More Heat on G7 from Dan Heller

Type 1 & LADA
1

I only started on with Dexcom on the G7 (January) and have no comparison with G6. Dan Heller has worn both an spot tested glucose readings at the same time, with interesting results

I walk away with a consideration that the accuracy of the readings is not the important thing (how well it spot measures) but more on this idea of reading and taking actions from trends.

Still, considering my previous routine of omnipod and no CGM, I am still doing much better with G7 + Tandem T-slim

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That’s how I started; Omnipods and a G4, but then the G4 did not work at all so was useless to me. Dexcom did enjoy a monopoly at the time, so no alternatives that I was aware of.

However later I tried the G6 and found it workable. It helped enormously. Part of this might be because the Omnipods used Abbott FreeStyle strips and they read low on me. Mostly, however, it’s the trend lines; going up or going down fast is much better than “high” or “low” because it comes first so I can prevent high and low. The absolute numbers are irrelevant; I know when I’m high and I know when I’m low, the CGM tells be before.

The research I’ve seen shows quite conclusively that pumps help a little but CGMs help a lot.

The game changer for me is putting them both together. I changed to the G6 with the Omnipod Dash (not alongside) when I started with an AIDS. I don’t have to continuously look at the Dexcom readout, the AIDS does that for me; I just have to remember not to leave my ‘phone more than 30ft away :frowning:

For AIDS the accuracy only matters within a BG range of around 80mg/dL to 140mg/dL. Even within that range AIDSs can handle errors at the extremes of the range (80mg/dL in particular) because they are programmed to be cautious.

I now use the G7 and absolute accuracy certainly sucks below 100mg/dL and is pretty dubious above 200mg/dL. I think the G6 may have been broadly similar. The Abbott Lingo seems to maintain accuracy at 80mg/dL but that’s my wife’s experience so I can’t be sure it would be the same on my; I’m thinking I might try, I can’t get it on Medicare but I believe I could get the latest Libres.

3

Given Heller’s leaning on the Hunterbrook article, which appears to contain numerous inaccuracies and hype, and is not actually journalistic, but a publication by a litigation firm sucking around for a lawsuit, Heller’s credibility is also hurt. Heller notes that the Hunterbrook “article” is “an investment company betting against Dexcom,” which is untrue; it’s a litigation company looking for litigants. He also says he feels compelled to “bring to light” additional information. When conspiracy and conflagration, incitement and false recitation of “fact” are disguised as “journalism,” one ought not feel “compelled” to pass it along. Doing so only tarnishes he who feels “compelled.”

I read the Hunterbrook “article,” and found it not “compelling,” but inciting and sensational. It reads more like an infomercial for a class-action lawsuit. What it is, in the light of day, is ambulance-chasing, and giving it voice aids no one.

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Thank you. I do not want to be attacked for finding fault with Heller, but in fact I have found major factual errors, mis-statements, and mis-representation in most of his published articles that I have read. Some of it is misrepresentation of science papers, which I would have expected him to be able to understand. Because of that I decided to not read any more of his articles because I consider him an unreliable source. You may wish to do the same.

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