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Continuous glucose monitors (CGMS) are Growing in Popularity but new research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, From the university of bath, sugges they may not be as accurate as many beLieve. Originally designed to help people living with diabetes manage their blood sugar, these devices are now used by the health-capacity to track how different forms affected foods affected.
The study, from the University’s Center for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism, Warns that CGMS COLD BE Overestimating Blood Sugar Levels in Healthy Adults, Leading to UNNECESSARY DIENECESASAR DIETANE
The research measured blood sugar responses in healthy volunteers (Non-Diabeetic, Within A Healthy BMI range) Using two methods: a CGM (The Abbot Freestyle Libre 2A commercially available device, also provided on the nhs) and the gold standard finger-prick test.
The research aimed to assess the accuracy of cgms in measuring responses to various fruit-based products, ranging from whole fruit to smoothies.
The findings were striiking. The CGM Consistently reported Higher blood sugar levels compared to finger-prick tests.
Key Findings
When participants consumed a smoothie, the Abbott Freestyle Libre 2 CGM Overestimated The Gi by 30%, Reporting a Gi of 69 (Medium) Compared to the Traditional Test Result of 53 (Low).
Whole Fruit was misclassified as medium or high-gi foods by cgms, while the finger-prick test showed they were low-gi. This must lead users to mistakenly believe that fruit could cause harmful spikes in blood sugar.
CGMS Overestimated The Time Spent Above The Blood Sugar Level Threshold Recommended By Diabetes UK, By Nearly 400%, Potanally Causing Unnecessary for people for people who is sugar Actually well-contralled.
The research also debunked the common myth that blending fruits into a smoothie raies their gi. Whether eaten whole or blended, fruits like Apples, Bananas, Mangoes, and Oranges Remained Low on the Glycemic Index.
The research concludes that cgms are unlikely to be a valid method to determine where a food is high or low-gi.
Professor Javier Gonzalez from the Department for Health Said, “CGMS are Fantastic Tools For People with Diabetes BeCause even if a aveen if a measurement isn’t perfectly access Having a measurement at all. How soomeone with good glucose control, they can be misleading based on their current performance.
“For healthy individuals, related on CGMS BLD to Unnecessary Food Restrictions or Poor Dietary Choices. to go
According to professor javier gonzalez from the university of bath, the inaccurary of cgms can be attributed to several factors:
“CGMS May Be Inaccurate because they measure glucose in the fluid surrounding your cells, not directly in your blood. This can lead to discrepancies due to factories like time delays, Blod Flow, and Glucose moves between different parts of the body. “
Heene Whitby, Company Nutrition at Innocent Drinks, Said, “Smoothies and Whole Fruits are packed full of natural goodness and provide steady energy without sharp blends SPIKES Mission to make it easy to live well through the delicious goodness of fruit and veg and this research confirms that blending fruit doesn Bollywood itfits, healthy benefits, contrary to some myths. “
More information:
Continuous Glucose Monitor overesimates glycemia, with the magnitude of bias 3 varying by postprandial test and individual – a randomized crossover trial, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2025). Doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.02.024
Citation: Researchers Warn Continuous Glucose Monitors Can Overestimate Blood Sugar Levels (2025, February 26) retrieved 26 February 2025 from
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