Blood Sugar Tracking: The Trend Taking Over The Wellness World
Metabolic health is in the spotlight
The hottest accessory as of late is not a handbag, nor is it the latest iPhone. It’s not even an Oura Ring, the sleek wellness wearable loved by Gwyneth and Kim K. No: the status symbol of 2024 is a little yellow circle stuck to your upper arm, recognised by those in-the-know as the famous Zoe glucose patch, which had racked up a 200,000-strong waiting list before launching in spring 2022.
All of a sudden, blood sugar tracking is everywhere. In the past, it’s safe to say the majority of people – bar diabetics – never gave much thought to their blood glucose levels. But in recent years, the topic has emerged as the buzziest metric for monitoring your health, largely as a result of a spate of new devices known as continuous glucose monitors, which are now being widely marketed rather than kept within the diabetics realm.
Zoe, created by doctor and epidemiologist Tim Spector, is the most well-known, but newbies are popping up all the time, including a recent launch from health tech firm Abbott, the Lingo.
TikTok and Instagram, meanwhile, are awash with blood sugar influencers, such as French biochemist Glucose Goddess, who has developed a cult-like following for her hacks on monitoring glucose levels in the body. She has gone on to write a book about the topic, The Glucose Goddess Method, which is filled with tips on how to ‘curb your cravings, clear your skin, slow your ageing process, reduce inflammation, rebalance your hormones, improve your mood and sleep better than you have ever done before.’ Wow – it’s tempting stuff. So should we all be jumping aboard the trend?
What Is Blood Sugar Tracking?
Blood sugar is also known as glucose, which derives from the Greek word for ‘sweet’. It’s a type of sugar which comes from the foods we eat, particularly carbohydrates, and the body uses it for energy, ensuring your organs function properly – including the brain.
Our glucose levels fluctuate throughout the day, in response to the foods we eat and the order we eat them in, as well as factors like exercise and sleep. Although some sugary foods and drinks are notorious for causing excessive spikes, everyone is individual, hence the surge in glucose trackers, which offer personal information on how what you’re consuming is affecting your blood sugar levels.
‘Healthy blood sugar control is key to good health,’ says Rhian Stephenson, a nutritionist, naturopath and founder of ARTAH. ‘When it is dysregulated, we can experience impaired immunity, anxiety, fluctuating energy levels, headaches, brain fog, cravings, visceral weight gain and more.
‘It plays a role in several conditions, from PCOS and metabolic syndrome to type 2 diabetes and cancer, so understanding what contributes to, and can remedy, poor blood sugar control is essential for short- and long-term health outcomes.’
Best Glucose Monitors For 2024
Zoe
The queen of the glucose world, Zoe is a personalised nutrition programme which works in two parts: the initial test kit, and the membership. Once you’ve made it through the waitlist, you’ll be sent your glucose monitor, along with an at-home testing kit which analyses your blood fat response and gut health. After getting your results, you’ll be provided with bespoke information on how your body responds to food, along with recipe ideas and more.
Test kit is £259.99, monthly Zoe app from £24.99. zoe.com
Lingo by Abbott
Lingo by Abbott is coming to the UK this year after a preview period in 2023. Inserted into the arm using a filament, the wearable device can track glucose levels in real time, which Abbot says will allow for more personalised ways to improve health. It can be kept in place for up to two weeks at a time, with a subscription service available for users who want to analyse their blood sugar over a longer period of time.
From £89 for a single sensor. shop.hellolingo.com
Veri Method
Founded in 2019, Nordic-born Veri is another metabolic health company focused on glucose monitoring. The programme involves attaching a continuous glucose monitor to your arm and tracking your blood sugar levels for 56 days, learning about your body’s response to different food, types of exercise and other pillars along the way.
From £129 per month. veri.co
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