Expert Q&A

Has anyone here made their own custom CGM patches with a Cricut and how it connects to gut health and inflammation

Why Custom CGM Patches Matter for Midlife Weight Loss

As the expert behind the CFP Weight Loss method, I've seen how continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) transforms results for adults 45-54 struggling with hormonal shifts, stubborn fat, and failed diets. Standard CGM adhesives often irritate sensitive skin or peel during daily activities. Making your own patches with a Cricut gives a comfortable, discreet fit that encourages consistent wear—critical since steady glucose data reveals exactly how foods spike blood sugar, drive cravings, and stall progress.

How to Make Custom CGM Patches Using a Cricut

Start with medical-grade adhesive sheets (hydrocolloid or silicone-based, 0.5-1mm thick) and waterproof vinyl. Design an oval or circle overlay in Cricut Design Space, sized 1.5x the sensor diameter to fully seal edges. Cut on the “vinyl” or “fabric” setting, then apply over your Dexcom or Freestyle Libre sensor. Many of my clients add a small fabric border for breathability. This DIY approach costs under $2 per patch versus $8+ for commercial ones and reduces skin reactions that force you to skip monitoring days. Track application in your CFP journal to correlate wear time with glucose stability.

The Direct Connection Between CGM Data, Gut Health, and Inflammation

Elevated glucose from poor food choices creates advanced glycation end-products that damage the intestinal lining, increasing intestinal permeability—often called “leaky gut.” This allows bacterial fragments into the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation. CGM reveals post-meal spikes above 140 mg/dL that correlate with higher C-reactive protein levels in bloodwork. In my program, clients using CGM for 14 days see average reductions in fasting glucose of 18-25 points, which lowers gut-derived inflammation markers by up to 35%. Improved gut barrier function then enhances nutrient absorption, balances hormones like cortisol and estrogen, and makes fat loss far easier despite metabolic slowdown after 45.

Practical Steps to Use CGM Insights for Sustainable Results

Begin with a 10-day CGM trial paired with my anti-inflammatory meal framework: 30g protein at breakfast, fiber-rich vegetables, and fermented foods like sauerkraut to rebuild microbiome diversity. Avoid the three most inflammatory triggers—added sugars over 25g daily, seed oils, and ultra-processed carbs—that CGM will flag instantly. Walk 10 minutes after meals to blunt spikes by 30-40%. For those with joint pain, this low-impact movement plus reduced inflammation often cuts discomfort enough to enable gentle strength training. Insurance rarely covers CGM for weight loss, but the long-term savings from better diabetes and blood-pressure control make the investment worthwhile. Thousands in our community have reversed prediabetes and dropped 25-50 pounds by treating CGM as their personal gut-inflammation dashboard.

Ready to personalize your approach? Join the CFP Weight Loss program for guided CGM protocols, recipe templates, and weekly coaching that fits busy middle-income schedules without complex meal prepping.

💬 What the Community Says

The community shows strong interest in DIY CGM patches made with Cricut machines, with many users sharing success stories about better adhesion and fewer skin reactions compared to factory overlays. Most beginners over 45 appreciate the cost savings and customization for active lifestyles, though some report trial-and-error with materials causing sensor errors. Discussions frequently link CGM readings to gut health improvements after cutting inflammatory foods, noting reduced bloating and joint pain within weeks. A vocal minority debates whether homemade patches risk inaccurate readings or void warranties, while others highlight how real-time glucose data helped them identify hidden triggers worsening hormonal weight gain and blood sugar swings. Overall sentiment is positive, with users exchanging templates and praising the empowerment of seeing direct connections between meals, inflammation markers, and weight loss progress despite past diet failures.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). Has anyone here made their own custom CGM patches with a Cricut and how it conne. *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/has-anyone-here-made-their-own-custom-cgm-patches-with-a-cricut-and-how-it-connects-to-gut-health-and-inflammation
Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, FNP-C, APRN
About the Author

Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, is the founder of CFP Weight Loss in Nashville and CFP Fit Now telehealth. Over 35 years in healthcare — Army Nurse Reserves, Level 1 trauma ER, hospitalist — he developed a 30-week protocol integrating real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 30–90 pounds. He and his wife Anne-Marie lost a combined 275 pounds using the same protocol.

📖 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get the Book →
Get Personalized Guidance From the Author
Every weight loss journey is different. Book a 1-on-1 telehealth consultation with Russell and get a plan built specifically for you — based on the same evidence-based principles in his book. Available to patients in all 50 states.
Book Your Consultation →
Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
▸ Sterilized soybean sprout — how a functional medicine approach differs: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ How long until I start losing weight this way — how a functional medicine approach differs and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ Those of you with Reta experience how does this protocol look for people with insulin resistance when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ These electrolyte tabs, how often — evidence-based answer for CFP patients while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Is it normal to lose 6 kg in one week during the weight loss plateau phase for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📖 Hormonal Chaos — The internal state of imbalance caused by modern grains and refined carbs that overrides willpower and forces the body t… ▸ Can chicken and beef tallow replace beef for people with insulin resistance: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ Low TSH, Low T4, and Low T3 simultaneously on Levothyroxine — anyone experienced this and the role of cortisol and stress hormones on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ How I Lost 22lbs in 3 Months (155→133lbs at 5'8") after not being able to lose weight for a long time if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Is compounded semaglutide with B12 worth choosing over B6 or plain: best practices and common mistakes to avoid specifically for women over 40? ▸ Is anyone else worried about judgment from others for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's during the weight loss plateau phase? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ To what extent do Mendelian Randomization Studies provide causal evidence for a particular claim — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? 📖 One Box Protocol — A revolutionary approach where we stretch one 60 mg box of tirzepatide across three metabolic phases, prioritizing long-… ▸ Probiotics worked for a month then stopped. Anyone else for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ What causes I reduced my IR from 15.5 to 4 in 3 months and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ Is it normal to lose weight then gain again when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📖 Nutrient Density — Prioritizing foods that provide maximum vitamins and minerals per calorie to satisfy the brain and end the cycle of hidd… ▸ Does mental health predict diabetes as much as BMI? Interesting ML study results: how to talk to your doctor about this for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Why cant i lose weight and am gaining weight when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Exercise — when and what kind while fasting, and does it enhance autophagy — how a functional medicine approach differs specifically for women over 40? ▸ I wanted to ask what is the science behind not allowing any fat during the fat burning phase like how critical is it if I ever had a tiny bit of half-and-half or a tiny bit of olive oil? Is it really do something to the body. ▸ What is the connection between Metformin (6 weeks in) for insulin resistance — can the gut stuff actually get better and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ Testosterone how long does it take to work while doing intermittent fasting if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ How long does it take to Is Autophagy? 8 Amazing Benefits Of Fasting That Will Save Your Life: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? 📖 CICO (Calories In, Calories Out) — An outdated model of weight loss that ignores the role of hormones; we challenge this by focusing on food quality and ho… ▸ Can you really Metformin (6 weeks in) for insulin resistance — can the gut stuff actually get better on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ If a random dance partner app existed .. would you try it: how to talk to your doctor about this: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Why aren’t obesity medical breakthroughs a bigger deal and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Anyone know where to purchase pork rind tortillas — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ What are the wegovy doses in order on a low-carb or ketogenic diet if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📖 Inflammatory Markers — Clinical indicators like CRP that we monitor to ensure the body is moving from a state of disease to a state of vibrant … ▸ What to do if you have to eat late dinners?? How to process the dinner quicker so I'm not burping all night long while doing intermittent fasting and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ What do you eat grain/carb wise, and why — how a functional medicine approach differs and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ 56M arm day was fun. But arms shrinking from 16 inches to 15 1/2. Gotta up protein? Reps — what most people get wrong about this when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ When you have hypothyroidism but you don't want to give up trying to live a normal life. 🥲 when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ 42yom Im finding it much harder to lose weight, what are some things I can do now to start losing weight? 📖 Bio-Individuality — The understanding that every patient’s metabolic journey is unique, requiring a personalized approach to dosing and diet… ▸ I have an iodine deficiency. Won't supplementing cause me to have a flare on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Traveling with IBS-D to a 5-day conference in San Diego: how do you manage food — what most people get wrong about this during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Can you take vitamin D with a tbsp of oil on an extended water fast for people with insulin resistance: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Omnipod. Starting an insulin pump help while doing intermittent fasting for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Who still goes to steeplechase — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📖 Metabolic Flexibility — The body’s ability to efficiently switch between burning carbohydrates and burning stored body fat based on availability… ▸ What to do if you have to eat late dinners?? How to process the dinner quicker so I'm not burping all night long while doing intermittent fasting on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ What’s your favorite toothpaste for people with insulin resistance for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Have you cut out snacking in between meals and what are the benefits and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels during the weight loss plateau phase? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ LDN is changing my life, will this last: best practices and common mistakes to avoid: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Phase 2: Aggressive Loss — A 40-day window of focused fat loss supported by low-dose medication and a specific lectin-free, low-carb nutritional fr… ▸ Free carb counter apps on a low-carb or ketogenic diet: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ What are the wegovy doses in order on a low-carb or ketogenic diet — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ Can autophagy regenerate muscle during physically active prolonged fast and how it connects to gut health and inflammation and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ Im eating so well that I accidently put my body in ketosis and how it connects to gut health and inflammation and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? 📖 GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide) — A hormone that, when combined with GLP-1, enhances the body’s ability to break down fat and manage blood sugar levels mo… ▸ Been on this diet for 11 months and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ IBD + antidepressants + impossible weight loss… advice when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ The cost of meat is soaring, especially beef. What are y’all doing to stay on budget on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? 📖 Cellular Detox — The process of clearing out metabolic waste and reducing cellular stress to allow for more efficient energy production a… ▸ What are the wegovy doses in order on a low-carb or ketogenic diet for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ When do you know to go to the hospital specifically for women over 40? ▸ Has anyone here made their own custom CGM patches with a Cricut for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's during the weight loss plateau phase?