2025 started with a new health
insurance company and with a denial of coverage for my use of a constant
glucose monitor (CGM). This was unfortunate as I still believe that CGMs should
be made available to everyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes and even
those who fall into the pre-diabetes category. Well, Dexcom has come through
with an over-the-counter CGM called the Stelo, which is approved by the FDA for
people who are not on insulin. And just like the G7 and other prescription
CGMs, the Stelo is another game changer.
I am using the Stelo for the first
time and recently completed the 15-day period before needing to change to a
second unit. That is one difference between the Stelo and the standard G7 as
the latter last 10 days before needing to be changed. Dexcom does have a 15-day
version of the G7 which just rolled out this month, and it should soon be readily
available for people over the age of 18.
Both the Stelo and the G7 have a
12-hour grace period, giving a time cushion before they absolutely need to be
changed but my first Stelo seemed to develop an intermittent problem during the
grace period where it would stop taking readings. I’ll know in about two weeks
if this is a common issue or if it was just an issue with that first unit.
Out of the box the Stelo looks just
like the G7, using the same applicator and application method. The sensor even
looks like a G7 sensor and the Stelo can send information to a smartphone just
like its prescription cousin. While I did have to download a new app, I appreciate
the fact that I can use my existing Dexcom account with the Stelo. As a result,
it took less than five minutes to get things rolling and to start the warmup
time that is common with Dexcom CGMs.
The graph generated by the Stelo
looks just like the one in the G7 app but that is where the similarities end.
Unlike the G7, the Stelo will not sound an alarm when your glucose levels go
too high or too low. The Stelo is not compatible with insulin pumps, which I
suspect is why it is not recommended for people who are on insulin. But the
Stelo will give the information needed to help manage glucose levels, including
summaries of trends that the software learns while you are wearing, letting you
know if, for example, you have a spike at the same time each day. This allowed
the Stelo to recognize that I tend to see a dawn phenomenon each morning which
sometimes puts me near or even out of range.
I am a fan of wearables, and I
believe that the health information made available by them is very valuable.
They are not a substitute for the tests and advice received by a trained
medical expert, but they are good tools for use in achieving the goals that
come with living a healthy lifestyle. I’m glad to have returned to the ranks of
those who wear CGMs and am thankful to Dexcom for moving the insurance company
away from making health decisions for me, at least in this one area.
