Community voices
Transforming glucose health: Norma's journey with Stelo
Published: Feb. 27, 2025
6 min read
The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.
Every day we’re inspired by the amazing community of Stelo users, like Norma, who has embraced her glucose health journey with determination and transparency. At 61, Norma is helping others by sharing her experiences, recipes, lifestyle tips and more with her followers on Instagram @lowcarbnorma. In August of 2024, she started using a Stelo biosensor, which has quickly become a transformative tracking tool for her. Let’s get to know more about Norma and her glucose health journey.
The journey to becoming Low Carb Norma
Thirty years ago, during her first pregnancy, Norma was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and was told she’d be at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. She didn’t think much of it at the time—she was young, in generally good health, and always prioritized working out. But sure enough, 25 years later, her A1C levels began to rise. Determined to take control of her health, Norma started to do her own research and experiment with different ways of eating to see if she could make positive changes for her glucose health and possibly avoid the need for medication.
She rapidly began reaching her health goals and lowered her A1C. People took notice on social media and started asking her how she did it, inspiring her to share her progress, strategies, and recipes—like these below—online.
From a setback to a step forward with Stelo
Norma’s successful glucose health journey started five years ago, though more recently, her A1C began creeping back up again—something she transparently shared with her followers online. Her community was surprised; she eats healthy, low carb meals and always stays active, so how could this happen?
“You always have to be monitoring your glucose and it's really important. So that's why having the (Stelo) biosensor is really a great tool.”
-Norma L.
Determined as always to get her A1C back in check, Norma has once again been trying new approaches to managing her glucose. As part of her strategy, she has been using Stelo to track her glucose while she experiments with different food combinations and more.
Learning and experimenting with Stelo
Norma’s journey with Stelo has been driven by curiosity. Using the Stelo biosensor, she’s been able to explore how her body reacts to different foods and find new ways to enjoy meals she previously thought were off-limits.
While wearing Stelo, Norma has discovered surprising insights about her diet, empowering her to reintroduce foods like toast and sweet potatoes, creating balanced meals that support her health goals.
"In the past, I’ve avoided all carbs for fear of spikes. But I’ve learned I can eat complex carbs if I pair them first with fiber, protein, and healthy fats for a much better response," she explains.
Here are a few of her powerful discoveries from the first three months of using Stelo that you can try at home:
- Oatmeal additions
Using Stelo, Norma saw that eating plain oatmeal can cause a glucose spike. Adding protein powder and a big scoop of peanut butter helped her to completely avoid a rise in her glucose. - Carbs for breakfast? Yes!
Swap out white bread for a piece of high fiber bread and top it with nut butter for a filling breakfast that could curb a glucose spike. - Norma’s plate method
Similar to the American Diabetes Association’s Plate Method, Norma follows this rule: Fill half your plate with fiber-rich veggies, a quarter with protein, and a quarter with complex carbs—complemented by healthy fats. Eat the foods in that order, too, to see if it helps to avoid a spike.
A sweet revelation
One impactful moment in Norma’s journey with Stelo came when she allowed herself to enjoy a sweet treat of vanilla ice cream on a sugar cone. Before having the ice cream, she made sure to eat a fiber-packed meal—quinoa with black beans, avocado, and chicken—then took a walk while eating her treat. To her surprise, she was able to see that her glucose levels stayed stable on her Stelo app. Norma’s Stelo graph from that day, a feature she loves most about the app, proved that balance is possible even with indulgences.
Getting physical activity is part of the equation
Norma’s active lifestyle also plays a vital role in her glucose management, and using the Stelo biosensor, she’s seen a marked difference in her glucose levels on days when she’s active. Her daily routine includes an early morning workout where she might engage in strength training, Tabata, or HIIT workouts. Additionally, she aims to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.
Norma’s advice for other Stelo users
Norma encourages others to embrace the learning curve of managing glucose levels and to be their own advocates.
"Don’t be afraid to try things you were scared of and see what works for you," she says. “You can eat great food; you just need to have good recipes.”
She also encourages people to explore lifestyle modifications and monitor glucose daily using a tool like a glucose biosensor before going on medication.
Looking ahead
Norma’s main health goal is to bring her A1C back down to a healthy range and maintain it. With the help of the Stelo Glucose Biosensor, she’s rediscovering the foods she loves while keeping her glucose levels stable. Her journey inspires others to take charge of their health, explore new possibilities, and enjoy life without fear.
Norma is a paid Stelo ambassador.
Reviewed by: Kayce Sol
MA, RN, BSN, CDCES
MA, RN, BSN, CDCES
Kayce Sol is a registered nurse and certified diabetes care and education specialist.
Written by: Stelo Team
*For Stelo app compatibility information, visit stelo.com/compatibility.