“Hello Inside Sensor” Test: How a CGM Sensor Changed My Life (Part 1)
When I heard about the possibility of continuously monitoring my blood sugar levels, I was immediately curious. I’m not diabetic, but I wanted to learn more about my body and understand how it reacts to various factors. Exercise, nutrition, stress – all of these influence our well-being and health, but how exactly? The idea of monitoring my blood sugar levels in real-time and over an extended period seemed to be a promising approach to find out just that.
So I decided to try the Hello Inside sensor, which enables continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and is connected to the eponymous smartphone app. The app also offers coaching features designed to help interpret the measurement results and, if necessary, make adjustments to one’s lifestyle. I was curious about the insights I would gain from using the sensor and what it would feel like to be monitored 24/7.
In this review, I will share my experiences with the Hello Inside sensor and the HI app, from installation to usage and the measurement results. I will describe what it feels like to go about daily life with a sensor in the arm, the challenges encountered, and the unforeseen consequences of using the product. If you too are curious about the world of your blood sugar levels, read on and join me on my blood sugar exploration journey.
Have you ever wondered about the effects of certain foods on your blood sugar levels? With the Libre 3 sensor and the Hello Inside app, you can answer this question! When I first heard about continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), I was understandably skeptical about the insights it would provide me. But when I discovered that continuous monitoring of my blood sugar levels could help me understand my body’s individual response to different foods and activities, I was instantly hooked.
Initially, I was unsure whether to order the Libre 3 sensor directly from Abbott on the website or to purchase the Hello Inside package ( https://helloinside.com ). But when I discovered the coaching features of the Hello Inside app, I was convinced. I was extremely interested in the digital analysis and evaluation of the data, as well as the experiments I would receive. Ordering the sensor was quick and easy on the website. I chose the “Hello Sugar” package, which lasted 14 days and cost 99.00 euros. Just a few minutes after ordering, I received an email with the first instructions, and the package with the sensor and a guide arrived within three days.
The Hello Inside package with the sensor
Installing the app was a bit more involved than expected, but the instructions were clear and easy to follow. On the iPhone, I had to first install the “Test Flight App” and then the Hello Inside App. I also had to install the original Libre3 app to connect the sensor via NFC. In the Libre3 app, I could then enter a practice code to transfer the data from the Libre3 app to the Hello Inside app. But after a few steps, everything was ready for continuous monitoring of my blood sugar levels.
Attaching the Libre3 sensor was surprisingly easy. I had to place the sensor in my upper arm using an applicator, secure it, and then further attach it with an included adhesive patch. The puncture was barely noticeable, and the sensor could be worn for 14 days. However, removing the sensor from the applicator was a bit fiddly.
Once the sensor was set up in the Libre3 app, I could continuously monitor my blood sugar levels. Blood sugar values were transmitted to the Libre3 app in near real-time via Bluetooth and displayed immediately. The data was then updated every few hours in the Hello Inside app, and I could see a graphical progression of how my blood sugar levels changed throughout the day. I could also set individual threshold ranges and alarms to notify me when my blood sugar was too high or too low.
And so the testing phase began. The coaching features of the Hello Inside app were particularly helpful, as they provided me with insights and background information on my values and the mechanisms of action. It was like taking an eLearning course on the relationships between blood sugar, insulin, stress, and the way I ate. At first, I constantly checked the app and the “developments” of my blood sugar curve, and soon only looked at it during “influential events” such as meals, snacks, or exercise.
However, what my blood sugar curve showed me on the very first morning was something I would never have expected. I will report on this in Part 2.
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