I've used my Oura Ring the past few years to track my sleep, recovery and stress. I'm constantly experimenting with the latest health tech, so I was naturally intrigued when Oura Ring recently partnered with Dexcom's Stelo, a continuous glucose monitor designed for people without diabetes. The goal of this collaboration is to help everyday people like me understand how food and general eating habits affect our blood sugar and overall health.
"By combining Stelo data with Oura's existing insights, we're empowering members to better understand the cause-and-effect relationships between eating patterns, energy, mood and recovery -- and ultimately make sustainable, science-backed lifestyle changes," Maz Brumand, vice president of product for Oura, told CNET.
I tested the Stelo CGM with my Oura Ring for two weeks, and it changed the way I eat and move. This type of biofeedback is helpful for everyone, even those without diabetes.
What is continuous glucose monitoring, and why is it important?
Your blood sugar, or blood glucose, refers to the measurement of sugar in your blood. According to the Cleveland Clinic, glucose is the main source of energy for your body -- it's what powers your muscles, brain and even your cells. When you eat certain foods (particularly carbohydrates), your glucose rises, and your body responds by releasing insulin to shuttle that sugar into cells for energy or storage. But if you experience frequent spikes or crashes -- even if you don't have diabetes -- it can affect your energy, sleep, mood and even long-term metabolic health. When your body doesn't need glucose immediately, it stores it as glycogen in your muscles and liver.
For people with diabetes, monitoring glucose levels is crucial. But is it important to do the same for the rest of us without a diagnosis? To an extent, I think so. Monitoring your blood sugar throughout the day and seeing how your body reacts to different foods can reveal a lot about your cravings, sleep and metabolic health. "Glucose is a real-time window into metabolic health, which underpins how we feel day to day -- our energy, focus, mood and sleep -- and how resilient we are over time," Brumand says.
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Can I buy a glucose monitor over the counter?
You don't need to have a prescription to purchase a glucose monitor, like the one I tried out from Stelo. With the rise of over-the-counter wearable glucose sensors like te Stelo, those without diabetes can now get insights into how their eating habits affect their bodies (without finger pricks or a prescription).
Dexcom and Stelo are two big players in the wearable glucose monitor market, but there are plenty of other options with various features and prices in our guide to the best continuous glucose monitors.
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