Interview with Anna, 27, project manager at a Munich marketing agency
"I was constantly tired and "Don't stress yourself so much" doesn't help...
Anna is 27, loves her job as a project manager in a large marketing agency in Munich and her everyday life includes deadlines, long evenings at the office and unhealthy meals at work - there's not much she can do about it. In recent years, she has slept less and less well and the feeling of being constantly tired, exhausted and irritable has become a permanent condition. This tiredness was increasingly affecting her professional performance as well as her private social contacts, until Anna decided to make a change. Through the Hello Inside program, she learned how strongly her blood sugar level and her sleep quality are linked and how she could bring herself back into balance with new routines.
Question: Anna, what made you question your habits and change something?
Anna: I had the feeling that I was stuck in a vicious circle. My job is demanding and the working days are often long. I come home in the evening and all I really want to do is switch off, but then I often don't manage to get enough restful sleep. In the morning, I'm completely exhausted, drag myself into work and literally have to keep myself awake. This tiredness has also crept into my free time - I was often so exhausted that I withdrew more and more. Friends have noticed that I often cancel meetings or leave early.
After a year in "survival mode", the moment came when I thought: This can't be it. I could concentrate less and less, was irritable and no longer as productive at work as I used to be. Something had to change.
Question: So why did you choose the Hello Inside program?
Anna: I had heard about Hello Inside and found the idea of analyzing my blood sugar levels and seeing how my body reacts to the things I eat every day exciting. But to be honest, I was skeptical at first. I thought, "What would blood sugar have to do with my sleep and mood?" But I wanted to finally understand why I was feeling so drained. So I simply signed up and took the plunge.
Question: How have the data and analyses from Hello Inside helped you to better understand your situation?
Anna: The first few days were a real surprise. Thanks to the sensor and the app, I could immediately see how my blood sugar fluctuated throughout the day. After a stressful day at work or a large portion of pasta at lunchtime, the values shot up and then dropped sharply. Especially after such a lunch, my blood sugar was often unstable for hours - exactly at the time when I often became tired and unfocused.
I quickly realized that these blood sugar fluctuations affect my entire energy balance and my quality of sleep. When I eat sugar or white flour in the evening, my blood sugar first rises sharply and then drops in the middle of the night. This has often led to restless sleep and waking up at night, which I was never aware of before.
"Hello Inside made it clear to me that my eating habits have a huge impact on my energy and well-being," Anna explains. "Seeing this has opened my eyes."
Question: What changes have you made to your lifestyle following these findings?
Anna: I've gotten into a few routines that really help me keep my blood sugar levels stable and sleep better. For example, I no longer eat carbohydrate-rich meals in the evening and focus on more proteins and vegetables. As a result, my blood sugar is much more stable at night and I sleep much better.
I also try to take the edge off stressful situations at work. I used to reach for sweets when I was stressed, but now I know that this only leads to a short energy boost and then to a real low. Instead, I take a few minutes at such times to breathe consciously and de-stress, preferably outside. This helps me to stay clearer in stressful phases and not reach for "snacks" as a source of energy.
Regularity was also important to me. The coaching made me realize that my body works better when I give it a fixed routine. I now try to always go to bed and get up at the same time - this has significantly improved my sleep rhythm, even if my nights are still short.
Question: What changes have you noticed since then?
Anna: The changes are incredible. I no longer feel so exhausted, my concentration is much better and I sleep much more peacefully. The energy I used to get from snacks now comes from a more stable blood sugar and regular meals. I notice that my body has become more stable and resilient. These successes motivate me to keep going every day because I now understand what my body needs to be able to perform.
I'm also more relaxed at work and manage to keep my energy up until the end of the day, without the post-lunch slump. It feels like I've found my vitality again - and that was really liberating for me. I'm also more open and active in my free time again because I'm no longer so tired and irritable. In the office, the two of us now do a 10-minute power walk around the block every 2 hours with a colleague who also did the program. We both feel much better with it.
Question: You are already doing your second "check-in" with Hello Inside - what made you decide to do this?
Anna: I've made a firm commitment to myself to have a period once a quarter where I check my blood sugar levels. I've noticed that it helps me to maintain this routine and also to make sure that I don't fall back into old patterns, I owe it to my body.
In everyday life, habits keep intruding into my life, I have a special job and I want to find ways to deal with it well - especially when things get stressful. With the sensor, I can regularly self-reflect and make sure my body gets the support it needs - it's like my body gets a voice that demands its due when it falls short. The coaching also helps me to constantly readjust my goals and see where I can continue to improve.
Question: What conclusions can you draw from your experience with Hello Inside?
Anna: Hello Inside has given me a new perspective on my health. I used to think that my stress and poor sleep were just part of my job and my life. But now I know that I can make a big difference myself and that I have control over my wellbeing.
These little check-ins give me the confidence that I can maintain my progress and balance myself, even when things get stressful. I would advise anyone who feels tired, unfocused or stressed to learn more about their own body and see how simple changes can make such a difference. I have really developed through Hello Inside - and it feels great.
