Anyone get a high CAC score and go for significant lifestyle changes

[alarmguy]

I fail to see a problem with those numbers

Well I hope you are right but I think you are looking at too short a time period. Would you think this now? I value your input, it's going back up and I have not had anything to eat since around 6:30ish.
Right now 134 proof that A1C it more reliable then one moment in time. Which is why I will take an average over time. I think the app does it for you or whatever. But at least I hope to see it improve as my weight goes down. When I fasted for 20 hours and first put it on I was in the 120s

Actually this is the six hour chart

 

[Pablo]

Well I hope you are right but I think you are looking at too short a time period. Would you think this now? I value your input, it's going back up and I have not had anything to eat since around 6:30ish.
Right now 134 proof that A1C it more reliable then one moment in time. Which is why I will take an average over time. I think the app does it for you or whatever. But at least I hope to see it improve as my weight goes down. When I fasted for 20 hours and first put it on I was in the 120s
View attachment 313237

What exactly did you eat ?

 

[alarmguy]

What exactly did you eat ?

TURKEY DRUMSTICK!! *LOL* and last two slices of white turkey. Mashed potatoes, giant green salad with ton of tomatoes, broccoli salad and an orange. Ohhhh and one Almond Biscotti
Note: I am running some kind of funky sore throat that keeps lingering. But still feel good enough for 4 rounds of pickleball today.

(time for bed on the east coast... another doctor appt in the morning.

4 more days to decide on an Advantage plan!!! *LOL*

 

[Pablo]

TURKEY DRUMSTICK!! *LOL* and last two slices of white turkey. Mashed potatoes, giant green salad with ton of tomatoes, broccoli salad and an orange. Ohhhh and one Almond Biscotti
Note: I am running some kind of funky sore throat that keeps lingering. But still feel good enough for 4 rounds of pickleball today.

(time for bed on the east coast... another doctor appt in the morning.

4 more days to decide on an Advantage plan!!! *LOL*

I’m surprised after that load you didn’t hit 200. I would have easily

You don’t need a CGM. Sorry

If things change perhaps you could put it to use

 

[Donald]

@alarmguy - what is your number when you first wake up and what is the avg over the 2 week span of the sensor. It takes many hours for your body to digest your food. Typically the BG is a little lower while sleeping and rises before you wake up. Glucose is energy for your body and your body wants to make sure there is plenty of energy for your body to use when you wake up. Your body can make glucose even when you have not eaten for awhile. You are not going to become insulin sensitive overnight. It will take at least 8 weeks probably longer.

Remember for most people they were becoming insulin resistant over many years as their insulin level was rising but never measured. Then all of a sudden 10 years later the insulin level that went from normal to high cannot no longer control the BG and doctors pick that up in a blood test. But it was happening for years

 

[Donald]

And forget the first few hours of BG readings from the sensor. They always seem to start a little high and then go down.

 

[alarmguy]

I’m surprised after that load you didn’t hit 200. I would have easily

You don’t need a CGM. Sorry

If things change perhaps you could put it to use

That's a bizarre statement. Im glad Im not full blown diabetic however Im not a doctor. I certainly have entered or VERY close to pre-diabetes area. If you do a search it will show you those numbers. Anyone who has over a 20% rise in blood glucose level (in my case the last 10 months) from what was ALWAYS under 100 should be concerned and I am concerned enough to get it down that 20%

Ive always invested in my health and bothers me greatly I did not know this device existed until a week ago. If it was ten months ago I am certain I could have limited the impact of the rise. I feel like a didnt miss out of too much, over the counter is a newer device.
BTW- This device is made for people who take an interest in their health, it's a great learning experience. IT was not marketed as a device for full blown diabetes though I guess it can be used for that. However the company makes a prescription device for that purpose. I also subscribe to unneeded Mens Health News Letter and Cleveland Clinics Heart News letter to learn.

What does anyone need besides food and shelter?
Why bother learning anything about your body vs pay the same to watch sports figures throw a ball around a field.
Trying my best to avoid my family history has worked for many decades as far as limiting the damage. This device might have came along just in time for me and to continue my goals of proper eating. My weight got out of control the last 10 months of treatment and this further helps me meet my goals.

Ps. the CO 2 level at my desk is 656 right now. I also know the oil temperatures my Road King operates at.

 

[alarmguy]

And forget the first few hours of BG readings from the sensor. They always seem to start a little high and then go down.

I noticed the first one or couple readings (but not many were a little higher and quickly settled to a normal range.

 

[Pablo]

That's a bizarre statement. Im glad Im not full blown diabetic however Im not a doctor. I certainly have entered or VERY close to pre-diabetes area. If you do a search it will show you those numbers. Anyone who has over a 20% rise in blood glucose level (in my case the last 10 months) from what was ALWAYS under 100 should be concerned and I am concerned enough to get it down that 20%

Ive always invested in my health and bothers me greatly I did not know this device existed until a week ago. If it was ten months ago I am certain I could have limited the impact of the rise. I feel like a didnt miss out of too much, over the counter is a newer device.
BTW- This device is made for people who take an interest in their health, it's a great learning experience. IT was not marketed as a device for full blown diabetes though I guess it can be used for that. However the company makes a prescription device for that purpose. I also subscribe to unneeded Mens Health News Letter and Cleveland Clinics Heart News letter to learn.

What does anyone need besides food and shelter?
Why bother learning anything about your body vs pay the same to watch sports figures throw a ball around a field.
Trying my best to avoid my family history has worked for many decades as far as limiting the damage. This device might have came along just in time for me and to continue my goals of proper eating. My weight got out of control the last 10 months of treatment and this further helps me meet my goals.

Ps. the CO 2 level at my desk is 656 right now. I also know the oil temperatures my Road King operates at.

Maybe a bit over the top, but NOT BIZARRE.

You ate a LOT of foods, foods that will spike your blood sugar and maybe double spike. I don't know exactly what the peak spike was ~145??), but it came right off the high.

I think the little unit did fine. You are in your 50's? right? Or early 60's? Meat and veggies. Small spikes.

PS You could ignore my posts, you could not read them, but honestly if you don't want commentary why do you post publicly?

 

[alarmguy]

@alarmguy - what is your number when you first wake up and what is the avg over the 2 week span of the sensor. It takes many hours for your body to digest your food. Typically the BG is a little lower while sleeping and rises before you wake up. Glucose is energy for your body and your body wants to make sure there is plenty of energy for your body to use when you wake up. Your body can make glucose even when you have not eaten for awhile. You are not going to become insulin sensitive overnight. It will take at least 8 weeks probably longer.

Remember for most people they were becoming insulin resistant over many years as their insulin level was rising but never measured. Then all of a sudden 10 years later the insulin level that went from normal to high cannot no longer control the BG and doctors pick that up in a blood test. But it was happening for years

Yes! Well said regarding your last paragraph and why I am right on top of this. I think I am a little different. First time in my life a massive weight gain in 2025, taking the anti cancer drug Orgovyx also known and caution patients BG should be monitored while on it. Possible side effect diabetes, however I seem to made it through that ok though believe I was building resistance. Then came high doses of steroids starting in Sept. It was later that my BG shot up into the 120s. Keep in mind I never in decades of annual tests never passed 100. Another strike against me was trying to eat healthy foods to maintain my body, not lose muscle mass and bone mass. I way overdid it and put on 40 LBS more than I ever weighed in my life. My goal is to weigh 55 lbs less than my peak at the end of OCT. I think within a week or so I will be down a solid 20 lbs so far. Right now a solid 15+ I could say even more but trying to have a realistic base. Im down 19 from my peak.

I am THRILLED with the device, how well it works, freaking fantastic. I love instrumentation of all kinds and to me, this is the ultimate. I hope it isnt too late. I am sure it is not but scared the crap out of me into action and holy smokes, right there from you I learned this device existed! I think the investment is sort of significant and at the same time no more (maybe less) than someone playing a round of golf once a week or some expensive TV sports package. SO the cost to me, VERY well worth it. Im am going to beat this (I hope)

For others, this device is a learning device, great if your not eating properly, have a family history of diabetes, are over weight OR just like to learn about being healthy. It's not a replacement for your doctor and actually if you have diabetes your doctor can prescribe their prescription device.

Its 9am have to run, hour drive to an immunologist this too can be driving up my BG... they drew 6 vials of blood last week, results at 10:30 AM today. It was a post reaction to the Orgovyx I am certain

Todays chart.

@Donald I appreciate your posts!

 

[Donald]

Yes! Well said regarding your last paragraph and why I am right on top of this. I think I am a little different. First time in my life a massive weight gain in 2025, taking the anti cancer drug Orgovyx also known and caution patients BG should be monitored while on it. Possible side effect diabetes, however I seem to made it through that ok though believe I was building resistance. Then came high doses of steroids starting in Sept. It was later that my BG shot up into the 120s. Keep in mind I never in decades of annual tests never passed 100. Another strike against me was trying to eat healthy foods to maintain my body, not lose muscle mass and bone mass. I way overdid it and put on 40 LBS more than I ever weighed in my life. My goal is to weigh 55 lbs less than my peak at the end of OCT. I think within a week or so I will be down a solid 20 lbs so far. Right now a solid 15+ I could say even more but trying to have a realistic base. Im down 19 from my peak.

I am THRILLED with the device, how well it works, freaking fantastic. I love instrumentation of all kinds and to me, this is the ultimate. I hope it isnt too late. I am sure it is not but scared the crap out of me into action and holy smokes, right there from you I learned this device existed! I think the investment is sort of significant and at the same time no more (maybe less) than someone playing a round of golf once a week or some expensive TV sports package. SO the cost to me, VERY well worth it. Im am going to beat this (I hope)

For others, this device is a learning device, great if your not eating properly, have a family history of diabetes, are over weight OR just like to learn about being healthy. It's not a replacement for your doctor and actually if you have diabetes your doctor can prescribe their prescription device.

Its 9am have to run, hour drive to an immunologist this too can be driving up my BG... they drew 6 vials of blood last week, results at 10:30 AM today. It was a post reaction to the Orgovyx I am certain

Todays chart.


View attachment 313274
@Donald I appreciate your posts!

If you eat a sauteed or baked (just not fried) chicken breast you will not see much change in BG. Eat
white rice and you will see a huge spike. Brown or black rice and you will see not much of a spike.

I remember growing up my Mom would always cook Minute Rice. I wonder what the BG would be for that?

 

[alarmguy]

If you eat a sauteed or baked (just not fried) chicken breast you will not see much change in BG. Eat
white rice and you will see a huge spike. Brown or black rice and you will see not much of a spike.

I remember growing up my Mom would always cook Minute Rice. I wonder what the BG would be for that?

My wife and her family are big on white rice. Only on rare occasions will I have it with certain meals but she cooks such as certain shrimp dinners or beef. Other times on rare occasions I will have wild or brown rice for the limited amount of times I have rice.
All said I avoid it and only have it a few times a month if that.
HOWEVER next time I have white rice I will look at my sugar level! Its very cool, I am really hopeful I will get it down to 100 or less as I lose weight AND as all the funky things going on in my body regarding my immune system as it resets ... which it will/is ... (long story)
Result of the drug I was taking but reason is still given as "unknown" Just came from specialist. Hundreds (?) of tests just completed on six vials of blood taken last week. 100% clean of any allergies etc.

Idiopathic urticaria followed by Angioneurotic edema - high level of anti-age receptor antibodies. Pretty much my immune system is attacking "friendlies" in my body for no reason. Diagnosis = unknown. ITs all good though, happened to me in 2019 after a strong antibotic too. It will go away and I will (after the holidays to avoid the ER) slowly ween myself off the 2 - 24 hours antihistamines I am taking which completely controls it, so it seems, so far, one wasnt working. Now I take two different types. Anyway, besides my weight it might be a hope and dream that once this settles down maybe I will also inch back to normal. My BG took off when this started happening, the sad part was most likely the effect of doses or steroids.

Ok, back to the program, I think we can agree I am "pre" right now? My BG is a solid 20% higher than it was first week of Jan 2025.
Then ups and downs and last quarter of the year its not coming down yet. But might have from what I know, I went to 20 hour a day fasting last week of October.
What a fantastic device, This is like the pinnacle of cool! Better than the Oil Temp Gauge on my Harley which I used to love checking the temperature. *LOL*
It's been around 17 hours since I had any food, so far, BG showing at 112 which I think looks promising if I weighed 35 to 40 less pounds squarely into my BMI.

Talking about that I am about to pull the trigger on next years Advantage Plan... only 3 days to go and I will be stuck in this years plan which isnt so bad Plan N and D.

(6 hour chart today) You were right about the Blood Sugar being higher when I woke up.

I wasnt wearing it for the full 24 hours but here is the 24 hour chart below.

BTW- I am sure you know but for others, The green range is the default, you can set your own criteria.

 

[alarmguy]

Ps. I dont think everyone understands unless they go to the website. I bought mine direct instead of Amazon. Price the same. So I prefer the manufacturer so I know I get fresh stock. There is no returns (thank goodness honestly)

Anyway, there is no commitment. YOU can buy one sensor for $50 if you wish or two for $89 and auto renew every month. There is no other hardware except your cell phone.
You stick the device on your skin, it transmits to the Stelo App that you download onto your phone and you get all this information for up to 15 days. As Donald has said it can be less than 15, Stelo also tells you that.

After that the unit is dead in 15 days or less, you throw it away. Look at it like a 15 day glucose test for $50, taken every 15 minutes and reported to you on your smart phone. If you dont have a good smartphone I dont think I would bother. There really is no such thing as returning a medical device like this.

@Donald I also gave the app permission to access the Apple iPhones health app, so in addition to the Stelo app itself which is terrific and much more information (mostly) The blood glucose readings are also on my health app which I use a lot. All this works or worked for me flawless. I dont know about Android. Only because there are hundreds of models out there. Im sure many will give the same satisfaction.

Also if you have any MRI's, CT scans before 15 days are up I would wait until after the scans. Or you may have to take it off and then it is wasted.

 

[Donald]

Ps. I dont think everyone understands unless they go to the website. I bought mine direct instead of Amazon. Price the same. So I prefer the manufacturer so I know I get fresh stock. There is no returns (thank goodness honestly)

Anyway, there is no commitment. YOU can buy one sensor for $50 if you wish or two for $89 and auto renew every month. There is no other hardware except your cell phone.
You stick the device on your skin, it transmits to the Stelo App that you download onto your phone and you get all this information for up to 15 days. As Donald has said it can be less than 15, Stelo also tells you that.

After that the unit is dead in 15 days or less, you throw it away. Look at it like a 15 day glucose test for $50, taken every 15 minutes and reported to you on your smart phone. If you dont have a good smartphone I dont think I would bother. There really is no such thing as returning a medical device like this.

@Donald I also gave the app permission to access the Apple iPhones health app, so in addition to the Stelo app itself which is terrific and much more information (mostly) The blood glucose readings are also on my health app which I use a lot. All this works or worked for me flawless. I dont know about Android. Only because there are hundreds of models out there. Im sure many will give the same satisfaction.

Also if you have any MRI's, CT scans before 15 days are up I would wait until after the scans. Or you may have to take it off and then it is wasted.
View attachment 313311

You can get the BG on the Oura app on your phone with Stelo. You need the Stelo app but only need to look at the Oura app to see everything.

 

[Donald]

The upcoming question for me will be how will my doctor respond when I say I really want to work on my metabolic health as a priority and need my insulin along with VLDL and LDL particle size tested during a routine blood test. And my goal is to get off statin and blood pressure medicine.

The goal is to stabilize your CAC score and not have it go up 10% a year which is typical if you just take the normal prescriptions the doctors hand out and do not focus on metallic health.

It's possible but not likely for CAC score to go down. But that's not the point. Goal is to stabilize it.

 

[Brons2]

Many people think you have to exercise to lose weight, that is just a small byproduct unless you exercise like mad.

This is so true, when I was younger and used to do ultradistance bike rides, it was easy to keep the weight off.

I just don't have time for it now with my busy family life.

 

[alarmguy]

The upcoming question for me will be how will my doctor respond when I say I really want to work on my metabolic health as a priority and need my insulin along with VLDL and LDL particle size tested during a routine blood test. And my goal is to get off statin and blood pressure medicine.

The goal is to stabilize your CAC score and not have it go up 10% a year which is typical if you just take the normal prescriptions the doctors hand out and do not focus on metallic health.

It's possible but not likely for CAC score to go down. But that's not the point. Goal is to stabilize it.

Not sure if this makes a difference for you. I just signed up for next years Advantage plan. If you have diabetes the Dexcom G7 falls under Part B medicare along with that other brand. However we know the G7 is a seven day device compared to the over the counter Stelo 15 days.
The G7 I believe updates every minute vs 15 for the Stelo. Also the other device from Abbott qualifies. With this said I didnt read up to much on it because I dont qualify anyway. I suspect your doctor would have to get an approval. Maybe. Again, caution because I only glanced over it as I had 113 pages of the Health plan "Evidence of coverage" to one last time scan through it and dont pay to much attention to anything that I dont expect to need. But paid a little more attention than usual of course.

Actually I see it's completely covered MAYBE. Also note the other brand from Abbot had a problem with a huge number. Distributed world wide 7 people died and many hospitalized. Had to do with bad alerts I THINK. These are the prescriptions versions and nothing from Dexcom had issues. G7 and Stelo. Im not sure if I am reading this correctly but seems like it may be covered 100% by my plan. The G7 as you know is very expensive

I had a pretty good spike tonight after dinner. short lived. My dinner tonight consisted of a Good size quality organic protein drink, an apple and orange. One almond biscotti.

 

[Pablo]

Actually I see it's completely covered MAYBE. Also note the other brand from Abbot had a problem with a huge number. Distributed world wide 7 people died and many hospitalized. Had to do with bad alerts I THINK. These are the prescriptions versions and nothing from Dexcom had issues. G7 and Stelo. Im not sure if I am reading this correctly but seems like it may be covered 100% by my plan. The G7 as you know is very expensive



I had a pretty good spike tonight after dinner. short lived. My dinner tonight consisted of a Good size quality organic protein drink, an apple and orange. One almond biscotti.

Medicare can cover Dexcom IF you are truly diabetic. I fought and lost a couple years ago. I am battling again, currently. We will see.

I bet the protein drink is pretty high carb and the rest are all carbs. ADA recommends 15gm of carbs max per meal. Just saying.

 

[ripcord]

Not sure if this makes a difference for you. I just signed up for next years Advantage plan. If you have diabetes the Dexcom G7 falls under Part B medicare along with that other brand. However we know the G7 is a seven day device compared to the over the counter Stelo 15 days.
The G7 I believe updates every minute vs 15 for the Stelo. Also the other device from Abbott qualifies. With this said I didnt read up to much on it because I dont qualify anyway. I suspect your doctor would have to get an approval. Maybe. Again, caution because I only glanced over it as I had 113 pages of the Health plan "Evidence of coverage" to one last time scan through it and dont pay to much attention to anything that I dont expect to need. But paid a little more attention than usual of course.

Actually I see it's completely covered MAYBE. Also note the other brand from Abbot had a problem with a huge number. Distributed world wide 7 people died and many hospitalized. Had to do with bad alerts I THINK. These are the prescriptions versions and nothing from Dexcom had issues. G7 and Stelo. Im not sure if I am reading this correctly but seems like it may be covered 100% by my plan. The G7 as you know is very expensive

View attachment 313349

I had a pretty good spike tonight after dinner. short lived. My dinner tonight consisted of a Good size quality organic protein drink, an apple and orange. One almond biscotti.

View attachment 313351

If your protein shake had a banana, those can really spike some people. I don't eat more than a half at a time after seeing how I react to them.

 

[Donald]

If your protein shake had a banana, those can really spike some people. I don't eat more than a half at a time after seeing how I react to them.

A banana is considered a tropical fruit which you should avoid if looking to lower BG. Orange or apple is the fine. As are berries.