall health and longevity.

Key CGM Concepts

• Blood glucose spikes can damage organs over time
• High glucose levels impact artery walls
• Sustained high glucose leads to insulin resistance
• Two key metrics to track:
  • Height of glucose spikes
  • Area under the curve (how long glucose stays elevated)

CGM Technology Landscape

• Dexcom's Stello

  • First FDA-approved over-the-counter CGM
  • Released August 2023
  • Costs about $50 for 2 weeks of monitoring

• Levels

  • Existing player in consumer CGM space
  • Requires prescription currently

Business Opportunities

• Social/Community Platforms

  • Potential for "Strava for CGM" using Dexcom's API
  • Focus on sharing insights and competing on metrics
  • Example: Glucose Goddess (5M Instagram followers)
    • Charges $5/month for recipe club
    • Recently launched "Anti-spike" product
    • Gets 100k+ monthly website views

• Education/Content

  • High demand for understanding glucose data
  • People want to know:
    • What constitutes a concerning spike
    • Meaning of double humps in readings
    • Impact of next-day glucose levels
    • Proper ranges and targets

Consumer Impact

• Reveals hidden health issues

  • Thin people can have poor metabolic health
  • Shows impact of seemingly healthy foods
  • Exposes effects of different meal timing/combinations

• Creates accountability

  • Can't hide from the data
  • Provides immediate feedback on food choices
  • Shows impact of lifestyle decisions