More about the Dexcom SEVEN
During this week I've read more about the new Dexcom SEVEN continuous glucose monitor that was approved back in May.I see some traffic on various mailing groups and I've spoken with Dexcom service/sales about the new device. So I now have a little additional information that I wanted to share (because there's so little out there in webland).
- The new system appears to be available now. The person at Dexcom that I spoke with was ready to take my order on Friday.
- The upgrade price for the system is $350. This includes new receiver, transmitter and software. You'll need to mail in the old transmitter and receiver. You'll receive a reconditioned receiver.
- Warranty on the upgraded system is one year.
- The price for a box (four) of new sensors is $175 when ordered with the upgrade. Future boxes are the full price. I think this is still $240 for a box of four.
- The software is much improved. It can read data from the current Dexcom system as well as the Dexcom SEVEN. It includes statistics that can give you an hourly breakdown. I don't know whether it supports data export yet.
- The receiver has not changed much. It still shows a graph of readings from 50 to 400 mg/dL. Major change is that it now shows you how long until the sensor expires.
- I don't know how long the new sensors last beyond the official 7-day life span.
I hope to get the new system to try out for two weeks before purchasing. The software is the current Dexcom system was such a disappointment that I won't upgrade without trying the entire system out first (including software).
In the meantime, if you're already using the Dexcom SEVEN why not let us know what you think about it? Maybe you could post about it on the CGM Users group on TuDiabetes?
posted by Bernard @ 3:32 AM
6 Comments:
Bernard,
I'm a little confused. A friend who was using the older Dexcom discovered that the sensors which were rated for 3 days actually lasted a week or longer. She was pushing them past a week, even and getting good results.
She was under the belief that the longer lasting sensors were the same as the 3 day sensors, they'd just turned out to last longer.
However, I see that the longer lasting sensors are much more expensive than the $35 she was paying for the 3 day ones. Are they actually different or is the company just charging more for them now that they are rated longer?
I just got the seven. Its also supposed to be more accurate than the 3 day one and the sensors are waterproof. I haven't tried to stretch out the sensors much past 7 days yes but I will.
James
You're obviously going to be swamped with questions about your Seven. Any chance you'll blog your experience for us? I've been 24/7 for over a year on the Dex 3-day. I average about 14 days use before it gets flakey. I'm signed up for the 7-day but am waiting on all you brave front-runners to measure a true sensor life. I suspect that any sensor will "gum up" after about 2 weeks just because the body defends itself against intruders. That would make the true cost at least double (!). Let us all know how it goes. OK?
The new sensors are different. You can't use the new sensors with the old receiver. The accuracy is improved, I think they must have tuned some algorithm.
In the case of the 3-day sensors, It put one in on July 1st that lasted until July 11th. I usually get about 9+ days from each one. That works out to about $3.88 or less per day. The new sensors would have to work for 15+ days to give the same kind of cost per day - I doubt they'll do that.
I ordered the Dexcom SEVEN earlier this week. I hope to have it by the end of this month. Keep an eye on my blog for information about it.
I've had the Seven since the beginning of July. I'd been using the three day system 24/7 since Ocober 2006. When I lost my transmitter in May I called Dexcom to inquire about the Seven and they fast tracked me for an upgrade which arrived in July. They also loaned me a replacement 3 day transmitter to bridge the gap until the Seven arrived, which they didn't have to do. So Dexcom gets Kudos for that.
The new sensors and transmitter are a bit different. There are a couple of plastic clips on the heel of the transmitter that grip the sensor. And there seem to be some rubber seals on the electrodes. Not having to mess with the shower caps is a convenience, but may also have a down side.
I've used two sensors so far and gotten about 10 days out of each. The first thing that seems to go is the adhesive. After the cloth portion has started to get loose, the readings seem to start getting flaky. I'mn wondering if the shower caps used with the original version helped the sensor stay put longer. I'm going play around with this idea a bit and see if I can get more time out of the new sensors.
It may turn out that the three day version at $35.00 each for 10 to 14 days was a better deal then the 7 day version at $60.00 for 10 days.
In any event insurance codes for this device can't come soon enough.
My hgA1C in October was 7.1. In April it was 6.0. I had a relapse to 7.4 in July. We made some changes in my Lantus and Humalog and I've noticed a big difference. SO we will see what happens.
Do I like my Dexcom? Absolutely.
Bill S.
Connecticut
I have had the new "seven" system for over a month now. I never did have the 3 day system. But had heard from a cousin that they could get atleast 5 to 7 days out of the 3 day sensors.
With the seven system I am now currently using, I have yet to get over 48 hours past the seven days.
Knowing what I know now, I would have gone with the older system. Just because of price differences.
It would seem, that the 3 day sensors are nearly equivalent to the seven day sensors. I was really hoping to get 10 days out of the seven day sensor.
But besides that, I really like how it functions.
Does anyone know if there is any physical differance between the 3 day sensors, and 7 day sensors?
They say that the 3 day sensors can not be used with the seven system. But I would love to have a closer look. The change from the 3 day sensors, to 7 day sensors could be only a medical rating to be used for 7 days. It is a cash cow for Dexcom.
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