Expert Q&A

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?

Understanding Plateaus in Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's During Tirzepatide Use

In my 30 years of clinical practice and through the The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset, I've seen countless patients with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's hit stubborn plateaus around weeks 10-14. These aren't failures of willpower—they stem from slowed thyroid conversion, lingering lectin-driven inflammation, and disrupted hunger signals even while on low-dose tirzepatide. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can provide valuable data on how foods affect blood sugar stability, which directly impacts thyroid function and fat loss. However, standard CGM patches often fail due to sweat, skin sensitivity from hormonal shifts, or the friction of daily movement, especially when joint pain limits exercise options.

Creating Custom CGM Patches with a Cricut: Practical Steps

Many of our patients have successfully made custom overlays using a Cricut machine for precise, skin-friendly patches that last 10-14 days. Start with medical-grade adhesive vinyl or hydrocolloid sheets cut to 3.5-inch circles with a 0.5-inch border around the sensor. Add a small tab for easy removal. Layer breathable fabric overlays for those with Hashimoto's skin sensitivity. In the book, I outline exact templates in the 69 Transformation Steps that ensure the patch doesn't pull on insertion sites. Test for allergies first—avoid materials with hidden lectins or synthetic fragrances that could flare autoimmune responses. This DIY approach saves money when insurance denies coverage and gives a better seal during the plateau phase when you're increasing Japanese-style walking intervals.

Breaking Plateaus Without Over-Reliance on CGM Data

While custom patches help track glucose responses to our lectin-free low-carb meals, the real breakthrough in The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset comes from cycling tirzepatide intelligently across three 70-day phases rather than staying on it continuously. Combine this with Detox Drops to clear toxin burden that burdens the thyroid, red light therapy sessions to support mitochondrial function, and chaotic intermittent fasting in maintenance. For a typical 52-year-old with Hashimoto's and joint pain, we target a 1.5-2.0 mg weekly dose in cycle two while emphasizing 221 real-food recipes that stabilize insulin. Patients often see the scale move again within 10 days once inflammation drops. Focus on non-scale victories like morning energy, looser clothes, and improved A1C instead of daily numbers that can overwhelm beginners.

Long-Term Metabolic Freedom Beyond the Patch

The biggest mistake I see is using CGMs or any tool as a crutch instead of rebuilding natural regulation. In our Nashville clinic and through CFP Fit Now telehealth, clients with diabetes and blood pressure concerns who follow the full protocol—real foods, smart cycling, and daily habits—maintain 30-90 lb losses without lifelong medication dependency. One patient with Hashimoto's dropped her TSH from 8.2 to 2.1 and broke a 6-week plateau by adding red light and walking while using her Cricut-made patches for the first 8 weeks only. The goal is metabolic freedom: your hypothalamus and hormones working for you, not against you. This is exactly what the 30-week protocol delivers.

💬 What the Community Says

The community shows strong interest in creative CGM hacks like Cricut-cut patches, particularly among those managing Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism during tirzepatide plateaus. Many share success stories of using vinyl or hydrocolloid overlays that improve wear time from 5 to 12 days, reducing skin irritation and frustration with insurance-covered sensors. A vocal group debates whether constant glucose tracking helps or heightens anxiety in the middle weeks of protocols, with some preferring to limit CGM use to the first cycle only. Lived experiences frequently mention combining patches with lectin-free eating and walking routines, though opinions split on DIY materials—some warn of adhesive reactions while others report better adhesion than commercial options. Overall, beginners appreciate the cost-saving aspect and community-shared templates, but most emphasize pairing any monitoring with broader lifestyle resets rather than obsessing over numbers. Experiences vary by individual hormone profiles, leading to calls for more tailored advice in online forums.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). Has anyone here made their own custom CGM patches with a Cricut for those with h. *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/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
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.

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