Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition What Glucose Trackers Get Wrong About Women’s Bodies | Dr. Stacy Sims | Dr. Stacy Sims
Oct 10, 2025
Dr. Stacy Sims dives into how female hormones influence metabolism and recovery. She explains why progesterone temporarily increases insulin resistance post-ovulation. Continuous glucose monitors often misinterpret data for women, leading to confusion. Sims highlights the importance of focusing on long-term glucose trends rather than immediate spikes. Wearable trackers can cause unnecessary stress and may negatively impact performance. A historical lack of female research means many algorithms are based on male data, leaving women's unique physiology overlooked.
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Progesterone Causes Temporary Insulin Resistance
- After ovulation progesterone makes the body temporarily more insulin resistant to prioritize the endometrial lining.
- For generally healthy, active women this shift is normal and usually not a problem.
Time Carbs If You Have Metabolic Issues
- If you have metabolic syndrome or diabetes, time carbohydrates and insulin to activity and cycle phase.
- Manage fueling and insulin control clinically around the post-ovulation insulin resistance window.
CGMs Show Interstitial Lag, Not Instant Blood Glucose
- Continuous glucose monitors measure interstitial fluid and show a ~20-minute lag behind blood glucose.
- Interpreting every food spike from CGMs in healthy women creates confusion because devices were designed for clinical populations.