Dexcom launches first over-the-counter steady glucose monitor. Right here's what it's like

Dexcom on Monday introduced its new over-the-counter steady glucose monitor Stelo is formally out there for buy within the U.S.

Glucose is a sort of sugar folks obtain from meals, and it is the physique’s predominant supply of vitality. Steady glucose screens, or CGMs, are small sensors that poke by means of the pores and skin to measure glucose ranges in actual time. They’re sometimes prescribed to sufferers with diabetes since they might help alert customers, their family members and their medical doctors to emergencies.

Stelo is primarily supposed for sufferers with prediabetes or Kind 2 diabetes who don’t use insulin, although people with out both situation may buy it. Customers should buy a one-month provide on-line for $99, or join an ongoing subscription at $89 a month. 

Dexcom stated sufferers even have the choice to make use of their Versatile Spending Accounts and Well being Financial savings Accounts to pay for Stelo, in accordance with an announcement.

The corporate already presents steady glucose screens for Kind 1 and Kind 2 diabetes sufferers, however Stelo is Dexcom’s first product that doesn’t require a prescription. Whereas most Kind 1 sufferers can already get insurance coverage protection for the sensors, Stelo is now accessible to hundreds of thousands of Kind 2 sufferers who’ve been unable to get prescriptions or protection. It additionally marks the corporate’s official foray into a brand new and probably profitable prediabetes market. 

Dexcom stated there are greater than 125 million Individuals with prediabetes or Kind 2 diabetes not utilizing insulin, in accordance with an announcement. The corporate designed Stelo to assist educate this affected person inhabitants easy methods to maintain their glucose ranges inside a wholesome vary.   

“The concept is to assist folks, over time, find out about food plan decisions and habits and the way these are impacting glucose,” Jake Leach, chief working officer at Dexcom, instructed CNBC in an interview. “It is about uncovering issues you have not seen earlier than after which utilizing that to create more healthy habits.”

The way it works

The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration accredited Stelo in March. It was the primary over-the-counter steady glucose monitor to be cleared to be used, although Dexcom’s competitor Abbott obtained clearance for 2 related gadgets in June. 

Leach stated Dexcom is working with Amazon to satisfy Stelo deliveries. Customers with a subscription can select to skip or modify their supply date, however it’s going to sometimes be scheduled on the 30-day interval from their preliminary join. 

Stelo is worn on the higher arm and lasts for 15 days earlier than it must be changed. It is grey, concerning the dimension of 1 / 4, and round half an inch thick. 

The sensor wirelessly transmits information to a smartphone app. When customers are getting arrange, they will choose whether or not they have Kind 2 diabetes, prediabetes or not one of the above. This helps set up their “Goal Vary,” which is the place Dexcom needs customers to attempt to maintain their glucose ranges. The goal vary relies on established medical requirements, and most of the people fall between 70 and 180 mg/dL, in accordance with the American Diabetes Affiliation.

After they open the Stelo homepage, they will see their newest studying, which is up to date each quarter-hour. They’re going to additionally see a graph of their readings every day, which features a shaded inexperienced space to point the goal vary. In the event that they scroll down, they will see a abstract of the time spent within the goal vary over time.

Everybody’s glucose ranges are variable, however Stelo will ship customers a notification when they’re experiencing a considerable spike. Glucose spikes happen when the quantity of sugar current within the bloodstream quickly will increase after which decreases. This usually occurs after consuming. 

Within the quick time period, spikes may cause emotions of fatigue, however excessive glucose ranges can result in extra severe well being issues like diabetes, coronary heart illness and kidney illness over time, in accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. For this reason Dexcom needs customers to attempt to maintain their ranges inside Stelo’s goal vary. 

The tab subsequent to the house web page is the “Occasions” web page, which is the place Stelo customers can log meals, exercise, fingersticks or different notes. Leach stated it is most essential for customers to log an entry once they’re experiencing a giant spike in order that they will mirror on what is perhaps inflicting it. 

Stelo notifies customers about noteworthy spikes, so they will not essentially get alerted each time their ranges rise. Leach stated that is an intentional design alternative that is meant to name consideration to the bigger swings that sufferers expertise. 

“Even for somebody who has regular glucose and the occasional spike, it’s going to search for essentially the most impactful spikes after which attempt to have interaction the consumer round, ‘Okay, what occurred there?'” he stated. 

And for customers who need to dig deeper into their glucose and perceive what causes spikes, there is a trove of academic supplies within the app’s “Be taught” tab. The articles are temporary, typically just a few sentences, they usually’re damaged down into classes like “Stelo Fundamentals,” “Glucose Deep Dive,” “Diet,” “Train,” “Sleep” and “Stress.”

CNBC Checks Stelo

I have been testing Stelo since early August. On the entire, I believe it has been simple and useful to make use of. 

When my screens arrived within the mail, the primary order of enterprise was making use of the sensor to my arm and pairing it with the Stelo app. I discovered this course of very easy – the app walked me by means of what to do with clear, step-by-step directions.   

I cleaned the again of my proper arm, positioned Dexcom’s applicator there, pressed the button and popped the CGM proper on. It occurs quick and would not harm in any respect. 

The monitor connects to the Stelo app by way of Bluetooth, after which it takes a couple of half hour to heat up. 

That is the place I initially encountered some issues. As soon as my gadget had warmed up, I obtained an error message that stated “Transient Sensor Difficulty.” The message instructed me to not take off the CGM, and that the problem was non permanent. I left it on for the day, however by night, I observed some mild bleeding. I made a decision to take that sensor off. 

I utilized one other CGM to my different arm, and that one warmed up and labored accurately. I have been sporting it ever since and have not had any bother with bleeding. Leach stated if customers have issues with the product, they will message the chat interface on Stelo’s web site to get a alternative or reply their questions there. 

As soon as I used to be all up and operating with my second sensor, it was easy crusing. 

I’ve discovered the Stelo app easy and simple to make use of. I by no means felt like I used to be being overloaded with an excessive amount of information or too many notifications, and logging meals and train could be very easy. Customers may select to import their sleep and exercise information from the Apple Well being app or Android’s Well being Join app, which I believe is a pleasant contact. 

If it is your first time utilizing a CGM, I positively suggest studying by means of the articles within the “Be taught” tab. I believe Dexcom does job utilizing plain language to elucidate what glucose is, what impacts it and why it issues. 

The longer I put on the sensor, the extra I can inform that the algorithm is tuning to me and my habits. I do not get notifications every time my glucose spikes, however it does alert me once I’m experiencing a very substantial leap. The app can also be starting to select up on my patterns. As an example, it not too long ago instructed me that my glucose tends to spike between 5 p.m. and seven p.m., which is normally round once I eat dinner. 

More often than not, I overlook I am even sporting a sensor. It is waterproof, so I did not want to fret about it within the bathe. And I did not discover it once I was sleeping. I would advise a little bit warning when pulling on lengthy sleeves, because the sensor can snag a bit, however it’s simple to put on all sorts of garments and jackets over it. 

Within the quick time I have been utilizing Stelo, I’ve discovered rather a lot about how my physique responds to sure meals. Even small changes (consuming carbs final, as an example) helped me cut back spikes. It is simple to see how CGMs can function a priceless window into the physique. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a easy, approachable entry to understanding your glucose information, I believe Stelo is a stable possibility.