Flash Sensors And Cgm Sensors
With a flash glucose monitor, sensors should be worn on the arms only. And we recommend that they arent placed over areas with tattoos as this could impact your results. With a CGM, you can wear the sensor on different parts of the body, such as your abdomen.
The sensors dont normally need to be taken off. You can usually wear them in the bath, shower and during sports. But some people do have problems with them falling off. There are adhesives you can buy to keep them in place.
You cannot remove a sensor for a while once it has come off you need to replace it with a new one.
How often you have to change the sensor will depend on the type of model youre using and the manufacturers instructions. Youll usually need to change it at least once every 14 days.
Its quick and painless to put on a sensor. You insert them just under the skin using an applicator.
Are Both Dexcom And Freestyle Libre Covered By Insurance
While this depends on your personal insurance plan, many insurances now cover CGMs for people with diabetes similar to how they cover traditional finger stick meters. Its possible your plan may only cover one brand, so its best to contact your insurance to ask for details.
If you do not have diabetes and are interested in using a CGM, it is unlikely your insurance will cover these devices. This may also be the case if you have prediabetes or gestational diabetes . But there are still some ways to save and avoid paying the full retail price.
Is Dexcom G6 Covered By Insurance
CGM doesnt come cheap. In general, health insurance is more likely to pick up the tab for CGM for someone who has Type 1 diabetes. The good news is that more and more people who have Type 2 diabetes are getting coverage. Youre more likely to get insurance coverage if you have high blood sugar , frequent episodes of low blood sugars, or hypoglycemia unawareness.
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In Study Dexcom Finds Cgms Can Benefit Type 2 Patients Too
A new study published today in Annals of Internal Medicine and sponsored by Dexcom shows that a continuous glucose monitor could lower the HbA1c scores of people with Type 2 diabetes, and that acceptance of the technology is high among that group as well.
Right now, continuous glucose monitoring is a technology mostly used by people with Type 1 diabetes, many of whom administer insulin via an automated pump. But people with Type 1 diabetes make up just 5 to 10 percent of people with diabetes in the US, according to the CDC. The others have Type 2 diabetes and often administer insulin via multiple daily injections .
We have been successful in driving innovation and adoption of CGM in the Type 1 diabetes community, but this arm of the DIaMonD study is one of the first to examine how well CGM works for people with Type 2 diabetes on MDI, Kevin Sayer, president and CEO of Dexcom, said in a statement. We are pleased to see a significant A1C reduction in this study, showing that the millions of people globally with Type 2 diabetes on MDI insulin therapy can benefit from CGM use.
On its earnings calls to investors, Sayer has made no secret about Dexcoms aspirations to widen its total addressable market by eventually marketing its CGMs to people with Type 2 diabetes. This study is the first step in clinically validating that approach.
Furthermore, CGM users were adherent to the device and overwhelmingly rated the benefits of the technology as high and the hassles as low.
Dexcom Study Shows Monitor Works For Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Nancy Crotti | Aug 21, 2017
A new study of Dexcom’s G4 Platinum continuous glucose monitor showed that more than half of the participants experienced a 10% or higher reduction in an important indicator for developing diabetes-related complications.
The 24-week study of blood glucose levels in 158 adults who have Type 2 diabetes and inject multiple doses of insulin daily showed significant reductions in Hemoglobin A1c . Mean HbA1c levels dropped by an absolute percent change of 0.8% in the CGM group and 0.5% in the control group, with 73% of the CGM users experiencing a drop of more than 0.5%, the study found.
A mean HbA1c reduction of 0.3% represents a meaningful improvement. Measuring HbA1c indicates how high a patient’s blood glucose level has been on average over a period of 8-12 weeks.
The DIAMOND randomized trial did not, however, reveal any changes in hypoglycemia, a dangerous and often hidden effect of the disease. The study participants had extremely low baseline rates of hypoglycemia, limiting the CGM’s ability to assess the benefit of measuring it, the company said.
Despite this, Dexcom was crowing over its CGM’s performance among patients with Type 2 diabetes, whose blood sugar is usually better controlled than those with Type 1. The company also pointed out that its study results beat those of Abbott’s Freestyle Libre Flash CGM in a study last year that showed no HbA1c benefit in a similar patient population.
Nancy Crotti is a contributor to Qmed.
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Difference Between A Flash Glucose Monitor And A Cgm
With a CGM your latest sugar levels show up on device or mobile automatically, transmitted by Bluetooth. With a flash glucose monitor, its only when you wave your device over your sensor that you get your blood sugar readings.
Some people prefer to use Flash over CGM. Reasons can include not liking the alarms. But unlike Flash, a CGM can talk to an insulin pump, if you want to use a closed loop system.
Your diabetes healthcare team should be able to support you to make the decision on which device will be best for you.
Which Other Devices Does Dexcom G6 Work With
When the FDA approved the G6 in 2018, the agency created a brand-new category of device that it refers to as iCGM, or Integrated CGM a system designed to connect directly with other compatible devices, such as a smartphone, insulin pump, or other wearable.
Devices that currently work the Dexcom G6 include the latest Omnipod tubeless insulin pump, as well as the tubed Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump with Basal-IQ and Control-IQ closed loop features. Not sure whether your device is compatible with Dexcom G6? You can check that out here.
Whats exciting is that the future Dexcom G7 model will have even more advanced features, and integration with automated diabetes management systems.
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Cgm & Time In Range
Continuous glucose monitors , as the name suggests, continually monitor the glucose in your blood through an external device thats attached to your body, and gives real-time updates. Theyve become popular and more accurate over the years, and with that improvement has come a new way to manage your blood sugarenter time in range .
Cost Of Buying A Freestyle Libre
The cost of Freestyle Libre or Freestyle Libre 2 sensors are around £50 every 2 weeks. If you have a compatible smartphone you can just download the app and use your phone to scan the sensor to see the readings. But if you dont, you can buy a small device called a reader, for around £50 and this is a one-off purchase. Speak to your healthcare professional about where you can buy a reader from they can be available direct from the manufacturer , from a pharmacy or online but this can change.
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Take The Next Step With Dexcom
Please note the form below is only intended for new customers.
*If your glucose alerts and readings from the G6 do not match symptoms or expectations, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions.
For a list of compatible devices, visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility.
1. Shah VN, et al. Diabetes Technol Ther 2018 20:428-33.
2. Beck, RW, et al. JAMA. 2017 317:371-378.
3. Welsh, JB et al. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2019 21:128-32.
BRIEF SAFETY STATEMENT Failure to use the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System and its components according to the instructions for use provided with your device and available at https://www.dexcom.com/safety-information and to properly consider all indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and cautions in those instructions for use may result in you missing a severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia occurrence and/or making a treatment decision that may result in injury. If your glucose alerts and readings from the G6 do not match symptoms or expectations or youre taking over the recommended maximum dosage amount of 1000mg of acetaminophen every 6 hours, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions. Seek medical advice and attention when appropriate, including for any medical emergency.
Who Can Use A Cgm
Most people who use CGMs have type 1 diabetes. Research is underway to learn how CGMs might help people with type 2 diabetes.
CGMs are approved for use by adults and children with a doctors prescription. Some models may be used for children as young as age 2. Your doctor may recommend a CGM if you or your child:
- are on intensive insulin therapy, also called tight blood sugar control
- have hypoglycemia unawareness
- often have high or low blood glucose
Your doctor may suggest using a CGM system all the time or only for a few days to help adjust your diabetes care plan.
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Cgms Used By The Nhs Or To Buy
The Freestyle Libre 3 is a CGM which is available on the NHS but not yet available to buy.
These are some of the CGMs available:
Dexcom G6 licensed for those aged two and over
Dexcom G5 licensed for those aged two and over
Glucomenday licensed for those aged six and over
Guardiam Connect no age restriction
Some CGMs work with insulin pumps – see information on these integrated systems.
How To Use Technology For Glucose Monitoring
These days, there are many different glucose monitoring devices on the market. Some may require a finger prick and blood sample to get a reading. Others are more sophisticated and can be worn directly on the body.
Continuous glucose monitoring devices can provide real-time glucose readings up to every five minutes, throughout the day and night. This can be especially useful for people who experience hypoglycemia at night or who forget to check their levels regularly throughout the day.
CGM devices are worn on the body and send glucose readings to a receiver or smart device and show how your glucose levels fluctuate over the course of a day. Some also show how often you stay within an average range, also called time in range . Some CGM devices have alerts that can notify you if your glucose levels are getting too high or too low. Some devices also allow you to send alerts and share your glucose readings with chosen followers. Shareable features can be used to keep your family, friends, and healthcare team informed of your daily glucose levels.
You can also manually check your glucose levels throughout the day with a blood glucose monitoring device. BGM devices require you to prick your finger with a lancet to get a blood sample for a glucose reading. The downside of BGM devices is they only give you a single reading for that point in time.
No matter which type of device you use, there are some important things to keep in mind when using one:
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Metabolic And Safety Outcomes
Change in body weight, blood pressure, or nonHDL cholesterol appeared similar between groups . Between 8 and 14 months, two severe hypoglycemic events occurred in one participant in the continue CGM group and none in discontinue CGM group or the BGM group. Details of these two events are provided in Supplementary Table 12. There were no occurrences of diabetic ketoacidosis.
How Much Does It Cost
Dexcom CGMs are covered by a large array of private insurers in the United States. As of fall 2020, Medicare does cover the Dexcom G6, as well.
Of course, benefits vary by plan, so youll need to check with yours. Just remember that youll need a prescription for the G6 transmitter as well as the box of sensors, so youll have to work with a healthcare professional before purchasing.
Until spring 2021, Dexcom sold their systems and supplies directly via their website. But they now work with distributors like Edgepark for online ordering.
Short answer: The Dexcom G6 is a great tool for any adult or child with any type of diabetes, including those who are pregnant or diagnosed with gestational diabetes, given how important tight glucose management is during pregnancy.
The benefits of CGM use are well-documented:
- helps avoid severe high or low blood sugars, especially immediately dangerous hypoglycemic events
- helps guide insulin dosing and safeguard users from suffering mistakes
- sense of safety and security for those who dont feel dangerous lows coming on
- increased glucose time in range for better diabetes control
- lets users see and learn from the direct impact of their food and physical activity on their body
In fact, CGM is so powerful for improving overall health outcomes that its quickly becoming a consumer wellness product.
Theres little doubt that all people with diabetes can benefit, but
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All About The Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor
The Dexcom G6 is the most advanced model currently available from market-leading continuous glucose monitor company Dexcom based in San Diego, California.
A first-of-its-kind offering that brought a new form factor to this CGM, it offers direct-to-mobile app connectivity without a need to carry a separate receiver. Also, the Food and Drug Administration determined this device is accurate enough to NOT require regular fingerstick glucose tests to calibrate the system.
Even if youre not personally familiar with this impactful and popular diabetes device, you may have seen TV commercials for it, or heard about Dexcoms Super Bowl ad in February 2021 featuring celebrity singer-actor Nick Jonas .
If youre curious about the Dexcom G6, youre in the right place to find out everything you need to know!
in March 2018 , the G6 was the first-ever CGM to offer direct-to-smartphone app connectivity without requiring a separate receiver, although users can still opt to use one or the other. It was also the first to do away with the requirement to take fingerstick tests to calibrate for accuracy.
Heres breakdown of what the system entails:
Young kids. The Dexcom G6 is approved for ages 2 and older.
Customizable alerts. You can set different alert preferences for times of day or night. Theres a Do Not Disturb feature for audible or vibration alerts, though the Snooze feature is disabled on important alerts like Urgent Low and Sensor/Transmitter Failure.
Glucose Date Easy To Find And Understand
To display the glucose data, the Dexcom G6 can use the small touch screen receiver or a compatible device, such as a smartphone or smartwatch. We opted for a smartphone with the Dexcom G6 mobile app.
With the app, glucose data is displayed on the device and features customizable alerts and alarms to notify users when glucose levels are trending high or low. This app is available for both Apple and Android devices.
- Customizable alarms/alerts The app allows you to set your own alert/alarm preferences for night or day. We really liked the customizable Do Not Disturb and Snooze features. Note: It would not allow some alerts to be disabled.
- Predictive alerts The app features predictive alerts like urgent low soon. Typically, this alert happens when glucose levels are predicted to fall below 55 mg/dL within 20 minutes. It is required by the FDA, so it cannot be turned off.
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Diabetes can be managed through oral medications. In addition to insulin, metformin, which is a sugar-reducing agent, is also a common treatment for diabetes. It is considered a first-line therapy for diabetes treatment and is often added to insulin. It is important to know the risks of taking diabetes medications. Some drugs can be addictive, so you must consult your doctor before taking any medication. Your physician can prescribe you an appropriate treatment plan based on your medical history.
Your doctor will prescribe medication and check your blood glucose levels on a regular basis. Your A1c level will be checked every six months and your cholesterol levels will be tested regularly. Your doctor will also look for any signs of retinopathy, which is damage to the nerves in the eye caused by diabetes. You will also be examined for any foot problems. It is important to see a foot specialist regularly. Your feet should be thoroughly inspected for damage to the nerves.
While the first two types of insulin are the most common treatments, diabetes can be treated in a variety of ways. Your doctor may prescribe medications to control high blood pressure, which can protect the kidneys. Other types of medication include aspirin and other types of anti-platelet drugs. If your doctor is concerned about your blood sugar level, you may need to try a different medication. Some medications can cause side effects. Your treatment will depend on what type of insulin you need.
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Its important to maintain a healthy body weight. You should also make sure that you drink plenty of water, and limit your intake of sugary drinks. In addition, make sure that you get regular exercise. You should also avoid alcoholic beverages. Lastly, you should avoid alcohol. These beverages contain high amounts of sugar. If you dont drink enough, youre not doing anything to prevent diabetes. Besides, drinking alcohol can be harmful to your health.
The most important thing to do is to follow the recommended diet. Eat more healthy foods that have low amounts of fat and high amounts of fiber. The best way to lose weight is to lose 7 percent of your body weight. If youre overweight, you should try to lose 14 pounds to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, you should not attempt to lose weight while pregnant. Talk to your doctor about what kind of weight is safe for you.
Besides high blood glucose, diabetes can also affect the nerves and skin. It may affect your sexual response and your nervous system. It can also affect your fertility. Women with diabetes are more likely to miscarry or have a baby with a birth defect. It can cause a person to have difficulty hearing and sleep. If the condition is left untreated, it can lead to type 1 diabetes and can even lead to amputation.
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