With the FDA’s recent approval of the Dexcom Stelo CGM, more people with type 2 diabetes will now be able to utilize CGM technology to learn how lifestyle factors like food, meal timing, exercise, sleep, stress, and alcohol can impact blood sugar. Knowing what your blood sugar is doing in real time is an empowering piece of information that can positively impact your daily activities, give you peace of mind, and improve your quality of life.
Additional Resources:
Dexcom Stelo: The First Over-the-Counter CGM for Type 2 Diabetes Gets FDA Approval
CGM for Type 2s: No More Finger Pricks!
Case Study: How CGM Helped This Type 2 Patient Fix His High A1c
The Benefits of CGM and Time in Range for People with Type 2 Diabetes
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) for Type 2s: An Incredible Tool to Take Control of Your Diabetes
As a type 2 diabetic, I would like a CGM however many insurance companies do not cover it or even a portion. It makes managing this disease very tiring & stressful.
If you’re on insulin, even one shot per day, you should be able to push hard to get one, especially if you’re having hypoglycemia. The Dexcom Stelo will be sold over-the-counter soon, and most likely will not be too expensive (but I don’t know for sure, as pricing has not been released). If you really are desperate for a CGM, email Lynne at our office at lynne@tcoyd.org and I’ll schedule a time to talk with you to see if I can get you a prescription.
my PCP said no when I asked her to a prescribe a CGM. next visit I asked her again and said I was willing to pay for it myself & she said yes!
A year or so ago I was on the Libre 2- it was always 30 points higher than a fingerstick stick, but it was good for trends. Then it would no longer work with my phone. Abbott said my phone/IOS were not compatible even though neither had changed in the previous month.
So, I decided to try the Stelo- readings were also at least 30 points higher than a fingerstick. Went on a week vacation and Stelo reported readings were just horrible. eating. Finally checked a couple of readings with a fingerstick. Stelo CGM reported blood sugar as 133 when one touch verio flex fingerstick reading was 89. That is 49.44% difference, considerably higher than the 20% difference that Dexcom states for the Stelo accuracy. That is simply one occurrence I noted. i checked with a fingerstick another time, which was 107 vs Stelo’s reading of 167 – that’s a 56.07% difference. Cancelled Stelo subscription. The last 2 sensors were very accurate- too bad the earlier ones weren’t!
So I messaged my PCP and asked her to send in prescriptions for both the Libre 2 plus and the Libre 3 plus to the pharmacy, indicating that this was to get an accurate price with the store-applied coupon. Also requested that she indicate that insurance should not be billed, but that I would self-pay. The Libre 3 plus price was $63.64 for a month’s supply(2 sensors!). Waiting for the last 5 days of the Stelo to finish, and then I will apply the Libre 3 plus and hope its accuracy is better than the prior sensors!
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Joanne! Keep us posted!