Stelo Glucose Biosensor: Learn More About Your Body

Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) are popular right now. The Stelo CGM is one of the most popular ones as it comes from a company (Dexcom) with a track record in these types of biosensors. How well does the Stelo CGM work? Who is it for? Is it worth it? I tried it out for a month and I’ll answer these questions in this review.

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What is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)?

CGMs are wearable devices that track glucose (sugar) levels in real-time throughout the day and night. Instead of relying on traditional finger-prick blood tests, CGMs use a tiny sensor inserted under the skin—usually on the arm or abdomen—to continuously measure interstitial fluid glucose levels. The data is sent to a smartphone or receiver, giving users a steady stream of insights into how their blood sugar fluctuates in response to food, exercise, stress, and sleep. This technology has become a game-changer, especially for people managing diabetes, as it helps them avoid dangerous highs and lows and make better-informed decisions about insulin, diet, and lifestyle in real time.

But CGMs aren’t just for those with diabetes or prediabetes. Many health-conscious individuals use CGMs to better understand their metabolic health. For non-diabetics, a CGM can provide a window into how different foods and habits affect their energy, focus, cravings, and long-term wellness. CGMs offer personalized, real-world data that goes far beyond a typical health tracker. The idea is simple: if you can see how your body responds to what you eat and do, you can make smarter choices—and possibly avoid future health issues altogether.

I am not diabetic. I was interested in a CGM to learn more about my body as part of my health and fitness journey.

Why I chose the Stelo CGM

There are many CGMs on the market, but many require a prescription. I was looking for one I could buy easily without one. Two main options popped up. The Stelo that I eventually chose comes from Dexcom, and it was the first OTC CGM to receive FDA approval. Dexcom makes another CGM biosensor called the G7, but that one requires a prescription.

The other option was Lingo, which is available for purchase on Amazon. The reviews for the Lingo didn’t seem as good, although people did seem to think it looked less obtrusive on your body because it doesn’t need an over patch like the Stelo. That said, it only works with iOS and not Android, and ultimately, I chose the Stelo because it works with my Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Disclaimer: The Stelo CGM is intended for adults (18+) who are not on insulin and do not have problematic hypoglycemia or kidney issues like dialysis. It’s not suitable for people with Type 1 diabetes or anyone needing medical-grade glucose monitoring. Stelo is for wellness insights only—always consult a healthcare provider before making health decisions based on its data.

Setup and first impressions

Stelo setup (or any CGM) can make people nervous, but I found it straightforward. After ordering, you’ll receive the Stelo kit, which includes the CGM sensor, an applicator, adhesive overlays, and access instructions for the companion app. Disappointingly, my kit (I bought the 30-day kit) didn’t come with any alcohol wipes.

The setup process begins by downloading the Stelo app, which walks you through everything step by step. Once you’ve created your account and answered a few wellness-related questions, it’s time to apply the sensor. The included applicator makes the process quick, but I did experience a small bit of pain upon application of the sensor. You’ll attach the sensor to the back of your upper arm—Stelo recommends switching arms every 15 days if you’re using multiple sensors back-to-back.

You are supposed to wipe the spot on your arm with an alcohol wipe first to help the adhesive stick better and reduce the chance of irritation. So, it would have been nice if they included one! The adhesive goes on around the biosensor to help keep it in place. The sensor activates in the app within a few minutes and starts collecting data within an hour. The whole process—from unboxing to activation—takes about 10 minutes.

I honestly mostly forget I even have the biosensor attached. Every once in a while, in the shower or when I’m getting dressed, I’ll hit it and startle myself that it is there. I don’t feel it at all throughout the day.

Features and functionality

The Stelo sensor lasts up to 15 days and doesn’t require calibration or finger sticks. Once it’s running, you’ll start seeing your glucose trends in the app, which updates about every 15 minutes. The main page of the app shows your current glucose reading as well as a chart of how it has changed. It shows whether or not it is in the target range, which you can adjust.

You can see on the chart below (on the left) how my glucose levels changed over the day. The little dots in the chart denote events (on the right in the image below) — things like eating or exercising that may greatly affect your glucose levels. You can enter those in manually. However, if the app detects a spike it will prompt you to add an event.

What I learned about myself

In the time I used the app, I learned how different foods affect my blood sugar levels and how different exercises do. Some of this is intuitive; eating carbs will spike your blood sugar is a well-known fact. But the extent to which different meals affect my blood sugar was unknown until I got this data. It makes me think about some of the meals I eat and whether I should eat less of them or at least eat them less often.

Also, I notice that during the day, when I feel fatigued or low energy, almost always corresponds to when my blood sugar is low. A quick snack or some movement usually fixes that in a snap, and I have more energy.

Editor’s Note: If you are interested in my fitness and health transformation over a year, including how I did it and the techniques and tech I used to get in great shape, check out my health and fitness transformation.

I also learned that my glucose often rises when I take a shower. Who knew? Maybe you did, but I didn’t! I did a little research and found, although it might seem odd, but your blood sugar can temporarily rise during or after a shower due to the body’s natural stress response. Hot water can stimulate your sympathetic nervous system, raising your heart rate and triggering the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can prompt your liver to release stored glucose into your bloodstream, causing a temporary spike in blood sugar levels. It’s a normal reaction and usually nothing to worry about. I do take showers on the hot side.

The app helps you to discover insights as it logs additional data. The weekly report below shows my average glucose levels each day and what percentage of the day I was in my target glucose range. Additionally, it gives you some suggestions for managing your blood sugar levels.

Final thoughts

Overall, using the Stelo CGM was a surprisingly easy and insightful experience. The sensor was simple to apply, the app was user-friendly, and within days, I started learning how different foods and types of exercise affected my glucose levels. It gave me a clearer picture of how my body responds throughout the day—something I wouldn’t have picked up without this kind of data. While I’m glad I gave it a try and found the experience worthwhile, I don’t see myself using it long-term. As someone without diabetes or major blood sugar issues, I feel like I’ve already gotten most of the insights I’m likely to gain. But if you’re curious about your metabolic health or want a deeper look into how your habits affect your body, Stelo is a great place to start.

If you are interested in more wellness tech, be sure to check out the tech I use as part of my fitness journey.

Have you used a CGM? Which one and why? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter/X.