I wore a CGM and tested the US Government’s Recommendations (here’s what I learned)

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Disclosure: I don’t trust the Government when it comes to managing nutrition or health outcomes. I generally follow a low-carb/paleo approach to food consumption.

Since early 2018 – I’ve been wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). A CGM is intended for those managing their blood glucose (Type 1 or 2 diabetics) and it’s a lifesaver! I’m not a diabetic. However, I strongly believe ALL people should have access to a CGM for at least 2 weeks (that’s how long they’re programed to work). A CGM provides you with a LOT of actionable information. It’s a realtime look at how specific foods and lifestyle decisions impact the levels of blood sugar in your very own blood. Not theory, not speculation… just evidence. We’ll get in to why this is important in a bit.

Note: Currently in most states you need a prescription for a continuous glucose monitor.

Note: There are some states where a pharmacist may prescribe a CGM.

What is a CGM?

Imagine having to poke your finger with a needle over and over each day to monitor your blood glucose, it’s gotta be terrible! Painful fingertips. All the while you’re having to deal with all of the symptoms that go along with being diabetic (either type 1 or 2), real bummer! The CGM eliminates that pain and provides users with a blood sugar reading anytime, with no finger prick, right on an app, a real life changer.

The CGM doesn’t take glucose readings from your blood. The CGM readings are taken from the interstitial fluid (ISF). The ISF is a thin layer of fluid that surrounds the cells of the tissues below your skin. Readings from a CGM are typically 5-10 minutes behind CGM readings (derived from the ISF).

Visual Comparison (Keto vs. the MyPlate Plan)

These two images are taken 1 day apart. The Keto image is what my blood sugar typically looks like (day before testing the My Plate Plan). The MyPlate reading is after (1) day of eating the Government’s recommended food groups and diet plan – much more on this in this post (keep reading).

The monitor is easy to install, you can even do it yourself (however, applying the sticker around it – get another set of hands to help). Here’s what it looks like out of the box:

Diet & Macronutrients

Important to note: Everyone is different, which means: there is no one sized fits all diet. However, there are some truths about macronutrients that are important to understand.

Macronutrients include:

• Protein – 4 calories per gram
• Carbohydrates – 4 calories per gram
• Fats – 9 calories per gram

Carbs raise blood sugar. Some carbs act faster than others, some have a greater increase in blood sugar BUT – it’s important to know: ALL CARBS RAISE BLOOD SUGAR.

Why did you test the Government’s recommendations?

I have a theory that most of the recommendations provided by the US Government are largely responsible for the decline in US health over the last 50 years. The rise of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and insulin resistance are due in part to the vilification of fat (particularly saturated fat), animal protein, and sodium. I also believe the recommendations and subsequent increased consumption of vegetable oils and carbohydrates/sugars are deleterious to the human body.

I wanted to show just ONE element (there are many others) relating to the impact of the recommendations provided by the Government’s My Plate Plan. This one element is the impact of diet recommendations and blood sugar.

I believe: Regulating blood sugar is a VERY important aspect to controlling favorable health outcomes.

Note: Yes, I do believe Keto is an effective tool in managing blood sugar. I also believe the Ketogenic diet to be a tool for many in assisting the reversal of type 2 diabetes. However, I don’t believe the Keto diet to be an answer for ALL – it’s simply ONE tool – this post is not intended to promote a specific diet. But… I am biased toward a ketogenic/paleo diet concept in general. With that out of the way…

What is the Government’s My Plate Plan?

The United States Government offers advice on how you should eat. So here I am showing ONE aspect of this plan and how it impacts MY blood glucose.

The MyPlate Plan shows your food group targets, how many calories you should consume and what you should eat.

Here are the recommendations spelled out for me on the website:

MyPlate Meal Plan (Day 1)

Thanks to my amazing wife: she prepared a VERY specific plan that perfectly meets all criteria of the My Plate Plan. The foods consumed here are what we believe to be typical in what is deemed “healthy” by the My Plate recommendations.

The following two images are the morning of (and the night’s sleep prior to) the first day of testing how the My Plate Plan impacted blood sugar.

As you can see with the images above regular night’s sleep with a regulated blood sugar.

Leading in to the first day:

• 8AM Breakfast
• 2 bowls of Raisin Bran
• 1 egg
• Half of a banana
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1.5 cup 2% milk
• 10AM Snack
• Mountain Blueberry Yogurt

Lunch at 12pm – Big sub & apple.

More snacks… The recommendation is to eat small throughout the day which goes against everything I believe. It felt like I was always eating (every 2 hours) – and much of what was being consumed was high in carbohydrates.

Dinner a little after 5pm with a snack following at 7:45pm (in between: workout – mostly weights with no cardio). Again, feeling like I was constantly eating (which I was). I feel this constant “nourishment’ isn’t allowing my body to rest, recover, focus energy on other functions.

• Dinner at 5pm
• 2 cups of salad mix
• 4tbsp light ranch
• 4oz chicken breast
• 1 cup canned corn
• Snack at 7:45pm
• 2 slices of toast
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 cup 2% milk

Key Takeaways from Day 1

• Increasing fat/protein with a meal may help to regulate blood sugar.
• Energy level during mid day is impacted significantly by blood sugar spikes in the morning (more carbs during breakfast and lunch will dramatically impact how sleepy and unmotivated you feel mid day).
• Snacking more makes me hungry more often.
• Carbohydrate consumption is satiating for a limited time. After 30 minutes – hunger levels are high again.
• Utilizing blood sugar via lifting weights my help to reduce elevated blood sugar. You use what’s in your blood for energy demand.

MyPlate Meal Plan (Day 2)

Today I wanted to follow up with a “good intention day” – You know, those days where you try and follow a diet and it falls apart? You know. We all know. However, I wanted to ensure that i didn’t fall too far outside the recommendations and calories.

The following two images are my overnight glucose and my sleep. Neither of which are troubling (besides the low deep sleep). Higher than normal glucose and lower than normal deep sleep. Neither of which are improvements. After years of tracking sleep I’ve learned a few things about age, daily power output, stressors, and sleep. More on that later.

Again, the morning starts out with sugar. Something I’m not used to but something that’s easy to look forward to.

In the past: It took time for me to break the habit of a big breakfast but when I did: the changes were very noticeable. For example: I stopped getting tired later in the day – my energy was prolonged by extending my fast past the wake up, typical break-fast time.

• 8am Breakfast & 10am snack included:
• 1 fried egg
• 1 packet steel cut oats
• 1 cup Apple juice
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 2 slices of toast with peanut butter & honey
• 10am snack
• Banana

Opted for no afternoon snack because we’re getting pizza and a treat.

Insert controversial thought here.

We’ve got a big problem – treats as a reward, treats as an activity, and the list probably goes on… Individuals that choose not to get a treat when they’re out or when there’s an occasion understand truly what sacrifice is (in relation to food choices). Here’s a C.S. Lewis quote that’s stuck with me on many levels:

In relation to making poor food choices, you can’t truly appreciate the danger of bad food choices until you are making better choices. You’ll better understand your positive, potential health outcomes by avoiding bad food choices, until then, it’ll be too difficult to accept and change.

Finish controversial thought here.

While I wasn’t meeting the requirements for veggies, I was meeting ALL other requirements – crazy huh? In fact, the MYPlate Plan allows for up to 80 grams of ADDED SUGARS! Seriously.

Here’s what 80 grams of sugar looks like (banana for reference). The cookie above has 20 grams of added sugar.

And like you’d expect, some serious blood sugar fluctuation followed. 2 hours after I went to sleep another spike – about 5 hours since eating the cookie!

Here’s what may feel like confounding evidence: my sleep was amazing and my HRV was excellent!

I ate a lot of carbs, huge fluctuations of glucose, and I rested. Rest almost always is a contributor to my high HRV and deep sleep next day. High HRV is good! It’s said to be an indicator of your “health age”. The higher the number, the lower the age (the better your metabolic age).

At 40 years old, I’ve learned that I HAVE to rest more. Going hard every OTHER day provides me with the absolute best outcomes. But none of these numbers would grow like this without a coordinated approach. Your body needs stress – then rest. Sauna, Sun, Lift Heavy Things, Loads of Movement, Cold Exposure, and maybe even carbs (a possible stressor). THEN take it easy!

My Takeaways from day 2

• Similar to day 1
• The more carbs I eat the hungrier I get.
• The more fat I eat, the more satisfied I feel.
• If you want sustained energy without the dips – avoid overconsumption of carbs.
• I lost all motivation for working out after my pizza and cookie. All I wanted to do is watch a movie. I didn’t use the blood sugar consumed from the pizza and cookie and the amount of sugar in my blood rose significantly (I didn’t use it).

Key takeaways:

• Blood sugar is elevated by overconsumption of carbohydrates.
• Unused blood sugar is converted to fat and stored for energy later.
• Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t use glucose from your blood for energy. The result is elevated blood sugar.
• Elevated blood sugar results in type 2 diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes is completely reversible via restricted carbohydrate intake and increased fat and protein consumption.
• The connection to insulin resistance and cardiovascular issues are VERY closely associated.
• The Government’s My Plate Plan recommendations tend to cause elevated blood glucose, which may in turn promote decreased health outcomes.

After closely reviewing the recommendations of the United States Government, I can safely assume the recommendations are not intended for improved health outcomes of the population but rather the stability of the economy. It’s about money.

Disagree? Have another point of view or concept to share? Please share in the comments!

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