Exercising is actually beneficial to your health. Sleep is essential, as are veggies, regrettably.
I’d heard these health adages hundreds of times before, but they really came home for me this winter when I tested out a metabolic health platform from the firm Signos. In summary, the company provides a subscription service that comprises a small continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that you attach to your arm or abdomen and feeds data to the Signos app, which tries to help you lose weight by tracking your blood sugar.
The subscription price varies according to the plan you choose. A one-month plan starts at $449, but a six-month plan starts at around $143 per month if paid up front. However, services like this, which were previously restricted for diabetics, may soon open up a whole new revenue stream for health corporations. Dexcom, for example, just got FDA authorization for its over-the-counter Stelo medication, which is set to launch this summer. Meanwhile, Signos competes with companies like NutriSense, Veri, and Levels.
I wanted to gain a firsthand idea of what these glucose monitors are like, so I tried Signos‘ latest system, which employs a Dexcom G7 monitor. This is what I learned.
SIGNOS
Signos, founded in 2018, employs continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and an artificial intelligence-powered app to assist consumers better understand their metabolisms. The company provides consumers with individualized insights into how their bodies respond to particular foods and when they should exercise to achieve the best weight loss results.
Glucose is a form of sugar obtained from food and the body’s primary source of energy. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a small sensor that pokes through the skin and tracks an individual’s blood glucose levels, or blood sugar levels, in real time. The sensor is commonly worn on the upper arm or belly and can provide data wirelessly to a smartphone.
Glucose is a form of sugar obtained from food and the body’s primary source of energy. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a small sensor that pokes through the skin and tracks an individual’s blood glucose levels, or blood sugar levels, in real time. The sensor is commonly worn on the upper arm or belly and can provide data wirelessly to a smartphone.
CGMs are mostly utilized by diabetics since they can notify patients to potential emergencies. However, Signos’ CGM system is designed for average consumers and is not intended for diabetes control. Other businesses, like as Abbott Laboratories, are launching consumer-facing CGM systems in the United States this year.
The Signos platform educates users how their daily routines, such as diet, hydration, exercise, stress, and sleep, affect their glucose levels and lead them to surge.
Glucose spikes occur when the amount of sugar in the bloodstream suddenly increases. This usually happens after eating. Short-term rises might induce sleepiness and exhaustion, but high blood sugar can eventually lead to more significant health concerns
such as diabetes, heart disease, and renal disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Everyone’s glucose levels fluctuate, so spikes and dips are unavoidable; nonetheless, Signos attempts to assist patients lessen the strength and frequency of their spikes. According to the firm, maintaining relatively consistent glucose levels can help people improve their metabolism, lose weight, and, as a result, lower their risk of chronic disease.
To begin using Signos, I had to complete a brief questionnaire that requested basic biological information as well as facts about my medical history. After submitting my responses for evaluation by an independent physician, my CGM prescription was approved and began processing for shipment a few hours later.
After a few days, my kit arrived in a brown Signos box. It includes an instruction booklet, CGMs, alcohol wipes, and sports patches to cover the CGM once it has been administered. I followed the directions in the handbook and downloaded the Signos app, which required me to create accounts with Signos and the CGM business Dexcom.
Signos employs Dexcom CGMs, which are exclusively intended for diabetic patients. Signos is using Dexcom’s CGMs in a clinical study that has been approved by an institutional review board certified by the US Food and Drug Administration, which regulates biomedical research involving real people, according to Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, Signos’ co-founder and CEO, who told CNBC in October.
Dexcom Ventures is also an investor in Signos, having participated in the $20 million fundraising round announced by the compan last October y .
Signos’ platform is compatible with Dexcom’s and G6 later G7 CGMs. I tested the platform with the G7, which Signos released in January. The G6 and G7 sensors last 10 days, and I used three G7s during my trial.
After I’d set up my accounts, it was time to put on my first sensor, which I was nervous about.
I’m normally okay with needles, however I try to look away if I have to get a shot at the doctor’s office. The CGM needle is small – it looks like someone clicked a mechanical pencil a few times, for comparison – but I wasn’t looking forward to sticking it into my arm.
Much to my relief, using the sensor is simple and painless.
The Signos app led me through the procedure step by step, including a one-minute video and a collection of GIFs to view. I cleansed the back of my left arm with an alcohol wipe,
positioned the applicator there, clicked the applicator’s button, and popped the CGM, needle and all, directly onto my arm. The G7 is white, around the size of a quarter, and perhaps half an inch thick.
I paired the CGM with the Signos app by turning on Bluetooth and scanning the corresponding QR code on my applicator. After applying the CGM and pairing it with my app, I placed a purple sports patch over top to protect the sensor from tugging, sweating, and water.
It took around 30 minutes for the sensor to warm up to my body and be ready to use.
What is excellent
I was concerned that the CGM would be unpleasant or inconvenient, but I forgot about it frequently, and it’s simple to wear regular garments and jackets over it, even if they have tight sleeves.
For a few days, I had considerable sensitivity when sleeping on my left side, especially after changing the sensor. My upper arm felt sore, as if there had been a minor bruising. However, I elected to wear the CGM in the same location on my left arm every time, and I believe I might have prevented this sensitivity if I had rotated between my left and right arms.
I’d never seen or read glucose data before, and I thought the Signos platform did a good job explaining and breaking things down. To get started, the app guided me through a series of brief articles and tasks, such as meal tracking and exercise.
It also introduced me to the concept of my “optimal glucose range,” which is where Signos recommends keeping your glucose levels. Signos initially sets the maximum and lower limits of the range at 120 mg/dL and 80 mg/dL, respectively, but the app’s algorithm modifies them based on your body’s tendencies. My upper limit was eventually increased to 126 mg/dL, for example.
The Signos home page displays your real-time glucose reading, a glucose level graph (with a shaded region indicating your optimal range), and the proportion of time you’ve spent in the range each day. This could be especially useful for people who are prediabetic and want to monitor their glucose levels over time.
Once I mastered the fundamentals, Signos prompted me with additional activities and articles that allowed me to experiment and gain a better understanding of my blood sugar. For example, one activity urged me to try exercising immediately after a meal, and when I did, I saw that it significantly reduced the surge I was experiencing.
Another activity required me to guess what my glucose levels were at various intervals in the day. I was amazed at how soon I realized the connection between how I felt and what I was reading. You can skip the tasks if you don’t want to, but I thought they were generally entertaining and beneficial.
Signos also employs licensed dieticians, and consumers can contact them by chat, email, or phone consultation. I scheduled a meeting after my first week wearing a CGM, and it was quite beneficial. I asked a lot of questions regarding my data and the Signos app itself, and I also got some suggestions for things to attempt and work on next.
I knew the experience would be individualized, but I don’t think I’ve ever had such detailed information about what was going on in my body. I was fascinated to see how I reacted to various cuisines, and there were some surprises.
I usually eat instant oatmeal for breakfast and have always considered it a relatively healthy meal. However, I discovered that oatmeal considerably raises my blood glucose levels. On February 9, oatmeal increased my levels from 88 to 167 mg/dL. So, while oatmeal may be a terrific breakfast for some individuals, it isn’t always the ideal option for me.
I was less startled by my reactions to many other foods, but it was still beneficial to reinforce these notions with statistics. Processed foods, such as chips and sweets, generated significant jumps in my levels, but fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich meals had a much more gradual effect. I frequently consume greek yogurt as a snack, for example, and I’ve discovered that it rarely causes my levels to jump.
It was powerful to watch how my body responded to nutritious food, and it made me more aware of the decisions I was making.
As it turns out, rises in blood sugar can be driven by far more than just meals. That was news to me. In addition to monitoring meals and activity, the Signos app includes a “Tags” feature that allows you to enter notes and choose from a list of over 60 potential spike-causing culprits. Some of the options include stress, travel, medication, illness, sobbing, and even taking a hot shower.
I discovered that my glucose levels tend to rise while I’m writing a breaking news article (who knew!), and I spend less time in my ideal range when I’m weary. I had an extremely stressful week at work in January, and my reads reflect this.
I found it helpful to visualize how several factors, some under my control and some not, could affect my blood sugar. It emphasizes how much you are affected by your surroundings.
And, as a bonus, the CGM is an excellent conversation starter.
My friends, family, and colleagues were very interested in the device and what I was learning from it. Because it is uncommon for the average individual to we CGMs ar , I believe there was some novelty involved.
Finally, it is simple to remove the CGM when it expires. After the ten days are up, just peel off the adhesive like a sticker.
WHAT’S BAD?
Signos’ user interface is simple to use, yet some functionalities are more straightforward than others.
For example, it took me a few days to figure out how to document my sleep hours correctly. It was also difficult to choose how much detail to include when tracking my meals, as I preferred to limit my entries to a few words. If I had received more help, I may have gained more particular insights and fine-tuned my algorithm even further.
Furthermore, it was not always possible for me to interact with the platform’s alerts and activities, especially during the workday.
After eating a meal, I would frequently receive a “Fast Rise” signal from my Signos app, indicating that a glucose surge was occurring. The warning invites users to do 20 to 30 minutes of “brisk walking” or 10 to 15 minutes of plyometrics, a type of high-intensity exercise, to help lower the surge. I work in-person in CNBC’s newsroom three days a week, so this wasn’t always possible.
When I contacted the Signos nutritionist about this notice, she said that any exercise is healthy, even if it’s as simple as walking up or down a flight of stairs. I tried to take a lap around the newsroom after learning that, but I believe it would have been nice to know ahead of time.
Subscriptions to Signos are expensive, and many customers’ CGMs are not currently covered by insurance. Customers who sign up for Signos can select a one-, three-, or six-month package.
The exorbitant price tag is certainly worth considering. According to Signos’ website, customers diagnosed with type 2 diabetes may be eligible to have the cost of the CGM covered by their insurance. However, people without type 2 diabetes may be out of luck.
The business stated that while some consumers may be able to use their Health Savings Account reimbursement funds to cover the Signos, it “is not responsible for reimbursement in any capacity,” according to the website.
In other words, users who wish to try and lower the platform’s costs must figure it out on their own.
I also found myself checking the Signos app frequently, almost as if it were another sort of social networking. This caused me pause.
I’ve been fortunate to have had a relatively pleasant relationship with food throughout my life, and I don’t have a lot of health worry. Nonetheless, I attempted to be very aware of my thinking and attitude towards the Signos platform. I considered Signos as a tool and a learning experience, and I didn’t want to focus too much on the figures.
I knew it was the best method for me, and it worked for the most part. However, I did find myself feeling bad about huge spikes on a few occasions.
As I reflected on those thoughts and how frequently I checked the app, it became clear to me that the platform may be hazardous to certain users’ mental health, especially if they suffered with body image or eating disorders.
Signos stated that all potential members are asked about their medical history, including problematic eating, during their initial medical questionnaire. Signos stated that if a person is actively experiencing or recovering from an eating disorder, the independent physician will not accept their participation in the Signos program.
The company stated that it does not suggest any certain eating style, and that metabolic health coaches are on staff to help people check in on how they are feeling.
As with other things, I believe trusting yourself is essential here. If you do not believe that obtaining your metabolic data will benefit your mental health, then using a CGM is probably not a good decision. You can always consult with your doctor to see if the technology is good for you.
Takeaways
The Signos experience is entirely dependent on you, the user.
The software will not do your learning or make lifestyle changes for you, so if you are unwilling to spend the time to log your meals and perform activities, you will most likely not benefit from the platform.
As a young and reasonably healthy person, I had no idea what to anticipate from Signos, but I learned a lot about my body’s reactions to my nutrition, sleep, exercise, and stress. The CGM is like a little window into what’s going on beneath the skin, and I think it’s clear why it’s such a useful tool. After only one month of use, I now have a better grasp of why I feel drowsy, lethargic, or stimulated.
I wouldn’t be shocked if I used CGM devices at different periods of my life to better understand how I react to my nutrition and the world around me.
