I heard an ad for the Stelo saying it was available for purchase at stelo.com and yep Dexcom will take your money today for Stelo sensors. There’s also 40 blog posts for people who aren’t us. I did a quick check of CVS, Wags, Walmart and Amazon and still no sign of them yet.
I’m excited to see Dexcom selling direct again.
I’d been wanting to get the Stelo in order to compare it to my Libre 3 and also to see if I wanted to switch to the full-featured Dexcom G7 CGM because of its direct-to-watch capability. There were a few things about which I was apprehensive concerning the Dexcom – the 5 minute delay (instead of 1 with the Libre) in updating BG readings, the larger size, the complaints about the adhesive, and the fact that Medicare requires us to have appointments with our docs every 6 months in order to cover it. ( I usually go every 9 months).
So when they emailed me earlier in the week that the Stelo was available, I ordered the 30 day supply (box of two) for $99 (after having to open an account), and it was here (delivery by Amazon) in just two days. Would be $89 if you want to “subscribe”. (28 day supply of Libre 3 is $87.47 at Walgreens.)
Once I’d waded-through the almost blanket-sized sheet of fine-print instructions, I proceeded to put in on my right arm, due to the Libre 3 already being on my left arm. Here’s my experience with the last 3 days of wearing it:
The Stelo was difficult for me to apply because I had trouble pushing-in the button to insert the sensor while holding-down the clear plastic rim as directed. Finally got it in by leaning hard against the wall and pushing hard on the button. I used only the Skin-Tac adhesive wipes like I do with my Libre. It hasn’t fallen off, yet.
The glucose readings have compared favorably my Libre 3 (they’re usually within 5-10 points of each other – slightly higher or lower than my Accu-chek Aviva fingerstick meter), but with 10-20 points difference during times of faster-changing glucose such as meals, but shows limited information. For instance, it only shows glucose readings up to 250, and only shows a graph for one 24-hour period (as far as I know).
It has arrows indicating direction of blood glucose, and shows average glucose and time in range.
The Stelo only updates display of BG readings every 15 minutes, which seems like an eternity if you’re fighting a low, and compared to my 1-minute Libre display updates.
It notifies the time on my iPhone when a spike starts, and also will show a current glucose reading on my Apple watch (which was a pleasant surprise), although you do have to access it by pressing the Stelo app on the watch, and have the watch within 50 feet of the iPhone at the time.
There are no alarms, but I think it could be useful for those not on insulin. Luckily, I have alarms on my Libre 3.
I hope this helps!
I am 72 y/o prediabetic x 12 years. My A1c have ranged from5.7 to 6. My fasting glucose runs between 112-120 my 4:00 PM glucose is usually somewhat lower. My physician has not advised medication.
My general health has been otherwise good. I chose the Stelo rather than the Abbott sensors because I have an android phone.
My experience with the Stelo has been good. The instruction are straight forward and the insertion is simple. My main goal was to improve my glucose control and gain more insight into my “healthy diet”.
With the Stelo my fasting glucose on awakening has been between 95 and 100, but if I delay eating it consistently runs up to 120. I usually have about 4 oz of orange juice and a bowl of whole grain cereal for breakfast, I was shocked to see my Glucose spike to 200 after breakfast. I found I can reduce the spike substantially by light exercise { walking or a short bout of calistheinics either before or immediately after eating. I now delay my orange juice to later in the day. My light lunches and evening meals produced similar results. I have been losing 1-2 pounds a week with the Stelo guided meals
I am very pleased with the insight gained with the Stelo. My Glucose spikes are improved, my weight is continuing to go down and I have reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and its complications.
I will continue to use the Stelo to guide my diet.
Congrats, @Samdad, on using a CGM to inform your eating judgement. After seeing glucose spikes when consuming orange juice and whole grain cereal for breakfast, do you think they are “healthy”?
I am learning a lot with the Stelo. Obviously, the cereal and OJ are high in carbs. I am shifting to low carb alternatives plus adding more exercise around mealtimes. I already feel better!
Since you said it worked I bought my (non-diabetic) sister a 2 pack on Saturday as a birthday present. I got a screenful of very excited texts when it arrived on Sunday. Thanks for sharing how its working for you.
Have any of you tried the new Abbott Lingo CGM? Like the Stelo, it’s available from the company without prescription, and is not a full-featured CGM, but could be useful in some cases. I’ve been using it as kind of a backup to my Freestyle Libre 3, for times between sensors, or other instances when my Libre readings are not readily available. Like the Freestyle Libre, it updates and displays readings every minute, and I found it very easy to insert. They shipped my sensors to me within two days both times I ordered, so apparently there’s no waitlist anymore.
Checked in with my sister this weekend, turns out she had a very bad case of DRTM (didn’t read the manual) so she hadn’t started using it yet. So two things for people finding this thinking of getting the Stelo:
I’ve been using Stelo since the middle of October, about 45 days. I’m in the early stages of prediabetes with a fasting BG via Next One finger stick of 95-100. I’m 68, 5’-7” and currently at 148 lbs. after slowly losing 20 lbs. since January 2024. BMI is 23, and fat 22% if you can believe my Withings scale. I am a cycling enthusiast and ride indoors or outdoors vigorously a couple time a week. I am moving more towards strength training to combat aging muscle loss on the other days. So yeah, I try to take care of myself which has become my primary retirement project.
Until June when my PCP brought up the prediabetes thing at my annual checkup I ate “semi-healthy” properly portioned meals concentrating on lower calories to slowly get my weight back where it should be. Doc said to watch my carbs, which bummed me out due to the need for carbs to fuel my cycling rides. We had a Metene BGM in the house I tried to use, but trying to catch the peaks after meals just wasn’t working. About the time I reached total frustration and confusion, Stelo came out. Thinking I’d be able to get a better handle on my BG, especially during training and rides I got a kit. Stelo is perfect for my situation. I just want to monitor and try to keep my peaks after meals ideally under 140 and at the worst under 180 so the extra features available on the G7 and other “serious” CGM’s wasn’t needed. Being right on the verge of prediabetes there’s no way my PCP would prescribe a G7 or Libre so I thought this would be great for me.
If I was going to rate Stelo, I’d give it a 3 out of 5 stars so far. I’ve had 4 sensors fail in less than 10 days. 2 had “brief sensor error” that never cleared after 3 hours and 1 had “session ended early”. Fortunately, these were replaced by “Stelobot” (nope, no human help for Stelo). One sensor had highly erratic readings then quit giving any above 70. I filled out a Stelobot form and it went into a black hole never to be heard from again.
It took a couple tries for me to find the right place for the sensor to avoid compression lows. I follow the Stelo recommendation to keep it on my upper arm since no other locations are approved so I can truthfully answer the questions on the Stelo form so I can get a replacement. I’m a side sleeper and have it closer to my armpit, slightly on the inside. I still get compression lows at night, even trying a Freedom Band to secure it. I do have small batwings where it’s placed.
When first inserted the sensor reads high for a 24-hour period then settles down. It’s very accurate for 3-5 days when it lasts that long then it starts losing data, even when not compressed. The one I have in now is the first one to make 15 days and it’s so sensitive now that even SLIGHT pressure from sitting on the couch makes readings less than 70. When it’s working, it seems to be accurate comparing it to my Next One BGM and taking into account the lag time between the interstitial and BGM stick. I use Skin Tac and the supplied over patch with the hole. I don’t know if a different over patch with a cover would improve readings or not. I have never had one come lose or peel. In fact, it’s a nightmare to get off even with Goo Gone adhesive remover. My sensor expires today so that will be this afternoon’s project.
I’m new to this and respect the Type 1 and 2 people that have posted here. I’ve spent the better part of the summer and fall researching diabetes, glucose intolerance, and insulin sensitivity. I want to use a CGM to stabilize or reverse my prediabetes aand not as a health gimmick. Also, I’m hoping this post will help someone else in my situation that’s trying to figure this out.
@Freekick123 Welcome to the forum and thanks for adding to the info about Stelo. I was wondering if Dexcom would do replacements.
Edit per update from Feekick123 below.
Please don’t use Goo Gone on your skin. 20 minutes in the shower/hot tub/pool will loosen up the adhesive at the edges, peel the rest under water. For next time get some Uni-Solve wipes that’ll help with release and cleaning up the adhesive left on the skin. Amazon.com: Uni Solve 402300 Adhesive Remover Wipe, Pack of 50 : Beauty & Personal Care
Thanks for your input. So far Dexcom has been good about replacing premature failures. Since readings go to the Dexcom cloud (I can use Clarity that get reports all the way back to first use), I believe they can see the failures are true.
As for the Goo Gone, I use the band-aid adhesive and medical tape product, not the one in the hardware store. For some reason the over patch adhesive really likes my skin. I tried the shower to remove the first one and it was painful and left a big red welt. Of course I wash off the remaining Goo Gone with soap and water. The Skin Tac seems to help with irritation, but I’ve only used it on 2 sensors so far.
Welcome to the community @Freekick123! Reviews and reports of personal experiences with new tech are particularly appreciated. Always great to hear from actual users, as the marketing stuff only gives the happy talk.
That’s the way to do it! Doctors can help but there’s a LOT to know, everyone’s metabolism is different, and educating yourself is critical. CGM tech has made a huge difference for a lot of us—I’ve had T1 since 1983, and the advent of accurate BG monitoring has been the single most significant advance in managing insulin dependence I’ve experienced in that time. The recent advent of CGM as a fitness aid, rather than a serious piece of medical equipment, leaves some of us long-time CGM users a little bemused. One one hand, the concept of more manufacturers getting into this space, innovating, potentially lowering costs seems nothing but salutary. OTOH, a lot of the devices allow for pretty loose standards accuracy-wise, compared to the ones we depend on to run our AID pumps and make dosing decisions. The Stelo advertises itself as a “consumer fitness device,” so yeah, I guess that’s the category. I’d tend to expect a Dexcom product to be more accurate given their long history developing this tech as their only product.
Yeah, I get what youre saying. In your case with T1 your life is literally on the line and you need the most accurate and reliable equipment. For those of us that are prediabetic. or at risk, never had the equipment other than finger sticks which dont provide continuous monitoring. We weren’t able to afford CGM’s out of pocket. In the course of my research I’m finding there’s a likely chance many people are prediabetic and until they cross that 5.7% A1C line, doctors say all is good, even though every year that number was slowly creeping up. That’s what happened to me. I don’t know if I can reverse it t my age, but hopefully by monitoring it I can hang out where i’m at for a while.
I’ve known several T1s, including myself, who were fairly gobsmacked to find out what their blood sugar was doing between those fingersticks. 3-4 still frames a day versus the whole movie—you can learn a lot! (I was around when finger stick meters came out too—seeing an actual number instead of matching color swatches. The future is here!)
Only thing that bugs me—I used to be able to spot a fellow member of the T1 Tribe by that distinctive Dexcom transmitter on the arm. Had a lot of great conversations that way! Now, not so much. 'Sokay, things change…
Welcome @Freekick123 and thanks for the report on Stelo. My experience with CGMs is Dexcom G6 & G7. G6 was commonly wonky for me starting around day 8. This is not universal as some people would get 20 or more days out of a sensor by popping the transmitter out and restarting the sensor.
I think some of us have a body chemistry that either attacks the sensor lead. The G7 has been better sometimes dropping out around day 8 or 9 but restoring. I’ve had 2 fail completely with a message to change to a new sensor.
As a long time type 2 (34 years) you are doing the right thing. If your HbA1c gets into the mid 5% range, be happy, but continue to be vigilant. T2DM can progress and prediabetes is just early or lite type 2.
As a cyclist, I feel for you about the carb restriction. Other health issues are holding me back from long rides, but shortly after diagnosis I was doing a minimum of 35 miles per day, every day, unless there was ice.
I could fuel myself with just about anything, bananas, banana nut bread, zucchini bread - just whatever. My BG was in the normal range, well when I got a meter. Who knows with those color changing strips. 
This probably won’t happen to you, but after 10 years of excellent control, it went south. That was stage 1 of progression. My Beta cells are worn out dead from over work so I am currently on an insulin pump. Still riding, still enjoying life.