Basal Metabolic Rate(BMR)
Definition
The minimum number of calories the body burns at complete rest to maintain essential physiological functions such as breathing, circulation, and cell repair. BMR accounts for 60 to 75% of total daily energy expenditure and is influenced by lean muscle mass, age, sex, and thyroid function. Higher metabolic health — reflected in stable CGM glucose patterns with low glycemic variability — correlates with more efficient energy metabolism and higher BMR, while chronic hyperglycemia and insulin resistance reduce metabolic efficiency.
Why “Basal Metabolic Rate” Matters for Glucose Monitoring
Understanding basal metabolic rate is essential for anyone using or evaluating a continuous glucose monitor. This concept directly affects how CGM devices are designed, how glucose data is interpreted, and how clinical decisions about blood sugar management are made.
This term applies broadly across all continuous glucose monitors and is foundational knowledge for interpreting CGM data, whether you are managing diabetes or using a sensor for metabolic wellness.
Related Terms
A cluster of 5 interrelated conditions — elevated waist circumference, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting glucose — that together increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 2x and type 2 diabetes by 5x.
A measure of how effectively the body's cells respond to insulin to take up glucose from the bloodstream, representing the opposite end of the spectrum from insulin resistance.
A metabolic condition in which the body's cells respond poorly to the hormone insulin, forcing the pancreas to produce progressively larger amounts to maintain normal blood glucose levels.