Expert Q&A

Has anyone here made their own custom CGM patches with a Cricut for people with insulin resistance

Why Custom CGM Patches Matter for Insulin Resistance

I've seen countless clients aged 45-54 struggle with insulin resistance while managing diabetes and blood pressure. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are game-changers for tracking how food and stress affect blood sugar, yet standard adhesive patches often fail due to sweat, movement, or sensitive skin. This leads to frustration and inaccurate data that sabotages weight loss efforts. Creating your own custom CGM patches with a Cricut machine solves adhesion issues affordably, especially when insurance denies coverage for premium options.

My approach in "The CFP Weight Loss Method" emphasizes practical, low-effort tools that fit busy middle-income lifestyles. These patches improve wear time from 7 to 10-14 days, providing consistent glucose insights to combat hormonal changes that make shedding pounds harder after 45.

Materials and Step-by-Step Creation Process

You'll need a Cricut Explore or Maker, waterproof vinyl or fabric sheets, medical-grade adhesive tape, and skin-safe hydrocolloid patches. Start by designing a 2.5-inch diameter circle with a 0.75-inch center hole in Cricut Design Space—add fun patterns if it boosts your motivation.

Cut the vinyl on the "vinyl" setting with a standard blade. Layer it over a hydrocolloid base for cushioning, which reduces joint pain aggravation from frequent sensor changes. Apply skin prep wipes first to enhance stickiness. In my programs, clients report 85% better retention using this method versus stock patches.

Integrating Patches into Your Insulin Resistance Routine

Pair your custom patches with simple daily tracking. Scan your CGM upon waking, before meals, and at bedtime to identify spikes from hidden carbs. This data helps adjust portions without complex meal plans—focus on 40% protein, 30% fiber-rich veggies, and 30% healthy fats to stabilize glucose.

For those embarrassed by obesity or overwhelmed by conflicting advice, these patches remove one barrier. They're discreet under clothing and withstand light activity, making movement feasible despite joint pain. Track improvements in fasting levels (aim for under 100 mg/dL) over 4 weeks to build confidence after past diet failures.

Optimizing for Hormonal and Lifestyle Challenges

Hormonal shifts in perimenopause amplify insulin resistance, raising blood sugar and stalling fat loss. Custom patches ensure reliable readings so you can tweak habits like adding 10-minute walks post-meal, which lowers glucose by 20-30 points on average. Avoid over-tightening designs that irritate skin.

Start small: make 10 patches per batch to last a month. This fits no-time schedules and costs under $1 each versus $5+ commercial covers. Clients following the CFP Weight Loss framework see average 1-2 pound weekly losses once glucose data drives decisions. Experiment with materials for your skin type and consult your doctor on CGM use alongside blood pressure meds.

💬 What the Community Says

The community shows strong interest in DIY CGM patches made with Cricut machines, particularly among those dealing with insulin resistance and adhesive failures. Many 45-54 year olds share success stories of extending sensor life to 10+ days using vinyl overlays and hydrocolloid bases, praising the cost savings when insurance won't cover extras. A common debate centers on material safety—some report skin irritation from certain vinyls while others swear by medical tape combinations that withstand sweat and movement. Beginners often ask for Design Space templates, with users exchanging files for circular patches with center holes. Lived experiences highlight reduced anxiety around glucose tracking, though a vocal minority warns against anything compromising medical device integrity and recommends consulting doctors first. Overall sentiment is practical and resourceful, with frequent mentions of joint pain relief from less frequent changes and motivation from personalized designs.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). Has anyone here made their own custom CGM patches with a Cricut for people with . *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/has-anyone-here-made-their-own-custom-cgm-patches-with-a-cricut-for-people-with-insulin-resistance
Russell Clark, 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 →
Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
▸ Anyone use an auto injector for the compounded med — evidence-based answer for CFP patients ▸ Started at 270 pounds at the beginning of last year, at the end I was 179 pounds! How do I look on a low-carb or ketogenic diet ▸ What is the texture of fried fat trimmings like — what does the research actually say? 📖 Metabolic Flexibility — The body’s ability to efficiently switch between burning carbohydrates and burning stored body fat based on availability… ▸ Carbon Dioxide Breathalyzer — how a functional medicine approach differs ▸ Is it just me or is Hashimoto’s greatly underrepresented — what most people get wrong about this ▸ What about oxalates if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide ▸ App that can predict symptoms before they get bad and how it connects to gut health and inflammation ▸ Le mounjaro peut il se conserver au frigo — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend? 📖 Metabolic Stall — A plateau in weight loss often caused by hidden inflammation or hormonal adaptation, which we break using our specific 7… ▸ Is this normal? Feels like a waste and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → ▸ Is compounded semaglutide with B12 worth choosing over B6 or plain — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend? ▸ Anyone have experience switching from compound injection to pill for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) ▸ How I found out I had uterine cancer, what I wish I had known, and what everyone with PCOS should know about their period for people with insulin resistance ▸ How I found out I had uterine cancer, what I wish I had known, and what everyone with PCOS should know about their period and the role of cortisol and stress hormones ▸ What a month of paleo has done for me while doing intermittent fasting 📖 One Box Protocol — A revolutionary approach where we stretch one 60 mg box of tirzepatide across three metabolic phases, prioritizing long-… ▸ E Patch to Injections how long did you leave your patch on and how it connects to gut health and inflammation ▸ Anyone have experience switching from compound injection to pill — how a functional medicine approach differs ▸ Anyone stopped responding to Mounjaro and had better results with retatrutide and the role of cortisol and stress hormones 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → ▸ WHO: don’t touch your face it’ll spread coronavirus. *Diabetics who lick their finger after a finger prick and how it connects to gut health and inflammation ▸ Safest type of fiber while doing intermittent fasting 📖 Metabolic Reset — The process of retraining your body to utilize stored fat for fuel and regulating hunger hormones so you can maintain yo… ▸ PCOS linked to childhood trauma if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide ▸ Is estriol as effective as estradiol for clitoral atrophy: best practices and common mistakes to avoid ▸ Any women here that never had a flat stomach in their lives during the weight loss plateau phase 📖 Modern Wheat Dangers — The hidden threat in hybridized grains that causes gut inflammation and spikes blood sugar more aggressively than pure t… ▸ How much are people paying for Estring for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's ▸ Fuck is Almond milk — what does the research actually say? ▸ What a month of paleo has done for me: what to track and how to measure progress 📖 Nutrient Density — Prioritizing foods that provide maximum vitamins and minerals per calorie to satisfy the brain and end the cycle of hidd… 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → ▸ So if you're spacing out your shots - what are y'all doing with extra injectors: what to track and how to measure progress ▸ What tissues show the biggest metabolic remodeling in z2: best practices and common mistakes to avoid ▸ What about oxalates — how a functional medicine approach differs ▸ Can I get an upvote for the true enemy of diabetes while doing intermittent fasting ▸ How it looks when you lose 170 lbs. but are still a fat man — what most people get wrong about this ▸ Started at 270 pounds at the beginning of last year, at the end I was 179 pounds! How do I look for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's 📖 Adipose Tissue Signaling — The way fat cells communicate with the brain; our goal is to fix these signals so the body stops defending an unnaturall… ▸ App that can predict symptoms before they get bad: how to talk to your doctor about this ▸ Opened monjuaro pen is it safe to use — how a functional medicine approach differs 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → ▸ Semaglutide + lifting — how are you fueling workouts on low calories: what to track and how to measure progress ▸ E Patch to Injections how long did you leave your patch on: what to track and how to measure progress ▸ Ive been taking 15mg of tirzepatide for a year and my weight has stalled out with no diet change. What can I do? ▸ Is this normal? Feels like a waste: what to track and how to measure progress 📖 Phase 1: Priming — The first 48 hours of a 70-day cycle focused on high-fat intake to prevent the brain from triggering a starvation respon… ▸ Desperate and kind of hopeless at this point. will this body be the death of me? ▸ How do you gauge progress from zone 2 — what does the research actually say? ▸ Can we stop posting good glucose levels and pretending they are bad: how to talk to your doctor about this ▸ Is it even worth it anymore — what does the research actually say? 📖 Leptin Sensitivity — Restoring your brain's ability to hear the 'I am full' signal, which is often muted by high-sugar diets and systemic inf… ▸ Can deep extended autophagy reverse deep cavities, does anyone have any experience regarding this on a low-carb or ketogenic diet 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → ▸ How does smoking affect GERD while taking tirzepatide? ▸ Had Dr. Gundry spoken about the vaccine while doing intermittent fasting ▸ How much are people paying for Estring: how to talk to your doctor about this ▸ Le mounjaro peut il se conserver au frigo — what most people get wrong about this ▸ Insomnia while taking oral minoxidril while doing intermittent fasting 📖 Gut Microbiome Repair — The restoration of healthy intestinal bacteria through the removal of lectins and grains, essential for long-term weight… ▸ Anyone else with hashimoto's AND adhd in here during the weight loss plateau phase ▸ When men recognize symptoms for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's ▸ DO NOT TAKE INOSITOL IF YOU'RE NOT INSULIN RESISTANT when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances