The Tiny Device I Wish I Had Taken Seriously Years Ago

The Tiny Device I Wish I Had Taken Seriously Years Ago


How a Continuous Glucose Monitor Helped Me Build Better Habits


I'm going to be super vulnerable.


One of the reasons my body is in the shape it's in today is because I didn't manage my diabetes and insulin resistance the way I should have.


I ate poorly.


I didn't exercise consistently.


I rarely checked my blood glucose.


Why? Because the traditional process was a drag.


It went something like this...


* Wash my hands.
* Get the glucose monitor.
* Find a test strip.
* Grab the lancet.
* Stick my finger.
* Hope I got just the right amount of blood on the strip.
* Wait for the reading.
* Write it down.
* Do it all over again several times a day.


And let's not forget...it hurts. Fingertips have a lot of nerve endings, and after enough finger sticks, you start looking for reasons to skip it.


So I skipped it.


Looking back, I wish I hadn't.


Today, I live with an above-the-knee amputation, kidney failure requiring dialysis, and vision problems. While many factors can contribute to complications like these, years of poorly managed diabetes likely played a significant role in my situation.


I can't change those decisions.


But I can change today's.


Better Habits Beat Perfect Habits


I've known about Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) for years.


The idea always made perfect sense.


Put on a sensor.


Go live my life.


See my glucose levels throughout the day instead of taking occasional snapshots.


Notice trends.


Get alerts.


Share the data with my endocrinologist.


The problem?


Because I'm not insulin-dependent, Medicare doesn't cover one for me. My diabetes has been managed with oral medications in the past and now Ozempic, so I didn't qualify for an insurance-paid CGM.


When Stelo became available, I jumped at the chance.


It's based on Dexcom technology, works through a subscription, and gives me exactly what I wanted—continuous insight into what my blood sugar is doing without constantly stabbing my fingers.


Even better, the data can be shared with my endocrinologist, giving us much better information than a handful of random finger-stick readings.


A Pleasant Surprise


Recently, I opened the Stelo app on my Android phone and immediately noticed something had changed.


Wow.


The redesign is impressive.


Unfortunately, I didn't take screenshots of the old version, but it was functional—it got the job done.


The new version feels much more polished and informative.


Now I can quickly see:


* The percentage of time I'm in my target range.
* Whether I'm running above, within, or below that range.
* Seven-day glucose trends in an easy-to-read graph.
* Additional ways to connect and review my data.


It's one of those updates that isn't just prettier—it actually makes the information easier to understand at a glance.


If You're On the Fence...


Whether someone is diabetic, prediabetic, or simply curious about how food, stress, exercise, or sleep affects blood sugar—and doesn't qualify for an insurance-sponsored CGM—I think Stelo is worth looking into.


No, this isn't sponsored.


Nobody sent me a free device.


Nobody paid me to write this.


I'm simply sharing something that has made it easier for me to build healthier habits.


If one small sensor can help someone avoid even a fraction of what I've gone through, then sharing my story is worth it.


Sometimes the biggest improvements don't come from massive life changes.


Sometimes they come from removing one small barrier that kept us from doing the right thing in the first place.


If sharing my story encourages even one person to take control of their health before complications develop, then being vulnerable today was absolutely worth it.


Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.

Handicap Parking: It’s Not a Suggestion, It’s a Necessity

This morning I arrived at the hospital to visit my mom. Like many mornings recently, it’s another chapter of balancing life, family, dialysis, and everything else that comes with it.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I started looking for a handicap-accessible parking spot. I have a handicap plate. Not because it’s convenient. Not because I want a closer walk.

I have one because I’m an above-the-knee amputee and I live with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease). Some days the extra distance isn’t just a few more steps — it’s a lot more energy, more strain, and more effort.

There were no handicap spots available.

Then I noticed something.

Apparently, when the designated spots are full, someone decided the solution was simple: create their own spot.

A spot that wasn’t actually a parking spot.

Maybe they were in a hurry. Maybe they had a reason. Maybe they thought, “I’ll only be a minute.”

But here’s the thing — hospitals are one of the places where accessibility matters the most. People coming through those doors may be dealing with challenges you can see and many you can’t.

The lines, signs, and designated spaces aren’t there for decoration. They exist because someone may be walking on a prosthetic leg. Someone may be recovering from treatment. Someone may be helping a loved one while fighting their own battle.

I don’t expect special treatment. I expect people to think beyond themselves.

A little awareness and consideration go a long way.

Because one day, the spot you think doesn’t matter may be the spot you truly need.

📬 What You May Have Missed This Week on NielFlamm.com (June 6-13)

Hello Friends!

Another week has come and gone, which means I somehow managed to produce another collection of blogs, movie reviews, videos, LinkedIn posts, opinions, and assorted Internet Garbage.

If life got busy, here's your weekly recap of everything that happened on NielFlamm.com between June 6 and June 13.

🎬 Movie Reviews

It was another busy week at the theater.

I reviewed Pressure, the fascinating true story about the meteorologists whose weather forecast helped make D-Day possible. It was less about the battle itself and more about the pressure of making decisions that would affect thousands of lives.

I also reviewed Scary Movie 6, where Marlon and Shawn Wayans return with exactly the type of over-the-top parody humor that made the franchise famous. If you're easily offended, it probably isn't for you. If you enjoy ridiculous comedy, you'll probably laugh the entire time.

Finally, I shared my thoughts on Eternity, a movie that explores relationships, death, and the afterlife while asking some interesting questions about love and forever.

If you're trying to decide what to watch, hopefully my reviews save you a little time and money.

🌎 NielFlamm.com Continues to Grow

One of the biggest surprises this week came from looking at my website analytics.

During the past month, more than 800 unique visitors generated over 1,000 page views, with readers coming from all over the world. The largest audiences are currently in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Germany.

When I started this hobby, I honestly thought only friends and family would stop by.

Seeing people I've never met visiting the site is both humbling and motivating, and I appreciate every single visit.

🎥 Videos, Blogs & Other Internet Garbage

There was plenty of content outside of movie reviews this week.

I shared my thoughts on celebrity sports fans and carpetbaggers, those people who somehow become lifelong fans the minute a team starts winning championships while the real fans have been suffering through decades of heartbreak.

I also posted another handicap parking adventure, featuring a driver who apparently believes parking lines are merely suggestions despite having an entire parking lot available.

I shared my appreciation for the growing international audience that continues to find NielFlamm.com, thanking readers around the world for spending time with my content and encouraging them to reach out with suggestions on how I can continue improving.

The website continues to fill up with blogs, videos, podcasts, health updates, technology discussions, humor, random observations, and whatever else happens to cross my mind during the week.

💼 Leadership, AI & Nextdoor Commentary

My ongoing commentary surrounding Nextdoor leadership and corporate communication continued throughout the week.

I discussed Nirav Tolia's comments surrounding artificial intelligence, pointing out that AI has existed in many forms for decades through predictive dialers, automation tools, instructional design software, Grammarly, and other technologies many of us have worked with throughout our careers.

I also examined Nextdoor's moderation model, asking what protections exist to prevent moderator retaliation and whether enough transparency exists when volunteer moderators are making decisions that affect neighbors and local conversations.

Another article compared Nextdoor's constantly shifting messaging to companies like Waffle House and In-N-Out Burger, organizations that have built loyal customer bases through consistency, simplicity, and delivering on a straightforward promise.

I also shared my thoughts on Nirav Tolia's appearance on the New Economies podcast, questioning whether the company is truly listening to user feedback while discussing AI, neighborhood data, and community engagement.

As both a shareholder and former user, I continue to believe transparency, consistency, and accountability are critical ingredients for long-term success.

❤️ Recovery & Life

This week I reflected on celebrating 17 years without a drink and the gratitude I have for everyone who reached out with comments, texts, messages, and encouragement.

The AA chip I picked up wasn't just for me—it serves as a reminder to newcomers that long-term recovery is possible, one day at a time.

Humor, gratitude, and community continue to be some of the greatest gifts of sobriety.

👉 Catch Up!

If you missed anything this week, stop by NielFlamm.com and catch up on the latest blogs, videos, podcasts, movie reviews, opinion pieces, and all the other Internet Garbage I've been creating.

And if you enjoy what you read or watch, please forward this email to a friend and encourage them to subscribe.

Don't gatekeep the Internet Garbage.

Thanks for reading, supporting the site, and following along on this crazy journey.

See you next week!

— Niel