Wearing a CGM is like having a small assistant right at your fingertips, showing you your numbers as you learn how to reduce your body’s glucose. In phase 5 you’re sustaining new practices (like continuing to keep your average blood glucose less than 140 mg/dL or better) , your Level2 care team might tell you that you’re ready to wear your CGM less.
Like with any new skill, you’ll learn new strategies and get better at being in tune with your body. But as you get started, how do you know when to wear your CGM?
It all starts with small steps
Moving from wearing your CGM all the time to less of the time is huge. In time you’ll hopefully get really in tune with your body and understand where your glucose levels are and if you need to take action.
You can also start thinking about what days you’ll wear your CGM. This might mean you wear it 24/7 for one week, then taking a two week break from wearing it. Avoid switching it frequently (every other day) since you wouldn’t be able to reapply your transmitter that often. Be sure to also keep these tips in mind:
- Going the day without wearing your CGM: If there isn’t anything getting in the way, keep at it! You have got this.
- Preparing for the week ahead: Pick a day (like Sunday) to think about your week ahead. Note if you have any life events coming up, like moving, vacation plans or a birthday party. Check your success checklist to decide if you need the extra support of a CGM during that week.
- Scheduling out your CGM wear: If you don’t always think about the weeks as they are coming up, you can also give yourself a schedule for wearing your CGM.
- Checking in is important and we still want you to wear a CGM so don’t forget about it completely.
- You can also reach out to your coach for support or guidance.
- Follow the guidance of your local provider for monitoring your glucose when not wearing your CGM.
- We don’t recommend wearing all your CGMs right away as we believe that it is best to distribute them over time.
Building to bigger success over time
Your success checklist will guide you as you are wearing your CGM less. Use your checklist and think about possible barriers to your new routine:
- Events that might cause prolonged stress (stress can raise your glucose levels)
- Meeting with colleagues
- In-laws in town
- Events that are centered around food and making the right choices
- Family meals or celebrations where there will be pressure to eat what everyone else is eating
- Being somewhere choices and habits might be interrupted
- Special occasions
- Vacation
- Travel
As you navigate all the possibilities, know that we are here to help. Your CGM can be useful as an extra tool along with the great habits you have made in Level2. We hope you can learn to rely more on these habits and less on the CGM during this phase.
- We want to help you maintain your progress and will do what we can to support your continued success.
May. 04 2023