Diabetes CGMs vs Sports Biosensors
Over the past few years, new CGM brands have flooded the market, and they’re not just for people with diabetes. Non-diabetics use blood glucose data to improve their diet, metabolism, gut health, and athletic performance. People now use glucose monitors to track their blood glucose levels just like they wear fitness trackers to track their steps, sleep cycles, and heart rate. Professional athletes are also using glucose biosensors to optimize their training regimens and calorie intake to achieve peak performance.
With all of these new CGMs available, it’s important to know the difference between CGMs designed for diabetics and those made for non-diabetics who are interested in personal health data. Not all of the sensors that measure blood sugar have been approved for diabetes treatment decisions, so people with type 1 diabetes should use a diabetes CGM. For non-diabetics, the coaching and insights provided by sports biosensor apps can help you understand your glucose data and see what changes to make in your lifestyle.
What's the difference?
To help you make sense of the many CGMs on the market, we’ve categorized them into two groups: diabetes CGMs and sports biosensors.
Diabetes CGMs are designed for people with diabetes and are approved for making treatment decisions. Some even work with insulin pumps as a hybrid closed-loop system, where your pump can automatically adjust your insulin dose based on your blood sugar. There are CGMs available for both type 1 and type 2 diabetics.
Sports biosensors are not made for diabetes treatment. They’re designed for non-diabetics who want to track their blood sugar levels and find a diet and exercise routine that suits their body. Some biosensors are included as part of a health program or subscription. They can be used temporarily to learn how your body responds to different foods, or long-term to see patterns in your blood glucose. People with a risk of developing diabetes can also use these biosensors to see what foods cause their blood sugar to spike and make changes to their lifestyle.
Sports Biosensors
Abbott Lingo
Lingo is a sports biosensor that helps you understand your metabolism and how your diet and exercise affect it. It includes an app and a coaching program that help you understand your data and adjust your habits.
Features
- A 14-day sensor that provides new readings every minute.
- App with a graph of your blood sugar readings, a log for tracking your eating and exercise habits, health challenges for you to complete, and weekly reports.
- Integrates with Apple Health
- Intended for users 18 years and older who are not on insulin.
- Available in the UK and US.
Who it’s for
People interested in learning about their metabolism and getting personalized diet and exercise tips based on their glucose data. Lingo is a great choice if you want to try out a glucose biosensor short-term because you don’t have to sign up for a long-term prescription.
Price
Starts at $49 USD for a two-week plan.
Dexcom Stelo
Dexcom is a household name for type 1 diabetics, known for its reliable CGM technology. With Stelo, Dexcom aims to improve access to CGMs for people with type 2 diabetes. Most healthcare providers won’t prescribe a CGM for type 2 diabetics who aren’t on insulin. But Stelo is available over the counter – no prescription needed. It’s available for one-time purchase or as a subscription on the Dexcom Stelo website.
Features
- Sensors with a 15-day wear time and Dexcom’s highly accurate CGM technology.
- Stelo app alerts you to glucose spikes, lets you log meals and exercise, provides personalized insights, and connects to other health apps.
- Highest waterproof rating among glucose biosensors.
- Virtually painless sensor insertion.
- Available for purchase without a prescription.
- Currently available only in the US.
Who it’s for
Adults 18 years and older with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who aren’t on insulin and can’t get a CGM prescription. It also works for anyone who wants to track their blood sugar levels for other reasons, like improving their eating habits or athletic performance.
Price
$89 USD for a monthly subscription
Vively
Vively takes your blood glucose data and turns it into easy-to-understand insights that help you improve your health. The Vively app pairs with a Freestyle Libre sensor to monitor your blood sugar levels and give you recommendations. It allows you to compare data from different days to see what changes you should make to your diet, workouts, and sleep schedule. You can also chat with a dietitian, who can help you understand your data and find your ideal diet. They only send one sensor for every three months of their program and use the data from those 14 days for your personalized health insights. Additional sensors are available for purchase separately on their website.
Features
- One 14-day Freestyle Libre sensor during the three-month subscription.
- Vively app that provides health insights, food scores, a daily wellness score, and one-on-one support from an accredited dietitian.
- Integration with 12+ wearables.
- Available in Australia and New Zealand.
Who it’s for
People who want to try out a glucose biosensor for a couple of weeks to improve their lifestyle. If you prefer getting suggestions from a health professional instead of an algorithm, Vively is a good option because it offers support from a dietitian.
Price
$249 AUD for a 3-month subscription
Nutrisense
Nutrisense is designed to help people lose weight sustainably and boost their metabolism. For people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, the Nutrisense program provides insights that can help them improve their glucose levels. Subscribers get access to one-on-one video consultations with a dietitian or nutritionist, who can help you to develop a realistic plan to reach your health goals
Features
- A Dexcom G7 or Freestyle Libre 3 CGM sensor.
- Nutrisense app with self-paced learning materials, glucose data charts, an AI assistant to answer questions, and a chat with a nutritionist.
- Integration with Apple Health, Google Fit, and wearables.
- Available in the US.
Who it’s for
People who have trouble losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight, and those who are at risk for prediabetes. Nutrisense biosensors can also be used by type 2 diabetics who want to understand how their diet affects their blood sugar.
Price
Plans start at $225 USD per month.
ZOE
ZOE uses at-home tests to provide personalized food scores and recommendations to improve your gut microbiome and overall health. The program includes two parts, the test kit and the membership. The test kit includes a glucose sensor, a gut health test, and a blood fat test. The test results show how your body responds to food, which informs the food scores and advice you receive. The membership includes food scores, app tools, lessons, and a live chat with nutrition experts. ZOE’s diet recommendations don’t restrict what you can eat. The personalized food scores teach you what foods you can add to your meals to improve your energy levels and your body’s response.
Features
- One two-week glucose sensor per test kit.
- A blood fat test and gut health test to determine how your body responds to different foods.
- ZOE app with personalized food scores, educational lessons, and access to nutrition experts via live chat.
- Available in the US and the UK.
Who it’s for
People who want to improve their gut health and learn more about nutrition. ZOE helps you make better food choices that are attuned to your body. It’s not for people looking to use a glucose sensor long-term, as you only receive one sensor as part of the test kit.
Price
$294 USD for the test kit. Memberships start at $29 per month.
Diabetic CGMs
CGMs are a convenient way for people with diabetes to measure their blood sugar levels and make treatment decisions. Many can be used with insulin pumps to automate some insulin delivery. There are plenty of CGMs available, depending on your preferences and the insulin pump you use. We have many resources here on the NJAP blog to help you decide which CGM is best for you. Here are a few of our favorite CGMs on the market!
Abbot Freestyle Libre
Abbot’s Freestyle Libre sensors are some of the most widely used CGMs on the market. They currently offer two different systems, the Freestyle Libre 2 and 3. You can read about the differences here on the NJAP blog. They have the smallest CGM sensors on the market, with sensor sessions that last 15 days. The Freestyle Libre 2 Plus is compatible with the Tandem t:slim X2 hybrid closed-loop insulin pump.
Dexcom
The Dexcom G6 and G7 CGMs are another popular choice for diabetics. The G7 sensor is the most accurate CGM system available, and the sensor warm-up time is only 30 minutes, compared to other sensors that take one to two hours. It also offers the most integration options. Dexcom is compatible with pumps from Tandem, Omnipod, BetaBionics, and more. One downside is that the sensor sessions only last 10 days, significantly shorter than other CGM systems. If you want to learn more about the different Dexcom sensors, check out our guide to Dexcom CGM sensors.
Medtronic Guardian
Medtronic offers different CGM systems depending on your needs. The Guardian Connect system is designed as a standalone CGM that you can use alongside multiple daily injections or an insulin pump system. The Guardian 4 sensors are made for the MiniMed 780G insulin pump system, which uses the CGM data to automatically adjust insulin delivery. The sensor sessions last six days. For more info about the difference between Medtronic and Dexcom sensors, check out our blog post, Dexcom vs. Medtronic: Which is the Best CGM for You?
Eversense
The Eversense CGM is an innovative new way to monitor blood sugar levels. It uses a tiny sensor placed under your skin by a healthcare provider. The sensor lasts 365 days and works with a removable transmitter that you can take off whenever you want. The system eliminates false readings from compression lows, and there’s no need to change a sensor every couple of weeks or deal with unexpected sensor failures.
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Both diabetic CGMs and sports biosensors are amazing tools that can help you improve your health and lifestyle. Whether you’re a diabetic trying to improve your blood sugars or a non-diabetic looking to lose weight and stay fit, you can find a sensor or subscription that works for you.
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