[CGM #13] 11-Day Journey Concludes: My GMI is 6.1% (Prediabetes)

TL;DR

The 11-day Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) journey is over. Swimming and showering were no problem, and the sensor needle was thin and flexible.
Soju has zero carbs and fructose, so drinking it with meat barely raised my blood sugar. (The biggest plot twist)
My Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) is 6.1%, which falls into the prediabetes range. What started as simple curiosity has led me to walk after meals and choose whole wheat over white bread.

I finally removed the Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) that had been attached to my arm, monitoring my blood sugar 24/7 for the past 11 days.

When I first inserted the needle, I wondered, “How am I going to wash and sleep with this attached?” But living with it, there were no inconveniences. I ate, slept, and even went swimming just like normal. Except for being careful with my sleeping posture so the sensor wouldn’t get pressed, it felt like a part of my body.

The Sticky Residue and the Thin Needle

When taking off the sensor, I peeled away the adhesive tape, and the main unit popped right off with it.

Sensor and needle removed from arm The needle stuck in my arm was much thinner and more flexible than I thought.

I saw the needle(?) that had been piercing my arm for 11 days with my own eyes, and it was as thin and flexible as a fishing line. There were minor drawbacks, like a slight bruise on the skin and the sticky tape residue being hard to wash off even with soap, but it was bearable. It feels bittersweet.

Receiving the Report Card: GMI 6.1%

After removing the sensor and opening the app, I saw my Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) calculated based on the 11 days of data. The number was 6.1%.

GMI 6.1% Report Estimated HbA1c 6.1%. At the time, I didn’t know what this meant.

At first, I thought, “Does 6.1% mean I got a 6 out of 100?” and casually searched it online. However, the result was quite shocking. GMI is similar to the estimated value of ‘HbA1c’, and the stages according to the numbers are as follows:

Normal: Less than 5.7%
Prediabetes: 5.7% ~ 6.4%
Diabetes: 6.5% or higher

My value was 6.1%. It was well outside the normal range, falling squarely into ‘Prediabetes’. Seeing the numbers confirm that I’m at a stage where I seriously need to manage my blood sugar felt like being hit in the back of the head.

What the 11-Day Experiment Left Behind

Over the 11 days of experimenting with various foods on my body, I clearly learned a few rules.

1. Familiar Tastes Raise Blood Sugar The destructive power of refined carbohydrates (white rice, white bread, fried rice) and liquid fructose was massive. On the other hand, foods like whole grain bread, protein, and cabbage acted as a solid defense shield, raising blood sugar slowly.

2. The Magic of a 30-Minute Walk After Meals The graphs were completely different when I sat still after eating versus when I took a 30-minute to 1-hour walk. When blood sugar is about to soar, starting to walk bends the curve brilliantly.

3. The Plot Twist of Soju The most surprising thing was alcohol. On the day I drank Soju with meat, I was tense, expecting my blood sugar to explode, but the graph was astonishingly calm. It turns out Soju has absolutely no fructose or carbohydrates. Lol (Of course, it’s bad for the liver, but it was generous to my blood sugar.)

Simple Curiosity Created New Habits

When I first bought the CGM, it was just out of light curiosity: “How does my blood sugar change?”

But after receiving the prediabetes report card, my daily life began to change. Instead of the fluffy white bread I used to love, I now choose stiff whole wheat bread, and after eating lunch, I force myself to go outside and walk around the neighborhood, even if it’s annoying.

The 11-day investment completely paid off. I feel like I’ve finally read the proper user manual for my body.

[!TIP] A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is an excellent tool not just for diabetic patients, but also for ordinary people to objectively review their eating habits. I highly recommend attaching one at least once to see which foods suit your body!