Tag Archives: mouthwash

I Am Wearing A ‘Dexcom G7’ Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) — NO, I Am NOT Diabetic (YET).

by Anura Guruge
on October 7, 2023

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I am NOT diabetic AS YET — but I just crept into
the prediabetes range.

That was the whole point of getting the ‘Dexcom G7‘ CGM with a permanent patch that monitors glucose level 24×7 at 5-minute intervals.

I have known all my life that I am prone to become diabetic. We has a race are predisposed to it. I have spent a better part of life trying to DELAY IT.

It is NOT if, but when — so, I just want to TRY and keep on pushing that when down the road.

Hence, all my walking and low-carb diet. But, my A1c keeps creeping up, year after year. It finally crossed over to the prediabetes range.

I am just glad that I managed to DELAY that till I was past 70.

Now, the goal is to stay PREDIABETIC as long as possible.

I have NO DESIRE, whatsoever, for longevity. So, IF I can push it down the road a few more years, I will be content.


I had seen the Dexcom products years ago.

I wanted a CGM to BEGIN WITH. I want to UNDERSTAND what is happening within my body.

My insurance wouldn’t pay for it BECAUSE I am not diabetic. Plus, NONE cover the NEW & quite expensive G7.

I bought 3 patches/sensors. Each works for 10-days. So, I have 30-day coverage. Not sure I will go beyond that. It is expensive & the APP isn’t that great. I might just go with pin prick readers –> with better APPS. But, that is down the road.

I have learnt a lot already.

I will keep you posted.

Interesting stuff ….



A year ago I went BACK to using mouthwash — (at least) TWICE a day.

My A1c has GONE UP!

Yes, there are OTHER FACTORS TOO. I am fully aware of that. But, as with other changes, I ditched the mouthwash.

Click to access this related post from last month.

I AGAIN Stopped Using Mouthwash — I THINK It Is Messing With My A1c (i.e., Diabetes) Readings.

by Anura Guruge
on September 25, 2023

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My post from May 2022. Click image to access that post.

I am NOT diabetic AS YET — but I am in the prediabetes range.

I get my A1c checked — yearly. I am determined to push back, as long as I can, on getting diabetes. It is in MY GENES. I most likely will NOT be able to dodge it. My only goal is to delay it as long as possible.

I do NOT have CONCLUSIVE PROOF that mouthwash increases my A1c — but I can’t take the RISK any longer.


I, given my obsession with oral health, don’t have bad breath — unless I have just been eating garlics or onions. But, I LIKE using mouthwash. I like the taste & sensation.

I had used mouthwash, twice a day for decades.

A few years ago my A1c had slowly started to creep up.

I saw a report, online, that linked mouthwash with diabetes.

I gave up mouthwash. My A1c went down! But, during that year I also made some other lifestyle changes.


A year ago I went BACK to using mouthwash — (at least) TWICE a day.

My A1c has GONE UP!

Yes, there are OTHER FACTORS TOO. I am fully aware of that. But, as with other changes, I ditched the mouthwash.

Just sharing this with YOU in case it HELPS YOU.

Did YOU Know That Using Mouthwash Might Increase Your Risk Of Getting ‘Type 2’ Diabetes?

by Anura Guruge
on May 31, 2022

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I first read about this increased risk of diabetes in “The Reader’s Digest” in 2018. It scared me enough that I stopped using mouthwash! Prior to that I had been an ardent, daily user — heartily gargling away for at least 7 or 8 minutes a day. I had my annual blood work done about 3 months later. My A1C which had remained flat for 4 years had gone down! I was never diabetic, BUT seeing my A1C dip was quite the thing.

I had NOT used mouthwash for the last 4 years. But then, recently, I was FORCED to go back to using mouthwash. I have given up on getting my teeth SCRAPED (i.e., cleaned) by a dental hygienist on a regular basis. NO. NO. It isn’t to do with costs. I just don’t like having my hard earned enamel scrapped by a pseudo-professional for cosmetic reasons. I did get my teeth X-rayed & checked my a dentist recently. Though I had not had my teeth cleaned or gone to a dentist in 3-years, my teeth were FINE! {SMILE} I have teeth like a horse.

But, I do worry about plaque build up & I don’t want to damage my gums by brushing my teeth too vigorously — something I am prone to do. So much so that I now buy ‘Extra Soft’ toothbrushes just to make sure that I do not damage my gums too much. (According to my dentist, much to my surprise & relief, my gums are FINE. Wow.)

So, I have to use mouthwash. I started by using it twice a day — at least 4 minutes at a time.

But, I got scared.

I scaled it back to once a day. At night.

So, just a heads up. Check it out.

P.S., Not sure about your dentist, but mine had NO CLUE as to this supposed link between mouthwash & diabetes. Scary.