Dexcom G7

[diabetic101]

If you have used G7, what is your opinion of it. I am still on G6 and have not switched yet although they keep emailing me that I’m gonna have to soon. But it’s gonna take a while cause I have lots of transmitters and sensors. I’m just wondering if it’s any good I did try samples of it and Libra free 3+ given to me by my CDE a year or two ago and that was awful very inaccurate and caused bruises on my arm. And was not a real CGM though I think it’s better than it used to be. I did not have the receiver to t so I had to use the phone app which drove me crazy with that sonar level screeching Lol… my CDE told me her son hated it and switched to Libra now. I guess we’regoing spend the rest of our lives living in the Stone Age with all this I’ll be dead before they get anything better than what we have currently

For some reason, I found my way back here because I looked for tud whichseems to be gone now. where I used to post a lot, but I got really fed up with it, the idiots and troll posts etc. lol… and I had already signed up here at some point however Idon’t come to forums nowwaste of time for the most part. I still hope someday they will get some treatment where I don’t have to live with all these devices and issues, etc., as it has been nothing but a living hell in me for 15 years now.

Btw something is seriously wrong with this forum because I’m trying to type from my tablet and it won’t let me just simply dictate or type LOL

[CarlosLuis]

I have found the G7 much better than the G6. The G6 often got wonky around day 7 or 8 sometimes needing to be replaced.

Some had the same experience while others didn’t. In fact some could restart the G6 getting 25 to 30 days.

People’s experience with the G7 is different. Some like me have great results getting 10.5 days while others have failures.

It’s my opinion that part of the differences has to do with our bodies’ response to this foreign object.

There was a mechanical problem with G7s where the sensor lead would slip of the inserter needle. This would cause a small loop to appear in the hole of the sensor, commonly called goosenecking.

[Rphil2]

There as some “tricks” I use for the G7 that I did not use for the G6, but otherwise, I love it. I find it accurate, and it stays on wonderfully. I am a big fan.

[jbowler]

There are two G7s now, the 10-day G7 and the 15-day G7. I’m using the 10-day and have pretty much since it came out. I’ve tried endo-samples of the 15-day (so they are samples and the best that Dexcom can provide) and have chosen not to go down that path.

For the 10-day after swapping from the G6 I found it so much better, so contrast with your experience. For me the much smaller footprint means I do not detach it half as often. I also find the transmitter reliability greater though, because every new sensor is a transmitter change, others have reported problems (e.g. with the Omnipod 5).

The accuracy was, initially, pretty much the same as the G6. It was nice having something that started up after half an hour, not two, but the results were completely bogus just as they were with the G6. It takes a Dexcom around 12 hours to soak in on my skin. The 10.5 day time, with the 12 hour overlap, was a real boon; I could (and do) run two sensors in parallel though that’s a lot of work in software terms.

Recently the accuracy has been AWOL. It’s not specific to the G7; it is Dexcom. They dropped their quality control and there was some kind of issue with the “sensor coating” apparently. I don’t know if it affected the G6 too; it took a while to filter through the supply chain and I think I’m probably living through the nightmare with my current batch of G7s.

I did ask my endo about going to the Libre because of the current unreliability (which is really bad) but he said he had found the Libre to be unreliable and wasn’t willing to swap me to it.

That’s when I got the G15 samples (two of them). They didn’t last 15 days; they both failed around the end of the 14th day. That might have been fine, depending on whether I could get a prescription for more than one every 15 days, but they consistently started to fail around day 12. By that I mean they gave the readings that are symptomatic of a “sensor error” for me but, ho hum, there was no report of a sensor error until around day 13 at which point I got, at at least one time, one reading every 15 minutes.

I’d go for the 14-day Libre; the one which gives readings by bluetooth every minute. This is because it’s no longer a case of, “If it aint broke dont fix it.” for me; Dexcom is broke. G15s don’t work and G10s don’t either.

If you have to do Dexcom because you have shares then go for the G15; the ones I had were accurate after the first 24 hours and did last for 11 days beyond that. This is Dexcom’s leading product so, I guess, the only one they really care about.

[TomH]

I’ve been in G7 for about a year+. Like the originator of this stream I’d have placed about equal to the G6 then; however over the past several months it seems to have improved in both accuracy and problems noted to the point I think it’s better than the G6. Regarding size the G7 definitely wins. I’m also fortunate I’m unaffected by adhesive issues and do not use the over patch; I fact I sometimes have more problems getting it off with the small ring patch that gets applied with the device. If I had the question posed if which I’d go for today, the G7 would definitely win.

I do have to ask one question: Why the question? I understand the G6 is being discontinued in 3 months and while the supply chain may extend that a few weeks, if the choice is between the two (G6or G7), it seems moot.

[Rphil2]

Tom, That has been my experience as well. One thing I do with the G7 is preuse the 12 hours grace period. So I put my sensor at noon and that starts the clock but I never start using it until around 7-8 PM. Until that time I am presoaking the new one and running the old one.

It makes the new one so much more stable when i do turn it on it is not even funny. It just makes sense to me.

[TomH]

@Rphil2 I know quite number of people “pre-soak” sensors like yourself, I haven’t done it myself as yet, but appreciate having the info for potential use. I’ve noted with G7 the first hour or so can be a little “jumpy” and the first few readings are sometimes often off the mark (as much as 50 points, but that’s become rare). For me, the G7 has grown better over the last few to several of months, would that all of us could claim that, but I know its different for various people. I like to think it’s Dexcom adjusting the coating(s) on the wire based on user feedback; but admit it may just be me or one of the “YDMV” things associated with locations used, body chemistry, and interactions of them.

[coconut]

I get you, switching when something already works is the worst. I’ve seen really mixed opinions on G7. Some people love the smaller size and faster warmup, others say it’s not as accurate as G6 for them. Seems pretty hit or miss depending on the person. Totally fair to stick with G6 as long as you can. And yeah… we’re all still waiting for something better that doesn’t involve all these devices.

[Sjwprod]

Don’t miss the fact that millions are having no issues, but not posting online.

[CarlosLuis]

For me the G7 is head and shoulders above the G6.

[TomH]

While I’d still say the same things as in my previous post about a month ago, my last three G7s have been problematic. While each lasted 10 days, each has given the “Wait 3 hours” multiple times, usually the last day or as it enter the 12-hour grace period, but this last one being unreliable for the majority of its 10-day life. It has read low since application (30 pts); its’ been reliable, albeit on the low side, just enough to be questioned, but reliable enough to not get ripped off…until this morning. It’s had several episodes of “Wait 3 hours” (2-3/day) that usually resolve within 30-60 minutes, but yesterday (day 10) it read low (30+ pts) most of the day, despite calibrations (I use 2 finger sticks to calibrate during a calm mostly flat period). So I used the Dexcom’s new online system (Log into My Dexcom Account (United States) | Dexcom) to request a replacement. I found the form doesn’t even list Dash pods as a pump (they only list 5-6 pumps, so none of the answers is actually applicable) and yet makes it a required field. So, I answered Omnipod 5 (closest match) and called them. The lady had obviously received only minimal training on the product and its use. I mentioned the previous 2 pods (total of three) and its problems and told her Dexcom needed to resolve the issue. She asked if had data (S/Ns, etc.) and I fortunately still had the pics I take of both pods and CGMs so gave her the info. She decided, somehow, to replace 2 of the 3, but wouldn’t say why. While I appreciate the replacements and only called about one, I’m gobsmacked as to why 2 of the 3. I also found an email for Dexcom tech support (took a while to find) and used it to send Dexcom particulars and my thoughts.

BTW, I put on a new sensor this am, decided it wasn’t worth trying to use the previous G7, too much time/effort and if I wanted to use finger sticks, I wouldn’t be using CGM. Gratefully, i’ve got 6 sensors left and its not urgent. Hopefully, future Dexcom sensors will return to better functioning as I’ve previously reported! As previously stated, this happens just enough to make me question Dexcom’s capability and reliability. I like it much better when things run calmly!

EDITTED: Yes, I advised the Dexcom lady of the need for their online system to list more pumps or make it NOT required!

[Sjwprod]

What was the result when you calibrated it?

[TomH]

@Sjwprod Surprisingly, nothing! I entered two calibrations within 10 minutes. This normally results in at least a 50+% change toward the entered calibration and a seemingly slow return toward the previous reading but never gets there. Not this time, it kept reading low and I don’t understand why! There was no IOB.

[Sjwprod]

Sounds like the calibration were overly anggresive and not enough time between calibrations. This can cause a sensor to fail sometimes. Two to three calibrations, splitting the difference in the CGM and meter readings and waiting more than 10-15 min between is much more effective and gets better results in my experience.

[TomH]

@Sjwprod I appreciate the comment and don’t normally apply calibrations as I haven’t found the need. When I have applied calibrations, my experience has been a single entry results in a change on the next cycle of about 50% toward the calibration number, followed by a relatively quick return toward the G7’s previous number, like it thinks its right and I don’t know what I’m doing. Two calibrations closer together get much closer to the calibration entry (finger sticks from a meter I trust) followed by a much more gradual move toward the sensors determined previous number. I’d say if calibrations (a reasonable number, vice continual), whether following Dexcom guidance or not, can cause a sensor to fail, then Dexcom’s programming is very poor and needs to be re-worked.

[Sjwprod]

Not sure why people wont try this method, they seem to think of it as a critical assessment of how they calibrate. try it you might be supprised.

[ClaudnDaye]

I run into that too often with the G6. It’s reading low, fingerstick days 90 to 100… Calibrate and then next update it stays low…so frustrating…whether you calibrate again or not, nothing changes the reading. It goes up when it decides it wants to go up, even I’d it’s an hour… Never once really being low in that hour.

[Sam]

Pros and cons. I used the g6 for years and had to take elaborate measures to prevent severe adhesive reactions. With the g7 I have no problems with the adhesive. I’ve only used the g7 for a few months— it has a much harder time staying connected to the omnipod unless they’re within inches of each other. I’ve also had numerous (like 25-30%) insertion fails, which was never really an issue with the g6. The size and simplicity of the g7 is superior not needing a seperate transmitter. The inability to not rotate pods around my body as I’d like to and can with the g6 (because they have to be so close and in direct line of sight to the g7) is a real concern for me. Ultimately I switched back to the g6 at least for this coming summer as I find it more reliable. I might try the g7 again in the fall when I’m less busy and can navigate what for me is a more glitchy system

[RachelMaraii]

I use the G7 on the phone app and t:slim pump, but I exclusively calibrate with the pump. The pump will tell me “calibration accepted” or '“calibration not accepted”, whereas I haven’t found a way on the G7 app to check.

[TomH]

On the G7 app (at least on my iPhone), try going to the log function at the bottom of the primary screen. It should list the calibrations entered. Is this what you’re looking for? Of course calibrations on the pump may not be listed depending on where the data is stored.