Top 5 Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) for Biohackers and Longevity Enthusiasts

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) isn't just reserved for diabetics anymore. It's now being embraced by biohackers and longevity enthusiasts seeking profound insights into their metabolic health and the implications of their dietary choices. 

That’s because the consequences of blood sugar spikes are not limited to diabetics alone. Abnormal blood sugar levels they can disrupt your energy, cognitive function, and overall well-being. Fortunately, continuous glucose monitors provide real-time data and insights into the body's responses to various foods, activities, and stressors. 

If you’re just looking for the hardware, the Dexcom G6 and FreeStyle Libre by Abbott are the industry standard. However, obtaining these devices involves prescription hurdles in the United States. As a result, subscription based service companies have been founded to handle these prescriptions for you. These companies grant access to advanced insights and resources through smart phone apps, which have become the preferred route for most.

For those seeking an expanded health awareness through a convenient subscription service, these are the top 5 CGM's currently available. 

Disclosure: Spannr has not been compensated to publish this content or feature any of the below companies. However, if you purchase a product from any of the below companies, Spannr may receive a small referral fee which helps us continue to produce great content. 

1. Veri

Price: $299/month (2 sensors per month & app access); or $139/month (4 sensors & 4 month app access); or $39/month for just the app

Hardware: FreeStyle Libre

Veri has attracted more than 30,000 members from across the U.S. and Europe. What sets Veri apart is their program. They provide daily guidance to help you make sense of the data, and teach you what diet and lifestyle changes to make based on your data. Their weekly health metric, Metabolic Healthspan, lets you see how the daily changes you are making impact your healthspan over the long run. In addition to glucose, they also integrate sleep and activity data from most wearables, including Oura Ring.

Veri has expert advisors from top institutions like the Center for Disease Control, Duke University, and Harvard University, including the President of the American Diabetes Association, Dr. Guillernmo Umpierrez.

The company offers three types of plans: intermittent, continuous, and app-only. The intermittent plan is a four-month commitment, but allows you to take breaks and get a lower monthly price. The continuous plan is for those who want two sensors per month, to be worn back-to-back, and get continuous app monitoring. Their app-only membership is available if you want to purchase your sensors somewhere else and just get the app based monitoring.

For those residing in the US who require a subscription, Veri uses their partner pharmacy to issue the sensor prescription. Once prescribed, you will receive your sensors within approximately 3-5 business days.

2. Levels 

Price: $199 for 12-month membership + $199 for CGM Kit

Hardware: Dexcom G6 CGM or FreeStyle Libre CGM

Levels boasts over 50,000 members and 4.7 out of 5 stars based on more than 1.5K reviews on the Apple app store. The app provides real-time data for your blood glucose levels. It includes daily insights and recommendations based on your body’s unique glucose response to foods, sleep, activity, and even stress.

Their program is informed by some of the world’s leading metabolic health experts, including David A. Sinclair, author of one of the best books about longevity, Lifespan. 

With a Levels membership, you can choose either the Dexcom G6 or Freestyle Libre. Dexcom G6 users have readings directly transmitted to their smartphone, while Freestyle Libre users need to tap their phone against the sensor to take a reading. Users that opt for the Freestyle Libre are also required to undergo a telehealth evaluation from a licensed physician to receive their CGM device. This evaluation is coordinated by Levels.

Levels testing kits arrive in 2-5 business days and include the CGM device, CGM sensors, and performance patches to help hold your CGM in place during periods of activity. 

3. Nutrisense

Price: $225/month for a 12-month plan

Hardware: FreeStyle Libre

The Nutrisense gluclose monitor program pairs advanced data with expert guidance to optimize your lifestyle decisions. Nutrisense reviews have a 4.5 out of 5 star rating in the Apple app store. It provides real-time data monitoring, including the ability to monitor glucose fluctuations over time. 

The app also provides easy access to in-app support from an expert nutritionist that provides actionable advice. This custom feedback is based on your personal readings so you are best equipped to make the choices that can extend your lifespan. To complement one-on-one nutritionist insights, the Nutrisense app also comes with the In-Range course. The In-Range course consists of 12 modules created by Nutrisense’s team of qualified nutritionists that are meant to guide you on your health journey. 

When you subscribe, Nutrisense will take care of your CGM subscription through its network of physicians and ship you two CGM's each month to start tracking your data. The first month of nutritionist support is free, and then costs $100 each month after that for continued support. You can sync Nutrisense with other popular health apps like Apple Health Kit, Keto Mojo, Google Fit, FitBit, and the Oura Ring sleep tracker. Pairing to these third party health apps will give you an even more comprehensive understanding of how lifestyle choices influence health.

4. January.ai

Price: $288 for the first month, $28/month thereafter

Hardware: FreeStyle Libre

January.ai is a CGM and artificial intelligence (AI) health coach that has been featured in many top publications. Unlike other CGM subscriptions, you only need to wear January once because January’s AI technology provides ongoing glucose estimates, insights, and predictions after a 14 day calibration period of wearing the device. Of course, if you decide to make a drastic dietary change or just want to ensure accuracy, you can recalibrate the device by wearing another CGM every 3 months. However, it’s not mandatory to enjoy benefits from the January app. 

January provides a custom health plan based on the goals you set up in the app. Then, the program supports you in achieving those goals by providing daily targets to manage your glucose, sleep, and gut health, such as by suggesting food replacements and scheduling exercise breaks. In order to use January, members are required to have an activity tracker to support the AI in making accurate predictions. January is compatible with Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Oura Ring. 

5. Ultrahuman

Price: $160/month for full time monitoring 

Hardware: FreeStyle Libre

Ultrahuman is a health-tech company headquartered in Bangalore, India. Ultrahuman M1 is their CGM subscription plan that is packed with insights and tools to help you live a healthier life. Some features include a food score to monitor and optimize food intake, a fueling score to improve your performance during activities, and access to NSCA certified sports scientists and exercise physiologists to provide personalized guidance to improve your metabolic health. You also get access to the Cyborg Army, Ultrahuman's community of over 5,000 athletes, biohackers, and longevity enthusiasts that support each other in extending longevity, as well as over 1,000 hours of fitness and recovery content.   

Although Ultrahuman’s performance tracker, the Ultrahuman Ring AIR, is currently available in the United States, Ultrahuman M1 has yet to launch as of January 2024. However, there is currently a waitlist available for those in the US interested in accelerated access and early bird pricing.  

Conclusion

In today's fast-paced world, where energy and vitality are essential for maximizing each day, the importance of monitoring what we eat cannot be overstated.

By gaining real-time insights into your body's responses to various foods and activities, you can make informed choices that directly impact your energy levels and overall function.

These CGM services offer more than just hardware; they provide a comprehensive approach to health optimization. Whether it's through personalized recommendations, expert guidance, or AI-driven insights, CGM's can support you in achieving improved health outcomes and longevity.

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