Dexcom’s G6–The New Generation of Glucose Monitors?

Dexcom, a San Diego-based company responsible for creating one of the industry’s most innovative advancements in managing diabetes, just gained FDA approval for their new G6 series of test meters, with products expected to be available for purchase within the next month. The G6 blood sugar meter eliminates the need for finger pricks and is eagerly anticipated by Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. Dexcom hopes that their new product will make lives a little easier for those living with diabetes, and is the latest in a series of inventions and regulations being implemented to continue the education and fight against diabetes.

No more sore fingers

The G6 series of glucose monitors offers an improvement on the market’s current options for those living with diabetes who rely on insulin to stay alive. The G6 monitor is worn on the stomach and contains a small sensor that can be inserted slightly under the skin to effectively monitor blood sugar levels. The monitor connects to a smartphone app and sends updates on the patient’s glucose levels every five minutes. The notifications can be sent directly to the smartphone like SMS messages or can be linked to deliver results to a separate medical app or smartwatch. If blood sugar gets too high or drops too low, the G6 triggers an alarm, allowing the patient to adjust his or her diet accordingly.

G series vs. Libre

The advancement of the G6 series by Dexcom is in part a response to competitor Abbott Labs’ FDA approval for their Libre line of glucose meters. Last fall, the Libre line challenged Dexcom’s domination of the test meter market. The Libre does not require annoying finger pricks to test blood sugar levels, and sensors last for 10 days–this new model offered a stark contrast to Dexcom’s previous model, the G5, which required a finger prick calibration and only lasted an average of 7 days. The G6 model is an expansion of the features of the Libre, with longer-lasting sensors and an alarm feature that makes it easier than ever for those living with diabetes to keep their blood sugar in check.

Dexcom executive Kevin Sayer confirmed that the new innovations are being unrolled to help diabetics enjoy “a more consistent experience across all 10 days of use” without the need for “routine finger prick calibrations.”1

The cultural fight against diabetes rages on

While Sayer refused to comment on the final price of the new G6 model, insurance companies often cover the costs of glucose testing meters and sometimes incentivize policyholders to choose longer-lasting models.

Diabetes is a serious illness that can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, and even death in the most severe of cases unless blood sugar is carefully monitored and controlled. The fight against diabetes is being fought on both the economics and politics fronts, as governments around the world work together to cut excessive added sugar–one of the most common causes of adult-onset diabetes.