Dexcom G6

Wow, where do I begin? First, the customer service is not good. I advise anyone that is going to use it to get the Dexcom meter. Cell phones are upgraded all the time and also the Bluetooth, and that can lead to communication problems between the sensor and the meter. It only will read up to 400 high sugar and after you will have to guess on making adjustments to insulin. Lows take a long while to change from to actual raising. You might take more sugar than needed due to Dexcom slow transmission of rising sugar level. In all, I stopped using the FreeStyle and switched to the Dexcom G6. Big mistake!

Length of Use: 1–2 years

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Please don't buy this system, it is useless. And so is their customer service. Stay away from this, stay far away. I would rather prick my finger a 100 times than deal with this.

Length of Use: Less than 3 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I have been a Type 1 diabetic for over 35 years.

I have been using Dexcom for over two years now, and it has revolutionized the way I treat my diabetes. Instead of getting only 7–10 readings per day (from fingersticks), I can see the trends in my glucose readings every five minutes throughout the day. This allows me to be in MUCH better control of my diabetes, and I am incredibly thankful for that. I think the use of Dexcom will add years to my life.

There is only one product attribute that I wish was a bit better. The adhesive that keeps the sensor on your body could be quite a bit stronger (a particular issue for someone with body hair). It tends to start coming up from my skin after 5–6 days (even when using an over patch), and I'm constantly having to check that the sensor is secure from that point until Day 10 when the sensor expires. I wish I could be more confident in the adhesion of the sensor. I used to use the Freestyle Libre before Dexcom and that sensor didn't have the same adhesion issues, so I'm hoping Dexcom is working on this aspect of their product. Once that is done, it will be near perfect.

I will say that the readings are a bit off when you first apply a sensor, so it is very important to calibrate it right away by using a fingerstick. I'm routinely getting readings that are 30 points lower than what the fingerstick produces when I first apply the sensor. But, once I calibrate things, the readings between the Dexcom and fingersticks are very, very similar.

The major problem with Dexcom is that I have to work through Edgepark (a medical supply distributor) to get the product. This wasn't always the case, as I used to be able to order directly from Dexcom with no issue. But they must have determined that it would save cost if they made all customers work through Edgepark. Fair enough, except Edgepark is a disaster and I'm not being dramatic. It took Edgepark over 30 days to process my last order (which meant I was without Dexcom for almost 20 days), and they put my endocrinologist through quite a process during that period, as well.

Specifically, they needed to confirm my prescription (which is understandable). They were routinely contacting the wrong doctor's office in the process, even after I got involved to make sure they had the correct contact information. (This was odd because they always got in touch with the correct doctor on prior orders.) And worse, they never reached out to me to let me know they were having issues; I had to figure that out on my own by following up with Edgepark several times throughout the month. And then, when they finally did get in contact with the correct doctor, they kept changing the "ask" of her. First, it was the case notes, which were provided. Then it was an authorization form, which was also then provided. Then they were complaining that the form was not completed correctly, despite the fact that my endocrinologist completes these same forms for many patients every day. In the end, the only way things got done was that my endocrinologist had to call Edgepark herself, which seems like a poor use of her time.

I got the distinct impression that Edgepark was trying to drag things out, either because they didn't have the supply chain in order to ship my product or because they were trying to push out the billing to my insurance. I'm not sure, but it was very, very fishy. I have filed a complaint with the FDA against Edgepark as a result of all of this, and, if this continues to be an issue, I will be going back to the Libre despite the fact that I love the Dexcom technology. It took dozens of hours of my time during the 30 days and I don't love the Dexcom technology more than Libre enough to justify that level of effort.

So I hope that Dexcom either finds a new distributor or goes back to fulfilling orders themselves.

Dexcom will tell you that Edgepark is "getting better", but that was not my experience.

I wish I could give this five stars, and I would if not for the fact that you have to work through Edgepark.

Length of Use: 2+ years

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

This rating is harsh, but so is Dexcom's choice to support Google. Has anyone else received a message stating that they need to update their app or else the product will begin to report inaccurately? Dexcom's website does not allow an update for users to download directly from them, so if you do not use or choose to support Google, you are left in the wind.

Has anyone noticed as soon as the update became available if you declined the update requiring the support of Google, your product, which you have used for years suddenly began to malfunction and report periodically rather than continually? Super suspicious. Oh and isn't it convenient that the Dexcom software aka Google Software does not allow you to take screenshots of these malfunctions? How does this make me safer, Dexcom? I just take a screenshot from another phone to document this anyway.

To imagine a company (Dexcom) intentionally degrading your product to enforce an upgrade, does this seem like the puppy-dog and rainbows company you should blindly support? "Dexcom" intentional software tampering, intentional suppression of screen data image capture.

Do not support! True Americans support competition, not corrupted business models. Tell your stories online across social media, investment websites, reviewing websites, support fair competition. And if you don't then you cannot complain when there is only 1 choice left.

Length of Use: 2+ years

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

My 7-year-old is a type one diabetic and we use Dexcom G6. He was diagnosed at 6 so we are new to this and really I have felt that Dexcom was a life savor until recently. I noticed his actions and behavior would be totally out of wack. His receiver would be reading 300s but multiple finger sticks show 90. Also, the receiver started showing multiple lows, I mean urgent lows, 20 and 30s, and he would be fine and a finger prick shows totally fine.

We have already gone through one receiver and had to have a replacement due to not staying charged.

Dexcom app completely crashed my phone and his. Full battery drained in an hour.

But the worst is the TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE rash from the adhesive patch. It's been 3 months since we used the adhesive patch and his belly is just now almost healed. Rash is so bad he would cry from the burning.

Dexcom has gotten completely too comfortable at supplying cheap supplies.

Length of Use: 6–12 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

The product is highly overrated. I got burns and rashes on my skin from the adhesive. It was brutal. Sometimes the Dexcom is accurate and other times it is way off! One time it was reading my blood at 61 and going down. I had taken some glucose to raise it. I decided to test my blood with a meter and I was 100. I was no longer low. Thankfully I didn’t take any more sugar to raise my blood.

Length of Use: Less than 3 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

My first time using Dexcom, two out of the three applicators I used wouldn't release the sensor. When I called Dexcom customer support, they admitted to having issues with manufacturing. They were willing to mail me two new units if I mailed them the two failed units. However, they only sent me one kit to return two units. When the time came to insert a new sensor using one of the new units they sent me, the sensor or transmitter kept failing by giving me extremely high readings, even after calibrating it several times. When I called customer support this time, I got someone obviously answering from home because there was a dog barking in the background. I felt like she had a hard time understanding the situation. I also had a hard time understanding her and what she was asking me. I eventually just ended the call because it sounded like she put me on hold? Or was dealing with something at home, possibly with her dog? Either way, three failures out of four attempts at using their product. Sounds like Dexcom started out strong then they outsourced and changed their manufacturing and customer support and it looks like they're headed for rock bottom. I just noticed their stock dropped by $35 a share and keeps going down. I'm guessing the bad reviews, bad products, and bad customer support are catching up with them.

Length of Use: Less than 3 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

This is my first CGM and I absolutely love it! A few problems with the app though:

1.) To say that it drains your phone battery insanely fast is an understatement. My battery before this app would last 8 to 10 hours on a full charge but with this app, it doesn't even last 2 hours. Something has to be done about this because it couldn't be more inefficient.

2.) The dumbest thing in the world is that the app won't work unless you give permission to override the do not disturb function which it will wake you up as it keeps losing connection. It was a very dumb idea to institute this.

3.) The adhesive on the sensors doesn't last near ten days and having to input a code every time you use a new sensor makes it so that you can literally only use the device for 2 weeks then you have to go back to the old way until you can refill your prescription for more sensors.

4.) It's crazy that the app isn't compatible with all types of smartphones. I don't understand why there is such a limited number of devices the app is compatible with.

5.) Also an unbelievable waste of material making the sensor inserter 95% garbage. The cost of this device is way too high. I will give it 3 months until I move on to a different type of CGM.

Length of Use: Less than 3 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

It works great, other than an allergic reaction I got from the sensor patch adhesive. That was cleared completely by using kinesiology tape on my skin and placing the sensor patch on that. My A1c has dropped from 7.3 to 6.3 and nighttime lows have been eliminated through the alert function with this unit. It has been a life-changer. My level of control is much better. I've had nothing but positive results on those few occasions I've dealt with customer support. Seriously, my life has changed for the better.

Length of Use: 6–12 months

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

The app is useless and rarely connects to the transmitter. The sensor had issues and could not give readings and the receiver was getting readings off and on for two days then stopped altogether. A call to tech support resulted in a snippy response to my issue. Stopped using the device completely. Same issues with the G5 two years ago. I thought the product would have improved by now but the product and customer service are as bad as they were before.

Length of Use: Less than 3 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I updated my operating system about a month ago and it seldom works. If they're gonna sell this product, they should be able to keep up with the operating systems. I do not recommend this.

Length of Use: 3–6 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend