Just wanted to add that I am using the Apple Watch 4 and have similar experience and setup as Milz - Omnipod, Loop, Dex. My watch will last full day if I don’t use it for exercise. The newer Apple Watches actually are supposed to have larger battery capacity so should last longer.
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Someday we’ll have to have a step by step thread on how to set that whole thing up… the loop system with omnipod
Although hopefully the t-sport and omnipod horizon will both be out before too long so we won’t have to cobble together medical devices ourselves
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I’m retired, but I was in the same boat when working because of on-call and emergencies. Those two things really stressed me raising my BG.
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my husband has one that doesn’t need to be charged for days. When he gets back let me ask him what it is. It was semi-cheap too.
It’s the MeBand 5, but it only works with NightScout, he’s not sure about Dexcom. But apparently you have to hack it.
Thanks… if I understand right, nightscout is web based so data access would be necessary which would be problematic for me at work, which is where I’m worried about being discreet and checking with a watch… unless I’m misunderstanding how it works?
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Yeah it seems like not a great option for you…
@Sam I’m an Apple guy as well, though for some reason my charging/use routine has no problem keeping up; I just charge when I go to sleep (obviously I don’t use it to track sleep). One thing to know is that some rule Apple enforces limits the number of interactions of apps from your phone to the watch, this results in the Dexcom app NOT displaying the number/graph after a period of time, i.e. you have to tap the face/complication on the watch to open the Dexcom watch app and update itself via the BLE connection. However, the Sugarmate folks found a work around to take the Dexcom info and report to your calendar which updates routinely, using the Sugarmate watch app, and WILL display correctly. You also should know that not all watch faces will display the BG complications, so look and make sure one you want to use will display the BG info. Best of luck!
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I have an Apple Watch series 4, which is now just about 3 years old. I used to charge it every day when I was in the shower, and wear it all day and all night. Now, I also need to charge it before bed, presumably because the 3-year-old battery is losing capacity. It’s a cellular model which might explain why the battery doesn’t last as long as other people here are reporting.
New Apple Watch models are typically released in September alongside new iPhone models — if anyone is thinking about getting one, you may want to wait a month.
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I came out with a work around on Apple Watch 6. I tap the Dexcom app in settings and I get 2 screens. One with a fairly large digital time display and when I lift my wrist I get Decom with the time fairly small.
And
This makes if easy to check BG when on my bicycle.
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Are any versions of the Apple Watch capable of directly connecting? Without the phone nearby? Eg if you’re on a bike ride without the phone nearby does the watch still get readings? Or is it just mirroring the phone when it’s within range ?
The Apple Watch 6 with cellular capability should, but I don’t know. I didn’t spend the extra $$s for that as I carry my phone wherever, especially on the bike.
The BlueJay GTS works as a stand alone watch. But it does NOT upload any data. It can talk with xdrip on an android phone, so that part doesn’t work for you.
But if you only need a watch to see your BG, then the Bluejay GTS actually works great!
I just had 7 days on my last charge. It wasn’t dead, but it was getting low so I just recharged it anyway.
They are inexpensive.
The GTS is NOT a smart watch. It doesn’t do all the fancy stuff. It basically runs xdrip on the watch, it collects your dexcom G6 data and shows it to you.
Very basic, but it works well for that specific purpose.
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No, the Apple Watch still cannot connect directly to the Dexcom. The Dexcom connects to the iPhone which relays the data.
Who knows, maybe a future Apple Watch or maybe the Dexcom G7 will allow this, but I’m not holding my breath. I’d love to be able to swim without my phone or pump around to give me BG alerts.
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@sam, I think the BlueJay watch is the way to go for what you want. Just the Dexcom sensor stuck on your body and the watch on your wrist, and no need for anything else. I defer the questions to @hammer though. It sounds like he has a handle on all the tech parts of it.
Lemme know what you decide to do.
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I’d love to do a lot of things like that
I fought the dexcom curve and now I’m already finding myself in the clutches of it. Here I am online asking how to transfer that data to my watch—without regard to why that level of scrutiny might or might not be necessary. Without regard to if it’s actually helpful only if it’s psychologically more convenient. I think I just had a realization… thank you for all the tips on wristwear meters and if they require broadband or not
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I have been using a smartwatch to monitor both the Dexcom G5 and G6. It has been a perfectly reliable data collector without a smartphone. Because of excursive and work environments I can’t always have a smartphone so the watch is the perfect data collector and BG reporter with alarms.
For a new user however a new version of this watch is not available. The BlueJay watch is probably the next best alternative. Unfortunately unlike my watch, the Sony Smartwatch 3, the BlueJay does not have the transflective display. I believe all of the standalone watches only work with Android smartphones since the application is xDrip plus.
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Have you thought about trying Eversense CGM? It has pros and cons so I am not pushing it. But one of the pros is the ability to untether from your phone or Dex receiver. The transmitter on your arm vibrates as an alert. No glancing/staring at a watch or phone is needed to know if you are trending low or high.
When I tried it, I could go about my business with my phone turned off and stowed away, respond to alerts if my transmitter buzzed on my arm, and then later when I had time I would check the app on my phone and see where my BG landed to take more action if needed.
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@Sam @ned I listened to a recent vintage Juicebox podcast with one of the heavy’s from Dexcom. They indicated the G7 will eventually be able to communicate with Apple Watch directly, but it may not be available with the initial release. The reason had something to do with the “first” device connected to via BLE takes priority and alarms and the like therefore would go to it, vice the “second” device (presumably an iPhone) wouldn’t get alarms and the like. It’s take effort to resolve with FDA to ensure alarms go to the device “currently” in use. Not knowing exactly how the BLE works with the watch and phone, it seemed to make sense…you really need those low alarms to go to the right device!
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By the way I do swim with the Sony SWR50 standalone watch to monitor my Dexcom G6. For this application I install the Dexcom sensor on my arm triceps area. That way there is a direct bluetooth connection to the Dexcom G6 transmitter. I have found that even without the direct connection the watch is still able to communicate with the Dexcom G6. I would never be satisfied with any other solution for monitoring the Dexcom. The watch also downloads all data to an Android smartphone using the xDrip+ application.
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