Podcast Notes Playlist: Latest Episodes

• People have been manipulating life for a very long time and our power to manipulate it will only continue to grow
  • We’ve gone from genetically modifying food to having the ability of genetically modify humans
• In about a decade, it will be possible to create a bunch of embryos in the lab, and based on their genetics/estimated IQs, decide which one to keep
• In the future, people who have babies the “natural” way through sex will be seen as risky (just like how parents who take the “natural” route and don’t vaccinate their kids are actually putting their kids in danger)
• “Our model of what is normal is just going to change”
  • Today, people see immunizations as normal, but our ancestors probably wouldn’t
  • Gene editing may seem radical today, but in the future it will probably be accepted as the status quo
• The cost of genome sequencing went from $1 billion in 2003 to $800 in 2019
  • That price will only continue to drop
• Instead of focusing on entertainment news, people need to focus on educating themselves about upcoming technology and how it will impact their lives
• As time progresses, humans will continue to merge with technology

• Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) provide your blood glucose level in real time
• Insurance companies (in the United States) tend to only cover continuous glucose monitors for type 1 diabetics
  • If you’re healthy and want to wear one to keep track of your glucose levels throughout the day, you need a prescription from your doctor and have to pay out of pocket
• “Continuous glucose monitoring has the potential to change the way people eat more than any other technology I have ever laid eyes on” – Peter
  • Why? – It’s real-time feedback which allows to see how certain foods affect your levels
• “It’s not just what you eat, but it’s the physiologic state you are in when you eat”
  • The spike in your blood glucose levels will be much lower if you eat something like a bowl of pasta 30 minutes after a hard workout compared to eating it after having not exercised
• Poor sleep will increase your average blood glucose level the following day
• A high blood glucose level too late in the day reduces sleep quality

In this episode, Kevin Sayer, CEO of Dexcom, discusses the remarkable benefits of a continuous glucose monitor for the diabetes population. Peter shares his own invaluable insights he’s learned from wearing a CGM including the impact of sleep and stress on glucose as well as the unmatched power of a CGM to drive behavioral change. Kevin also reveals some of the exciting partnerships and future advancements of their products benefiting not only those with type 1 and 2 diabetes, but also for the growing community of people interested in optimizing health and wellness.

• How they met, and Kevin’s path to becoming CEO of Dexcom [7:00];
• How CGM technology works, and what makes Dexcom’s G6 the best model yet [15:15];
• Challenges of working in the US healthcare system and getting CGM insured [21:45];
• Developing an even smaller, more user-friendly, and less costly product while maintaining performance and accuracy [33:15];
• Next thing on the horizon for type 1 diabetes patients [43:30];
• The incredible accuracy of the G6, recommended over-the-counter glucose meters, and the unmatched power of CGM to drive behavioral change [48:15];
• Software improvements for type 2 diabetics, and the remarkable benefits of real-time feedback for driving behavioral change [58:15];
• Dexcom vs. the competitors, the less invasive options, and the fundamental problems needing to be solved with CGM technologies [1:07:00];
• The cost of CGM, why you need a prescription, and when might there be a OTC option? [1:12:00];
• Smartwatch integration, bluetooth technology, and exciting collaborations and partnerships [1:22:00];
• Future places for CGM: Hospitals, nutrition apps, general health and wellness, and more [1:27:15];
• Dexcom’s unique company culture [1:34:15];
• Parenting advice from Kevin [1:37:30];
• Lessons learned through failures and success [1:38:45]; and
• More.

Learn more at www.PeterAttiaMD.com
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Mike Maples is one of the original seed investing gangstas. Seriously. He was the first investor in Twitter, along with investments in other world-changing companies like Cruise, Lyft, Okta, Twitch, and more back when “seed investor” was barely a term. 

He is consistently named as one of the best investors in Silicon Valley and is also "the man who taught me how to invest" according to Tim Ferris, and beyond his brilliance as an investor, he might also be the nicest guy in Silicon Valley. Listen in as he shares his stories from his childhood, what's really causing the growth of inequality in our country, and a bit about a concept I had never heard about called "scissor statements" that is borderline terrifying. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected] and follow us on twitter @ twitter.com/gobelowtheline or follow James @ twitter.com/JamesBeshara "Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Straight Up Podcasts, LLC