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.