How Smart Scales and Wearables Help You Manage Your Diabetes, by Looking Beyond Just Weight Loss

When I was first diagnosed with Pre-diabetes of type 2 over a decade ago, I started taking my fitness more seriously.

I started to weight train for strength and started running for cardiovascular fitness and to lose weight. At a running event in 2018, the Tata Mumbai Marathon expo, I came across the concept of the Smart Scale for the first time! I bought it then and there, and my smartscale of choice was the Actofit Smart Scale

Being a data nerd as ever, my fitness tracker watch and the smart scale keep me on track. Ever since I started using a smart scale, fitness tracker, and a CGM, I feel like I'm finally getting a handle on things. These gadgets give me the data I need to really validate my efforts and keep me motivated. I love being able to see my weight trends over time and how my activity levels impact my blood sugar. The stats don't lie - when I'm moving more and eating healthier, my numbers improve. And when I slip up, the data calls me out! I know these devices aren't magic bullets, but having that objective feedback really helps me stay the course. I feel empowered taking control of my health, rather than letting my diabetes control me.

How Smart Scales Can Track Your Diabetes Management Progress

As a diabetic in remission, I know how important it is to closely monitor health metrics like weight and body composition. That's why smart scales have been a game changer for me. With a smart scale, I can track my weight loss progress through data. Every time I step on the scale, it records my weight, body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, body protein and body water (hydration).

Over time, I can see trends - whether I'm losing weight at a healthy, sustainable pace or if I need to make some adjustments. If I pay more attention to my water intake for 3-4 weeks, I can see that hydration level increase on the scale as well.  If I strength train regularly for months, I can see that my weight remains constant, but my muscle mass and lean body weight has increased.

It is also easy to see from the smart scale as to why the focus on body weight and BMI alone, is a bad idea when you are trying to improve your health at a more fundamental and holistic level. As an example, take a look at my data at two different points in time, approximately 5 years apart, on the exact same device, the Actofit Smart Scale.

     

My body weight has actually increased in the past 5 years! My BMI has actually gone up in the past 5 years! But!! Pay careful attention and see how the quality of my body weight has changed in those years – I have less body fat on me, and my hydration seems to have improved as well. Hydration is another key parameter for improving blood sugar levels over time.

The data provides motivation and validation. When I'm tempted to cheat on my diet or skip exercise, I can look at my progress and stay committed to my goals. And when I do have a setback, the data shows me I'm still on the right track overall. I find this extremely motivating.

Smart scales also help me make informed decisions about managing my health overall. If my weight or body fat percentage starts creeping up, I know I need to watch my carbs and make changes to my exercise routine. In the end, knowledge is power. Smart scales give me the data and insights I need to take control of my diabetes and health. While the numbers on the scale are important, the trends and progress over time are what really matter. My smart scale helps me harness the power of data to stay motivated and make the best choices for my wellbeing.

Here's more insights from my Actofit Smart Scale, 5 years apart. I have focused more on strength training with weights and body weight, especially because as I grow older, I wanted to retain my bone density and muscle mass. This is a work in progress, but I am quite pleased with the progress, if I may say so myself! 

Each day in those past 5 years, I have eaten an Artinci dessert – either for product batch testing or for pleasure, just because I love Artinci so much! 😊

Using Your Health Data to Make Adjustments in Your Diabetes Management

As a pre-diabetic in remission myself, I've found that smart scales and wearables have been game changers in how I manage my condition. The data they provide gives me insights into how my body is responding to my efforts and helps motivate me to keep going.

Tracking My Progress

My continuous glucose monitor lets me see in real time how my blood sugar is reacting to the food I eat or the exercise I do. I can see the impact of that extra slice of pizza at dinner or going for an evening walk. This feedback is key to understanding how to make the best choices for my body. I've started logging what I eat along with my blood sugar readings, and over time I've figured out the best and worst foods for me.

Making Tweaks Along the Way

If I see my blood sugar spiking after a meal, I know I need to cut back on certain ingredients or portion sizes for next time. Or if my readings start creeping up overall, it's a sign I need to double down on medication, diet, and exercise. The data doesn't lie, so I have to listen to what it's telling me. One thing that I love about the CGM is that eating an Artinci dessert never spikes me. I always eat Artinci as a snack when I am actually hungry, and never as a conventional dessert after a meal.

Staying Motivated

There's nothing more motivating than seeing your efforts paying off in the form of lower and steadier blood sugar levels. When I'm tempted to slack off, I look at my data and it inspires me to keep making progress. Staying one step ahead of diabetes is hard work, but smart scales and wearables make it a little bit easier by giving me the information I need to stay on track. They help ensure each day is a chance to do better and get one step closer to my health goals.

Wearables like Smart Watches and Smart Rings help with other parameters like SpO2 levels, sleep quality

Since I tend to get very anal with my health data, I’m always looking for ways to better manage my condition. Smartwatches and activity trackers have been game changers for me. These devices passively monitor my blood oxygen levels and sleep quality, providing data that helps motivate me and keep me accountable.

SpO2 and Heart Rate

My smartwatch tracks my overnight blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate, which helps me ensure I’m getting good sleep. Lack of sleep can negatively impact my stress and inflammation levels, hampering my health goals. By monitoring these metrics, I can see how lifestyle changes like limiting screen time before bed or trying relaxation techniques help improve my sleep over time.

Sleep Stages

In addition to hours of sleep, the quality of my sleep is important. My smart ring breaks down my sleep into stages, so I can see how much time I spend in REM, light, and deep sleep. If I’m not getting enough deep sleep, I may need to reevaluate my bedtime routine. The data from these devices has been eye-opening and helped motivate me to make better choices.

Accountability and Motivation

The continuous data from these wearables keeps me accountable and motivated. By tracking metrics like SpO2, sleep, and activity over time, I can see the impact of my choices and changes. If my numbers start to slip, I know I need to re-focus my efforts. The data also shows me when I’m on the right track, which keeps me motivated to continue improving. Diabetes management is challenging, but tools like smartwatches and rings make it easier by putting powerful data at my fingertips.

Conclusion

Through my own experience, I've found that having access to detailed data can be incredibly empowering. Knowing my weight trends, activity levels, sleep quality, and more gives me the information I need to course-correct my habits and behaviors. While it takes some effort to interpret and act on the data, I've found that the sense of control and motivation I gain makes it more than worthwhile. Diabetes management can feel like a rollercoaster at times, but having data at my fingertips helps me feel confident that I'm on the right track. Even small victories validated by data are hugely motivating. I'd encourage any diabetic who wants to take control of their health to look into getting a smart scale or wearable. The data might just change your life like it did mine.