Interpreting Glucose Exposure using CGM

Our body is a dynamic machine, and therefore also has energy needs which needs. This energy has to be available, transformed, transferred and utilized every single day in order to keep us alive and running. These needs have to be fulfilled regardless of anything and everything that the body is subjected to, making is essential for the cells in our body to be highly adaptable. On any given day, our cells have to continually adapt to nutrient availability and the type or quantity of fuel it is exposed to on a daily basis, called Glucose Exposure.

What is Glucose Exposure?

The food we eat contains Carbohydrates, Protein and Fats which are all primary fuel sources needed for good metabolic health. Out of the three, Glucose is the most preferred fuel because it produces both energy and water. So in simple words, Glucose Exposure is the total amount of glucose you have exposed your body to in a day.

How much Glucose Does The Body Need in a Day?

Glucose regulation in the body is autonomic and mostly constant throughout each minute of the day. To ensure that our body keeps running smoothly, it needs to have a continuous concentration of blood glucose levels between 60 and 140 mg/dL. This can be translated using the amount of calories an individual should consume to maintain the concentration of blood glucose. The recommended quantity to make this happen is a maximum consumption of 150 calories/day for Men and 100 calories/day for women.

How is Glucose Exposure measured?

The concentration of glucose in the blood is determined by the balance between the rate of glucose entering and the rate of glucose leaving the circulation. Glucose Exposure is calculated using your Average Glucose Values in each hour and its total at the end of 24 hours. So Total Glucose Exposure for any given day is the Sum of all your Average Glucose Values /Hour in the duration of 24 hours OR

Total Glucose Exposure = (Average Glucose) X (24 Hours)

Value of Glucose Exposure

Knowing your Glucose Exposure or Average Glucose value in an hour gives you tremendous insight into what you can do to improve your metabolism. This is where a Continuous Glucose Monitoring Device or CGM comes into play. whether you are on track to achieve your hourly or daily Glucose Exposure Limit.

If you want to evaluate your glucose exposure, measure your average glucose levels every hour since the start of the day and add all the values to get the total glucose exposure. The values of glucose will be expressed in milligrams. Hence, the current exposure would be equivalent to the total glucose your body has been exposed to at a particular hour since the beginning of the day.

Bottomline

It is very important for you to manage your blood sugar levels. You can be at risk if your blood sugar levels are too low and also if your blood sugar levels are high. CGM devices are used to monitor your blood sugar levels. You can also check it by using a finger-stick test. If you know the details about your blood sugar levels you can change your activities and eating habits to manage the blood sugar levels. If you have good metabolic health that means you have a lower risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, etc. It helps members sustain a fulfilling life without medicines.