Why join this study?

Feel the satisfaction of playing an integral part of the ground breaking wellness solution, discover key insights about your biology while learning the valuable lifestyle skill of managing your insulin which is known to result in higher energy levels, healthy weight loss, reduced inflammation,  better moods,  reduced heart disease and Alzheimer’s Disease risks. 

By participating on this study you would be getting the equivalent value of $5,000-6,000 CAD. 

What are we planning to do?

We are planning on using the “wisdom of the crowd” to improve health—We will Biohack Together!  In order to run this study, we will need 15 committed participants.

What does it involve?

The study will last a total of 12 weeks and will require for you to commit the time to attend weekly online webinars for accountability and troubleshooting (These webinars are approximately 1 hour duration each week). 

During the 12 weeks on a daily basis you will be tracking the following:

• Blood work at baseline and after 12 weeks (A list of lab tests will be provided when on boarding)
• Continuous Blood Glucose (CBG) monitoring using a Dexcom G5 device (2 weeks baseline & 2 weeks of intervention)
• Sleep
• Eat (Food tracking along with hours spent fasting)
• Movement (Number of steps/day)
• Mind-body intervention. (Time spent in Relaxation Response)

This data will be captured and processes into a scoring system for each of the components of SEMM -the SEMM Score.

Required Devices:

1.    Dexcom G5: a Continuous Glucose Monitor  to track blood glucose response. 

2.    Any Wearable that tracks sleep, resting heart rate, number of daily steps  (We recommend Oura Ring if you don't have a wearable currently). 

Study Cost: 

This is self-funded, but we will provide participants with the ability to access our Peer to Peer Crowd Sourcing Platform to help them raise the funds they need.   

The approximate total cost per participant is $1,880 CAD 

Below is an itemised list of the cost: 

1. CGM with Dexcom G5: $729 CAD (4 sensors 2 weeks baseline 2 weeks tracking)
2. Oura Ring: $405 CAD (Optional if participant does not have a tracker) 
3. Gut Microbiome testing: Two test for a total of $540 CAD
4. Lab Testing Cost: All test are covered under Alberta health (except optional Vitamin D @ $75)
5. Physician Consultations: will be donated by study sponsor (Estimated at $2,000 per participant)
6. 12 webinar sessions: will be donated by study sponsor (Estimated at $595 per participant)
7. Study Logistics Cost: will be donated by study sponsor (Estimated at $2,000 per participant)
8. Incidentals: processing, printing of docs etc..

Required Laboratory Testing:

We will collaborate with a physician from Calgary, Alberta for the lab work. Therefore, you will have to visit her clinic twice during the 12 weeks (Once at baseline and once at week 12). 

Hypothesis:

1.    Using CBG monitoring along with SEMM score will provide an individualized lifestyle recommendation for each participant.

2.    Improving the SEMM score will reduce chronic inflammation and improve insulin resistance and in turn reduce health risks.

References:

Hall, Heather, et al. "Glucotypes reveal new patterns of glucose dysregulation." PLoS biology16.7 (2018): e2005143.

Zeevi, David, et al. "Personalized nutrition by prediction of glycemic responses." Cell 163.5 (2015): 1079-1094.

Disclaimer:

Please note this citizen science project is not to be considered medical advice unless given by our study's physician during the medical consultation