Victor Mihov joined an emerging movement within health care known as biohacking by producing her own insulin in her do-it-yourself lab, infusing herself with an antibiotic prior to having an illness, thus trying to avoid disease altogether rather than treating symptoms after the fact.
Utilizing ancestral living, technology, assessments and data to optimize your mind, body, sleep, diet, exercise, stress levels and hormones.
Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) devices continuously track your blood sugar levels, giving real-time insights. Diabetics use CGMs to stay ahead of intermediate problems like hypoglycemia and prevent long-term complications like heart disease, vision loss and kidney damage; athletes and fitness enthusiasts use them to maximize training, recovery and athletic performance.
Biohacking devices have become an increasingly popular trend within the biohacking community for those suffering from diabetes or pre-diabetes, as well as for individuals seeking profound insights into their metabolic health and dietary choices. Their sensitive sensors offer accurate measurements of one’s insulin and glucose levels and therefore allow more precise information gathering about metabolic health issues and diet decisions.
CGMs not only give individuals insights into their glucose levels, but can also assist in monitoring trends over time. This allows users to identify patterns associated with food, exercise and stress that impact glucose levels as well as understand how different treatments (like new insulin pumps or medication) affect them. They may even allow users to detect when someone may be heading toward hypoglycemic events so they can take steps to prevent them.
Studies indicate that using a CGM can significantly decrease hypoglycemia frequency among those living with type 1 diabetes and can significantly improve A1C (a measure of average glucose over three months). A recent randomized study with 153 adolescents and young adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes showed that using one for 52 weeks resulted in less hypoglycemia compared with usual care, leading to an improved HbA1c result of -0.37%.
Tendwell functional medicine clinicians offer tailored nutrition guidance services to individuals looking for help understanding their CGM data. Their guidance can be tailored specifically around each person’s unique circumstances and goals.
Levels Labs service provides custom blood tests for HbA1c, Fasting Insulin, ApoB and Triglycerides and displays them with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on its app to show you how your diet and lifestyle impact these markers over time – giving you personalized nutritional insights that will enable you to improve metabolic health.
Diet
Diabetes can be a life-altering disease, yet it can be managed through diet and exercise. A balanced, nutritious diet including foods with low glycemic index ratings such as vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and chia seeds will help manage blood sugar levels and boost energy.
Diets rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates have been proven to increase insulin sensitivity and facilitate weight loss, while regular physical activity helps manage blood glucose and overall well-being. Furthermore, biohacking tools such as smartwatches and fitness bands offer track metrics like blood sugar, heart rate and sleep patterns more precisely.
Fasting is another popular biohack that can promote weight loss, increase energy levels and speed metabolism. Before beginning these practices, however, it’s best to consult a physician and develop a fasting schedule tailored specifically for your body and health goals.
There are also supplements and biohacking devices that may assist in managing diabetes. Peptides may improve the body’s ability to burn fat, reduce blood sugar, and build muscle mass; however, research on such products remains in its infancy and it remains unknown whether they have a substantial impact on health outcomes.
Other tools and hacks that can help improve wellness include specialized glucose monitors, continuous blood glucose monitoring (CGM) systems and personalized diet plans. These tools enable people living with diabetes to take an active part in their own care by making informed decisions regarding diet, exercise and drinks intake.
Biohacking techniques may pose some risks, yet can enhance quality of life and increase lifespan. It’s wise to be wary of self-experimentation that blurs the line between cutting-edge medical practices and ethically questionable activities such as DIY biology or gene editing.
Exercise
Exercise can be an essential biohack that can help manage blood glucose. Exercise benefits heart health, mood and energy levels as well as weight management; it should also assist with weight maintenance. However, the best results come when tailored specifically to genetic predisposition and fitness level; for instance if your genetic predisposition includes explosive strength, it might be wise to opt for high intensity resistance training rather than long distance running or cycling.
Biohackers specialize in optimizing the body’s ability to heal itself by taking steps such as taking supplements or dieting which promote healing while reducing inflammation; ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting are popular practices among those looking to boost healthspan and longevity through biohacking.
Biohackers who practice cognitive enhancement tend to experiment with nootropics and other substances that can enhance concentration and mental clarity, such as nootropics. Although such practices have the potential of increasing cognitive functioning, it’s essential that we utilize objective measures when evaluating them.
Fitbit, Garmin smartwatches and Oura Ring health wearables have become an increasingly popular biohack to track metrics such as heart rate and sleep. This data can then be used to alter daily habits that help improve quality sleep, metabolic health and physical performance.
Biohackers may employ techniques that promote autophagy – a cellular process which rids dead cells and protects against diseases, infections and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies show how caloric restriction, intermittent fasting and cold water therapy are all proven ways of stimulating autophagy; sauna bathing also has similar results.
Finally, some biohackers believe in “bio-hacking” to create the ideal human being. This radical approach considers the body a biological computer with immense potential for improvement via various hacks. Furthermore, some biohackers subscribe to transhumanism – the belief that humans may one day surpass biological limitations and achieve immortality via advanced medical technologies.
Sleep
Sleep is an indispensable biohack for people living with diabetes. It improves cognitive function and allows the body to use sugar as energy, while adequate restorative rest is critical for overall immune system and overall health benefits. Therefore, making sleep a top priority and getting at least seven to eight hours of quality rest each night should be your goal.
Sleep can play an invaluable role in lowering blood pressure and decreasing risk factors associated with heart disease, high cholesterol levels and obesity. Sleep also aids weight loss while decreasing insulin requirements to control glucose. Sleep improvement strategies range from natural remedies such as using tracking devices like Oura Ring or Whoop to adding restful activities into daily routines – biohackers may consider these approaches when looking to enhance their restfulness.
Sleep quality can be measured using wearable technology and regular blood tests. A device known as the Oura Ring captures data about how well someone is sleeping, which can then be synced up with apps such as InsideTracker for further insight. Biohackers often experiment with nutritional supplements like melatonin, magnesium and beta-glucan to further improve quality sleep.
Intermittent fasting is a popular biohack that involves restricting caloric intake during the day and then permitting more to be consumed during evening meals. Unfortunately, intermittent fasting may negatively impact blood sugar levels and should therefore not be recommended as an approach for those living with diabetes.
Before trying a new biohack, it is advisable to speak to your doctor to gain more information on its science and safety for you. While certain biohacks may be founded in recent studies and should be avoided altogether, many do-it-yourself health interventions called biohacking have yet to be tested scientifically and may pose risks; taking supplements like NMN (nitric oxide synthase activator) which increase energy and metabolism may pose side effects, according to FDA ruling.
