PEOPLE with diabetes rely on blood glucose devices to monitor their blood sugar levels, but now people who do not have diabetes are tapping into the technology. One product designed for people without diabetes, Levels, features two sensors worn on the skin for 14 days each. The product links to an app that displays the user’s blood sugar level at all times so they can see how their body reacts to eating a bagel, for example, a food high in carbohydrates, versus a high-protein food like chicken. People who did a tryout of the Levels app found that while tracking their meals with the app, proteins like chicken and boiled eggs kept there blood sugar level, while a salad dressing loaded with sugar did not. “What makes continuous glucose monitors so effective is that they empower people to learn about their health in a way that wasn’t possible before by seeing the impacts right away,” said Aaron Neinstein, a U.S. endocrinologist who is not associated with Levels and prescribes continuous glucose monitors to his patients with diabetes. “I think what a lot of people learn when they use continuous glucose monitoring is just how much unhealthy ingredients are hidden in foods that we don’t know about.” Medical experts say steady blood sugar levels generally keep the body in a state of using food as fuel, but big spikes in blood sugar can stimulate the body to store fat, increase your risk of heart disease and spur chronic inflammation. Keeping blood sugar levels in range as much as possible can help delay or prevent health problems like heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease, and can help boost energy and mood, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some of the keys to balancing blood sugar levels include avoiding processed foods, eating more protein, adding healthy fats like avocado, olive oil and nuts and even walking after big meals. “When you’re exercising, your body is able to bring glucose or sugar into the cells without insulin,” said Neinstein, an associate professor in the University of California San Francisco division of endocrinology.(SD-Agencies) | 