Continuous Glucose Monitoring through Spark Health allows you to:
Continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM, is a method to track blood sugar to evaluate your body’s response to certain foods, exercise, fasting, stress and more. Patients with high and low blood sugar can benefit from using a CGM short term, and some patients like to use it for general wellness to confirm stable blood sugar. Your doctor will help you understand the mechanisms behind hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes, as well as lifestyle factors involved in blood sugar regulation. You will also review lab values for blood sugar and insulin resistance and review your target blood sugar numbers and goals.
You will have regular check-ins with your doctor to discuss the CGM readings and trends and to monitor symptoms and observations. Your doctor may recommend supplements and medications for long-term glucose management, as well as nutrition and exercise guidelines. You will have the chance to implement these changes for 2-3 months before repeating labs to see how these lifestyle modifications have affected blood sugar and insulin goals.
Your body turns the food you eat into glucose to use as energy. Certain foods or too much food can cause excess glucose in the blood. This excess glucose causes damage to the body and is readily stored as fat. Monitoring your glucose levels and spikes can help you optimize your diet and exercise to minimize the production of excess glucose.
A CGM system consists of three parts:
A slim sensor continuously measures glucose levels just beneath the skin and wirelessly sends your numbers to a smart device every 5 minutes without a fingerstick or scanning. Trend arrows show where your numbers are heading and how fast, making it easier to make better health decisions.
A single Dexcom G6 sensor can be worn up to 10 days.
The Dexcom G6 is designed to not impact your travel.
Dexcom designed the Dexcom G6 CGM System sensor auto-applicator for easier, more consistent sensor insertions. Your Spark Health doctor will apply the sensor for you at the first visit.
The Dexcom G6 auto applicator was designed for easier, more consistent sensor insertions. According to a survey of Dexcom G6 users, 84% reported that the initial sensor insertion was painless and 100% reported that the applicator was easy to use.
The Dexcom G6 sensors may be inserted on the abdomen or the upper buttocks. Sensor placement is important, and you will want to change your insertion site with each sensor. If inserting on the abdomen, we recommend shaving the area prior to your first visit.
Unlike other clinics that just sell medication, Spark Health utilizes a holistic treatment strategy that looks at all the internal and external health factors. We go beyond the conventional and the cookie-cutter to offer customized healthcare. All our services work in synergy across the core pillars of our practice.
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