It’s been over a month (by a bit) of using the Dexcom G6, and I have second impressions. (First impressions are here.)
REVISITING INSERTION.
It doesn’t hurt to go in. I know I mentioned that the first time around but it’s a really big change from all of the other iterations of the Dexcom CGM product. The updated G6 insertion device is way better than the harpoon thing that the G5 and earlier sensors used. I have G5 sensors in my supply closet that I still need to use up and part of what makes me reluctant to go back is the application device. It’s barbaric by comparison.
And re: the giant insertion device, I am frustrated by how much waste it produces. I’ve taken to using pliers to pull the insertion needle out and then I put the plastic housing into the recycling bin. This may not actually be possible, but I’m still doing it. (And pulling out the needle is oddly calming. I’m here for it.)
Weirdly, though, in the five G6 sensors I’ve applied so far, I’ve bled into every single one. For the first day or two, I end up with blood on the adhesive patch around the transmitter and when I take the transmitter out of the sensor, there’s dried blood caked up on that, too. I’ve gotten very good at cleaning dried blood off the underside of the G6 transmitter, which is weird for me because I didn’t have a tendency to bleed due to a CGM prior to the G6. This is not a game changer for me by any stretch, but it is different from my previous experiences.
REVISITING STICKINESS.
The G6 sensor stays stuck well enough and I don’t have any issues with the adhesive (thank God – that was a pain in the ass, dealing with the Dexcom rash for multiple years). I keep the sensor as-is for a few days and then around the five or six day mark I have to add a StayPut patch to the set up in order to make it the full 10 days of wear. I’ve tried the overlay tape that Dexcom makes (they sent me a few when I had to call in about a sensor weeping off my skin) and while it’s good, it’s not great. It buckled for me after two days and two showers. The StayPut tape, or Opsite Flexifix, is my preference at the moment.
I did have another sensor leap off my body after only a day, though. That happened earlier this week, and it was the result of my son gently brushing against the transmitter. (Seriously. He barely grazed the thing.) It seems like the transmitter is secured to the adhesive tape in a different way than the G5 and from my experiences, it’s not as strong a bond. It comes off too easily.
REVISITING RESTARTING.
I gave up on this, and my skin is the main reason why. Even though I don’t seem to have an allergic reaction to the Dexcom adhesive anymore, my skin does get scaly, itchy, and entirely compromised from frequent use of overlay tapes, etc. Getting 10 days out of the sensor is average for me with the previous iterations of Dexcom, so “only 10 days” now doesn’t matter, because if I go longer than that, I get a welty rash. Breaking the transmitter out of the sensor housing and having to tape it down in order to restart is a no-go for me because my body won’t accept use of that much tape. So I’m done trying to restart it.
REVISITING ACCURACY.
On the whole, the G6 seems accurate. And here’s where I can’t pretend to check the accuracy with any regularity because I am LOVING NOT PRICKING MY DAMN FINGER. Even though I didn’t do much finger pricking with the G5 (calibrating as needed), I always dragged my meter everywhere with me. I don’t do that anymore. The results from the G6 feel accurate (it says I’m low, I feel low, and a few times I’ve cross-checked my BG to confirm the low) and they also are close to what I’m seeing on my meter, in the times when I’m on the ball with double-checking. There was one time when the G6 said I was 200 mg/dL and my meter said I was 250 mg/dL and then 264 mg/dL, and that wasn’t nice. But it was the exception, not the rule, from what I’ve seen. These results are consistent with my 10+ years of experience with Dexcom, as well, because my CGM numbers have historically been in line with my glucose meter results.
I also really like the predictive low blood sugar thing that pops up. When my blood sugar is tumbling and the Dexcom knows “an urgent low” is imminent, an alarm goes off for that. I really like that because not only am I able to head off a low that’s coming on too quickly, but I can see if it’s predicted to be a Nasty Low. This means I can treat the hypo with a little more precision, which I appreciate.
This non-scientist thinks the G6 is accurate. And I will also never, ever have to order lancets again because I have a box of 200 in my supply closet and that will last me the next 21,432 years. (<– not true. Change your lancet. Don’t be a grost post.)
REVISITING COST.
My insurance covers my CGM after I meet my deductible, so I haven’t perceived a cost change yet. I also am not able to really extend the life of my G5 sensors, so my cost remains similar there, too. If Dexcom replaces the sensors that get wonky with their stickiness, that’ll make cost less of an issue, too. (But everyone’s experiences/insurances are different so don’t let my personal take on this deter or inspire you. I remain thankful for good insurance.)
VISITING CLARITY.
The updated Dexcom Clarity app is nice, and I’m paying more attention to it these days as I’m tuned into the G6 and also working on some blood sugar goals. At the moment, I like getting the emails and notifications from Clarity that my BGs have been in range for 87% or the time, or if that range goes down, the app emails me and tells me that my time in range has decreased. While A1C has been the standard of care for many of my decades with diabetes, the whole “time in range” thing is WAY more useful for me. I don’t want my standard of care to potentially be an average of shitty highs and crummy lows. I want my blood sugar to have smaller bounces between a tighter range. Clarity is helping raise awareness of my time in range and inspiring me to raise that “in the green” percentage.
VISITING THE RECEIVER.
I don’t use it. I only use the iPhone app. I’m sorry; I’m lazy.
REVISITING WEARABILITY.
It feels smaller. Because it is smaller. I wear my sensors on my thigh, so it’s not a high traffic area (unlike my abdomen, which is under constant assault by my waistband, my children, and the hula hoop I bring everywhere with me and shimmy around in <– also a lie), but for the most part, the sensor feels more discreet than any previous version. I like how low the profile is. And the new shape kind of reminds me of a comma, so I feel like I’m confidently , all the time.
REVISITING G5.
As I mentioned earlier, I have G5 sensors to use up and I will use them up because PWD don’t squander no sensors. But I’m honestly not looking forward to it, because I feel like I’m in a groove with my G6. I dig it. It fits into my world in a way that doesn’t feel cumbersome or intrusive.
And if you missed the Like a G6 parody, NO YOU DIDN’T IT’S RIGHT HERE.
I was at a diabetes event for work and had some free time so I started chatting up the reps (#likeyoudo) and the Dexcom rep said that the G6 does not actually create any more waste than the G5 does. It’s just that we think it does because it changed from translucent to white. There have been some discussions about a recycling program, but the Omnipod rep chimed in that the percentage of people that actually participate in theirs is very low. I don’t think the trash production is going to be make-or-break for anyone but it was interesting to hear their perspectives.
I look forward to switching to the G6 when I become eligible next month. Even though my final G5 transmitter ends tomorrow. Got screwed by autoship, but that’s a different story!
Did you get a free pen, though?
Hi Kerri,
I find with my G5 that I get the “Signal Loss” error or “???” quite often. Did you experience that with the G5 and if so, have you noticed that it is better with the G6? You mentioned that you always carried a meter still with your G5 and I do as well just in case so I’m thinking that the signal loss has been minimal so far with the G6 since you are comfortable not bringing a meter all the time. Is that the case?
Thanks for your great review! I’m from Canada and the G6 won’t be here for awhile still but looking forward to it!
Courtney
this is my biggest concern….the lost signal. happened way too much on my tslim that I actually just took it off my tslim…. so annoying 🙁
Interesting, because when I called DEXCOM to ask about the 6, I was told it isn’t yet ready for market, and won’t be until at least July 2018 or possibly even 2019 calendar year.
You must be a test market?
I get around 4 weeks with my g5 and my insurance is not so great so I hope I am not forced to go with a g6.
I don’t see my comment, you should be able to get G4/5. I have tslim G4 and don’t plan to change until my pump upgrade. Supply companies will vary but I’d call and specify, you don’t want to change!
I called DEXCOM help this morning for on a different matter. Then also asked re the G6. Answer? Because you are on the Medicare program begun 1/1/’18, you don’t currently qualify for the G6. That may change in the future but for now, NO.
I’m hoping to change my 2nd oldest ASAP! She’s only supposed to take Tylenol right now and the non-interference is a winner! I am worried about the “sticky-ness”, I don’t want it falling off.
I want a pen. Hey Dexcom, I use Medtornic, but I dig cool pens. Just saying.
See how well I Jones for free stuff.
How do you feel abou not having integration with the Tandem with the G6? I’m 5.5 weeks pregnant and have been sending my Tandem reports into my endo the last 2 weeks. Feel like the integrated data G5/Tandem data probably makes figuring things out easier for my care team. I know there’s other apps I can use like Tidepool that will integrate both to. I don’t care so much about not having it linked on my pump, but visually it’s nice to see the combined data on a computer screen.
I don’t care at all, honestly. And when I was pregnant (delivered in August 2016), I was on the G5 but my endo asked me to go back to using the G4 for the duration of my pregnancy because she preferred the G4 data read outs to the G5 ones. I hope there’s a G6 integration with Tandem soon, though. The option is nice, even if I don’t take advantage of all the options.
For what it’s worth, there’s an article out there somewhere (wish I remember where) that says you CAN restart the G6.
These instructions I’m about to give are (warning) incomplete, but it’s something about stop/start the sensor using the RECEIVER before the time is up — including warmup time (I.e. 2 1/2 hours before its set to end) — so by the time it starts again, you’re still in the “window of legitimacy”. And while the receiver is warming up, you still get the data on your phone.
I don’t suggest extending for another week, but if you need a few hours before your flight/Conference/work day is done, it can be helpful.
I’ve really gotta find that article.
Can you tell me what size of the Stayput or Opsite I need for the G6? I just got one and it’s my first CGM. Somehow googling is not leading me to an answer. Thanks!
Opsite is tape, packaged kind of like packing tape, and I cut it to a size that fits whatever I’m covering. For StayPut, I purchase the 1.5 one: http://www.stayputmedical.com/product-category/db1/ I hope this helps!
Thank you!
This is actually a TSlim problem not a G5 problem. The original Tslim X2 has a low strength Bluetooth connection, causing it to have a spotty connection with the transmitter. This is a problem that Tandem is aware of and has fixed in the newer X2 pumps. But unfortunately unless something goes wrong with your old one you can’t get the “fixed” version without buying a new pump.
Would you recommend this for a recently diagnosed 9 year old??
I’ve been on the G6 for amidst 20 days & LOVE not checking my glucose. I’ve been T1D for 30 years so this is AWESOME. I’ve had a lot of premenstrual with my IPhone as my receiver though. It loses signal a lot. I’ve got a iPhone 6. Have you experienced this? Is it better on newer IPhones?
We find that we do not be data on our phones if the receiver and phones are not together. I’m trying to figure out if we set something up incorrectly. We have also noticed that the receiver must be in the same room for the g6 or we loose data. This was not the case for the g4. Any suggestions are much appreciated.
We have a brand new iPhone SE.
If it’s compatible with your cell phone, do you need to purchase the receiver?
Does anyone have problems with the Bluetooth connecting to an Iphone 8? Our daughter is going off to college so we want to be able to monitor her BG levels but it will not stay connected to her phone. Please help. Thanks
Dexcom says the FDA requires the purchase of the receiver for the G6. We have Blue Cross Blue Shield and we were not required to order the receiver. Having had the G5, I see no sense in purchasing something you dont need. Is this Dexcom ripping people off, selling them something they dont need? It should be up to the individual to decide if they want a receiver. I am not so sure this is required by the FDA as Dexcom claims.
My 9 year old daughter is a first time CGM user. She’s been on it since the beginning of July. I believe we’ve used 6 new sensors total. 3 of the 6 have been faulty. 1st faulty was because we did the QR code instead of typing it it. They said they’ve had a lot of issues with that. That just mean that it prompted us to calibrate once each day. Not the end of the world but not what we thought we signed up for. 2nd faulty was when we were putting on a new sensor. An hour into the warm-up it said we needed a new sensor. Apparently it was just a bad one. She was not happy but put on a brave face and said she wanted a new one versus finger pokes. 3rd faulty sensor, when we clicked the orange button to set the sensor it went in but not all the way and then got stuck. The needle was in about 6cm and we couldn’t pull the device off because it was completely stuck (because of the sticker part). We had to pull the whole device off while she was screaming her head off. It required two adults. Not impressed so far.
My eight-year-old niece just upgraded to the G6, she’s had a Dexcom CGM for a few years. Today was the first insertion. A few minutes later she had a big blood spot at insertion. I found this entry when I googled it. Have you found out why this happens? Will it affect how the sensor works? Thanks!
would really like to learn / hear more feedback about the Signal Loss / Error for the G6. We had the G5 for about 12 months (son was 7 when diagnosed and just turned 8 and got the G6 for his B-day 🙂 — Anyhow, we are getting ‘signal loss’ MUCH more frequently than we did in the past. He is very active with sports and tries to keep his ‘kit’ within 25 – 50 feet at all times. it seems the G6 is much less forgiving with the distance from the receiver. we are also iPhone and Apple Watch users. back to the bigger issue, his readings were WAY off today (said he was 65 and the dexcom didn’t respond to us treating the low). In actuality he was 220. when I went to re-calibrate it said that the discrepancy was too large and that we had to wait for 3 hours for it to sync back up. What sense does that make when I can “stop sensor” and then “restart” and have a 2 hour window? anyhow, would love feedback or advice. sat on hold for Dexcom tech support for 2 hours and then started searching on the interwebs and found this. Thaks for hosting Kerri!
Hi Kerri,
Do you wear your G6 on sites other than the abdomen? I want to try it on my upper arm, but don’t want to waste a sensor if it doesn’t work.
I prefer to wear my sensors on my thigh. They stick best there for me and are least likely to be ripped off/leave a patch of irritated skin.
I wear my g6 and wore my g5 only on the back of my arm between the deltoid and tricept. Only problem was golf bag strap scrapping it when putting the bag down. So be careful with a purse strap.
Hi Kerri! Thank you so much for your info! I’ve been wearing an old version of the Dexcom, and will soon be trying the G6. I solved the adhesive rash problem by putting Tegaderm on my skin before inserting the device. There are other adhesives that work as well. (I always wondered if getting the rash was Dexcom’s planned obsolescence!)
So how do you get more than 10 days with 1 sensor? Even with insurance, they cost a bundle for me. Thanks to everyone for their feedback!
Hi Kerri,
I’m waiting for my G6 to arrive, hopefully w/in the next week, and I still have boxes of G5s left. My CDE told me I could give them to her and she can pass them on to those on Medicare since apparently (if I understood her correctly) Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of sensors.
Just an FYI.
So I am a new owner of a G6 after having the G4 for 4+ years. I was really impressed with not having to calibrate. But after one month the transmitter failed. Had to insert the second one that was sent. Ok so do these things actually last for the whole year like they are supposed to? Second problem was I was walking with my receiver covered in a iphone padded cover attached with Velcro to my leg while hiking. The cover fell off and even though it was padded the receiver screen broke and is almost totally unreadable. Synced to my phone with the app for the remainder of the week which worked well so that I could keep tabs on my numbers. Do I have to order another receiver ($220+) or could I just use the iphone app? Now the second transmitter I installed is also saying it has stopped working after being in less than a week. Am I the only one having everything fall apart and stop working???
After 1 week with the G6, I am not impressed. The new receiver is HUGE compared to the G5. I am consistently places where cell phones are not allowed, so am reliant on the Dexcom Receiver. It does not fit into the pockets of ladies slacks nor can it be attached to a waistband.
The pop-up 1, 2, okay menu when there is any kind of alert is beyond annoying. I have my numbers set to very narrow parameters to give me tight control of my glucose level. (My last A1C was 5.2.) I want to see not only the current glucose number but the trend line. To do this, I have to tap, tap, tap the screen. Once the trend line is visible, there is still more tapping to get to the correct trend line. There is much less choice here.
The readings on the G6 are no more accurate than those of my G5. I am still doing finger sticks to check the accuracy. I am also having issues with multiple signal losses that I only occasionally experienced with the G5.
The transmitter is only negligibly smaller. I experienced very little pain with insertion of the G5 so am not impressed with the “less pain” touts for the G6.
Overall, the G5 worked much better for me than the G6.
I have also had major problems getting my supplies from Dexcom. They claim that it is due to the release of the G6. Whatever the reason when I have to call multiple times for my order, with an average hold time of about 40 minutes, and my supplies arrive on the afternoon of the day my last sensor dies, that is unacceptable.
I just removed my first G6 sensor today. There was so much blood under the sensor that I had a really hard time cleaning the transmitter. I never bled that much with the G5. I removed it an hour early to get myself on a better schedule than the one that resulted from the upgrade kit arriving late. Even removing it early, the sensor was already starting to peel off. This despite the fact that I use Skin Tac.
After preparing the site, I inserted sensor two. OUCH! This really hurt! That is something that I never experienced with the G5. Despite the use of Skin Tac, the sensor tape is not sticking well already.
While I had the transmitter off, I compared it to the G5 transmitter. One end of the G6 is a tiny bit smaller; the other end is exactly the same size.
It looks like the claims of smaller and less painful are not holding true.
I still prefer the G5.
I purchased adhesives that fit perfectly over the transmitter and adhere better than what they give you. I purchased them on Amazon (search Dexcom) — one bunch of clear ones and one bunch of bandaid-type ones. So far just used the bandaid-type ones but they stay on the full 10 days, showers and all!
I also have blood spots and crusty blood with my transmitter. It’s very frustrating. Thanks for the tip regarding placing the sensor on your thigh. I am going to try that!
My numbers have 50 points apart, this morning it gave me a reading of 99, and when I tested with my strip the reading was 157 ? Any ideas on how to make this thing more accurate ? My numbers were pretty much in line when I was using the Freestyle Libre Sensor
Hi Kerri,
You wear on your thigh- inside or outer?
I am intrigued by the idea of trying it on the inner towards the front where there is no/little rubbing.
I had the G5 a few years back and ..well, it was big, took a bit of adhesive tape to keep it on (admittedly, I did try and keep that sucker on as long as I could like it was a competition) and expensive. Getting the G6 shortly and am so ready to get the benefits of a CGM back into my life.