Recently, I tried the Stelo CGM by Dexcom to evaluate its features and observe how food, exercise, and sleep influenced my glucose levels daily. I purchased a two-pack (1 month supply) for $89 from the Stelo website without needing a prescription, which was quite convenient. Each sensor lasts 15 days. Setting up the app and inserting the sensor took me under 10 minutes. The insertion was almost painless, and I barely noticed the Stelo was there. Each sensor includes tape for added security. The sensor requires 30 minutes to warm up, and then glucose values update every 5 minutes. The app shows the glucose reading and a trend graph available at 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours. It also provides a time in range percentage. I liked that there were no alerts and appreciated the notification when the app was closed. The app needs to run continuously in the background to update glucose data, and I often close my apps to conserve phone battery.
While using the Stelo, I gained significant insights into my body and glucose patterns. I usually have a cup of coffee shortly after waking up and noticed that my coffee (with cream and 2 Truvia packets) significantly spiked my glucose levels. Here is a screenshot below of the app where I highlighted the spike I experienced after drinking coffee. I also tend to feel jittery and hungry after my morning coffee, likely due to the rapid glucose rise and subsequent "crash." I'm now exploring alternatives to my morning coffee because of this spike and its effects, as I want to make a change.
Here is another example of how coffee spiked my sugar:
One night, I had a few glasses of wine. I didn't sleep well at all and woke up at 4am. My glucose was all over the place. I felt off all morning and craved carbs because of my erratic glucose.
I gained significant insights into how specific foods affected my glucose levels and discovered that inadequate sleep caused fluctuations in my glucose the following day. Unfortunately, I accidentally knocked my sensor off while taking clothes from the washer on the 14th day. Not too bad. In general, I absolutely recommend the Stelo sensor for glucose monitoring. It's user-friendly, comfortable, and offers straightforward glucose data.
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