Explaining CGM to Clients Without Sounding Like a Doctor

Why Language Matters When Talking About Continuous glucose monitors

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) can be a game-changer for your clients, but only if you can explain it clearly.

Clients can get overwhelmed when trainers use overly clinical or technical language. Terms like “insulin sensitivity,” “glycemic variability,” or “beta cell function” can make people tune out fast.

Your job as a coach isn’t to act like their doctor. It’s to show them how CGM helps them feel and perform better.

1. Keep It Simple and Relatable

Instead of:

“CGM monitors your interstitial fluid glucose to assess insulin response.”

Say this:

“A CGM is a small sensor that tracks blood sugar levels daily. It’s like a fuel gauge for your energy.”

Clients understand analogies they can relate to. For example, glucose is like fuel in a car: too much or too little, and performance suffers.

2. Focus on the Benefits, Not the Biology

Your client doesn’t need a lecture on metabolic physiology. They want to know: “How does this help me?”

• “CGM shows us what’s happening with your energy in real time.”

• “We’ll know exactly how your workouts, meals, and sleep impact your body.”

• “It helps us personalize your plan so you get better results.”

When you focus on how CGM makes their life easier, you create buy-in.

3. Set Clear Expectations

Clients might think a CGM will “fix” their problems overnight. Help your clients understand that a CGM is a tool, not a quick fix.

Try saying something like this:

“Using a CGM won’t automatically change your results, but it does show us what is working and what is holding you back. Then we can make adjustments accordingly.”

This keeps them engaged and realistic about the process.

4. Avoid Medical Advice

You must understand you’re a coach, not a doctor. That means:

• Don’t recommend medication changes.

• Don’t diagnose health conditions.

• Do encourage clients to share CGM data with their healthcare provider if they’re concerned.

A simple phrase you can use:

“I’m not a doctor, but I can help you use CGM data to optimize your training and nutrition.”

5. Give Them Something Tangible

Clients love having something they can refer back to. A welcome letter or handout explaining CGM in plain language is so powerful.

You can include:

• What a CGM is and how it works (without the jargon)

• Why you are using it in your coaching program

• What they can expect during the first week

• How you can use the data together

Get Your Client Welcome Letter Template

Want a professional, done-for-you way to explain CGM to clients?

Download the Client Welcome Letter template from the CGM Coaching Toolkit

It’s designed to:

• Explain CGM in language your clients will understand

• Build excitement and trust

• Save you time and effort with every new client

Explaining CGM doesn’t mean giving a biology lecture. Keep your language simple, focus on the client’s goals, and set clear expectations.

When you master this, your clients will be more engaged, compliant, and likely to get excellent results.

Get the Client Welcome Letter template now and start onboarding your clients with confidence.