A lot has changed since I wore a continuous glucose monitoring system five years ago during pregnancy.
There are no trials to test out the product. Last time I used a CGM the results were sketchy at best and unreliable.
Pre-approval through my insurance was less than a week. Before I had to battle with them for two rounds to get approval.
In December, I ordered a Dexcom 5G. I had nearly met my deductible for the year, so my cost was $550 for a receiver, 2 transmitters, and 2 boxes of sensors. I paid up front.
I love my new sensor. I am amazed at the accuracy between the Dexcom and blood meter readings! With a good sensor, I am a couple points off. I can see what is happening all the time (exercise is back on the daily menu). It buzzes and beeps when I get too low. I can download to share reports with my diabetes educator.
Downsides:
It is bulky and one more piece of equipment to calibrate, manage, and remember where I put it.
I do not have an iPhone, but the sharing feature could be helpful to others. Your iPhone can act as your receiver, then you can “add” people to view your bloodsugars. Seems a little personal to me to be under watch 24/7, but a worrisome mother would appreciate this.
It was billed incorrectly through my insurance, so a claim for over $2000 came the next month. heartattack. I had to contact Dexcom several times before a note was made on my account to work with my insurance, who billed the CGM as a prosthesis (Home Equipment) instead of Durable Medical Equipment (DME). After this is over, I will find that funny. Right now the looming bill of $2K is stressing me out.
The packaging for the sensor is not built for traveling and pieces fall off after a couple days in my bag.
My receiver died less than a month in. ERR212 and ERR68 showed up. All my data was lost. I had to wait 3 days for a new receiver to be mailed to me.
Technical services can take forever to get back to you. After 2 hours on hold, I finally turned in my errors to find out it was a programming error.
The tape on the sensor lasts for 3 days before falling off.
My skin isn’t keen on the big patch for a week. I may need to find some new locations beside the stomach.
Overall, the Dexcom has allowed me to find patterns I would have missed and get back to exercising without the worry of bottoming out when out for a jog.