The Explainer Archives

The Explainer

Metabolic Health

What should I expect to see on my continuous glucose monitor if I’m on a keto diet or in ketogenesis?

What might you see on your continuous glucose monitor if you are on a ketogenic diet? Here are thoughts from metabolic health expert Ben Bikman, PhD.

Ben Bikman, PhD

August 21, 2020

1 min read

How does the menstrual cycle affect blood sugar levels?

Women's Health

The Explainer

How does the menstrual cycle affect blood sugar levels?

Hormonal fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle have an impact on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

The Levels Team

August 14, 2020

1 min read

Taking steroids? Expect glucose turbulence

Metabolic Health

The Explainer

Taking steroids? Expect glucose turbulence

A discussion of the different ways that steroid medications can cause high glucose levels and erratic readings on your continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Casey Means, MD

July 31, 2020

2 min read

Sleep

The Explainer

Why do my glucose levels go low during sleep?

An exploration of some of the reasons why glucose readings on CGM may appear low while sleeping.

The Levels Team

July 31, 2020

3 min read

It shouldn’t require a Ph.D. to know what to eat for lunch: how continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can simplify things

Nutrition

The Explainer

It shouldn’t require a Ph.D. to know what to eat for lunch: how continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can simplify things

We have a wide abundance of food choices and access to an incredible amount of information about food, and yet most people are still confused. This article describes how glucose monitoring can simplify dietary choices.

The Levels Team

July 30, 2020

3 min read

How does stress affect my glucose levels?

Mental Health

The Explainer

How does stress affect my glucose levels?

The Levels Team

July 17, 2020

2 min read

How do plant-based diets impact glucose levels?

Metabolic Basics

The Explainer

How do plant-based diets impact glucose levels?

This article describes how to optimize your glucose levels while on a plant-based diets using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

The Levels Team

July 14, 2020

6 min read

Sleep

The Explainer

How does sleep affect blood sugar?

Sleep quality and quantity have a profound effect on metabolic health. This article describes the mechanisms by which improving sleep hygiene can improve glucose control.

Alex Moskov

June 26, 2020

5 min read

What does it mean if I had two glucose spikes after a meal? Biphasic spikes, explained

Metabolic Health

The Explainer

What does it mean if I had two glucose spikes after a meal? Biphasic spikes, explained

Some individuals notice on their continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that they have two distinct glucose peaks after a meal. In this post, we discuss the science behind "biphasic spikes."

Casey Means, MD

June 12, 2020

3 min read

Can controlling my glucose levels give me more energy?

Metabolic Basics

The Explainer

Can controlling my glucose levels give me more energy?

Stabilizing glucose levels can help us control and manage our energy.

The Levels Team

June 12, 2020

4 min read

How do glucose levels relate to depression and anxiety?

Mental Health

The Explainer

How do glucose levels relate to depression and anxiety?

Controlling blood sugar dysregulation may be an important factor in reducing the risk of mood disorders like anxiety and depression. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can serve as a biofeedback tool to gain clarity into how personal glucose levels and mood are related.

Casey Means, MD

February 25, 2020

4 min read

How to get healthy skin with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)

Women's Health

The Explainer

How to get healthy skin with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)

Controlling glucose levels with diet and lifestyle interventions can reduce damaging processes like glycation and oxidative stress, which can improve skin health.

Casey Means, MD

January 11, 2020

4 min read

What does alcohol do to my glucose levels?

Metabolic Basics

The Explainer

What does alcohol do to my glucose levels?

Alcohol's effect on your blood sugar has a lot to do with context: how much you're drinking, if you're fasting and the type of alcohol.

Casey Means, MD

December 26, 2019

6 min read

Metabolic Health

The Explainer

What should I expect to see on my continuous glucose monitor if I’m on a keto diet or in ketogenesis?

What might you see on your continuous glucose monitor if you are on a ketogenic diet? Here are thoughts from metabolic health expert Ben Bikman, PhD.

Ben Bikman, PhD

August 21, 2020

1 min read

Women's Health

The Explainer

How does the menstrual cycle affect blood sugar levels?

Hormonal fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle have an impact on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

The Levels Team

August 14, 2020

1 min read

Metabolic Health

The Explainer

Taking steroids? Expect glucose turbulence

A discussion of the different ways that steroid medications can cause high glucose levels and erratic readings on your continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Casey Means, MD

July 31, 2020

2 min read

Sleep

The Explainer

Why do my glucose levels go low during sleep?

An exploration of some of the reasons why glucose readings on CGM may appear low while sleeping.

The Levels Team

July 31, 2020

3 min read

Nutrition

The Explainer

It shouldn’t require a Ph.D. to know what to eat for lunch: how continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can simplify things

The Levels Team

July 30, 2020

3 min read

Mental Health

The Explainer

How does stress affect my glucose levels?

The Levels Team

July 17, 2020

2 min read

Metabolic Basics

The Explainer

How do plant-based diets impact glucose levels?

This article describes how to optimize your glucose levels while on a plant-based diets using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

The Levels Team

July 14, 2020

6 min read

Sleep

The Explainer

How does sleep affect blood sugar?

Sleep quality and quantity have a profound effect on metabolic health. This article describes the mechanisms by which improving sleep hygiene can improve glucose control.

Alex Moskov

June 26, 2020

5 min read

Metabolic Health

The Explainer

What does it mean if I had two glucose spikes after a meal? Biphasic spikes, explained

Some individuals notice on their continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that they have two distinct glucose peaks after a meal. In this post, we discuss the science behind "biphasic spikes."

Casey Means, MD

June 12, 2020

3 min read

Metabolic Basics

The Explainer

Can controlling my glucose levels give me more energy?

Stabilizing glucose levels can help us control and manage our energy.

The Levels Team

June 12, 2020

4 min read

Mental Health

The Explainer

How do glucose levels relate to depression and anxiety?

Casey Means, MD

February 25, 2020

4 min read

Women's Health

The Explainer

How to get healthy skin with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)

Controlling glucose levels with diet and lifestyle interventions can reduce damaging processes like glycation and oxidative stress, which can improve skin health.

Casey Means, MD

January 11, 2020

4 min read