Has anyone tried Sensonics Eversense CGM sensor?
I am looking for input and experience with using Sensonics sensors (good and bad) ?
I did. Trial when they were new, just one sensor. I really liked it. Loved that the sensor was inside. So swimming is easier. Exercise with heavy sweating was no issue at all. I don’t think they solved the issue of calibration yet. Every 12 hours, it’s like dexcom old days. They keep saying they will fix that, but until then it isn’t worth it.
I will sometimes calibrate my dex in the first day but not beyond that.
After they fix that and make it compatible with a pump, then I’ll do it
After 3 months the doctor needs to dig it out of your arm. I really didn’t mind this but I can see how others could see this as a red line.
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Thanks, Timothy,
It looks like FDA cleared the next-generation Eversense 365 and I need to find out about the calibration.
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One note on the Eversense sensor- it is not MRI safe and must be removed before an MRI.
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I looked into it, but I just can’t see the appeal. It baffles me. Dexcom is completely unobtrusive to manage. (I’ve never tried Libre, but I imagine it’s similar) No doctors appointments, except to get the prescription. No scalpels. No pain. No calibration. No charging. No daily maintenance. Small. Very fast to apply…
The sensor is under your skin, but the transmitter sure isn’t. It’s the biggest CGM by a mile, too. Even bigger than Medtronic’s previous generation G4, which was decried for it’s size (among other things). It’s nearly identical to an Omnipod in size, except a little more flush to the skin.
It’s a lot more maintenance. You’re supposed to charge it daily. Gotta change the adhesive daily, too. And then there’s weekly calibrations. (I don’t actually think that’s terrible.)
The real deal breaker for me is the extraction process. I’ve read some terrifying things. The insertion isn’t too bad, but they have to cut open your arm and go fishing around for the sensor, which kinda melds into your flesh after after a while. I imagine a doctor who does a lot of these might gain some experience skills, but I certainly don’t have that luxury since I’m very rural.
The one appeal I can see is not having to refill the prescription. But I’m already getting other prescriptions and DME supplies, so adding Dexcom to the orders doesn’t make a difference.
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I’ve never used the Senseonics implantable CGM. I looked at this device again since I became aware of its new one year model, the Eversense 365. I’ve watched some video discussions about this new device and I admit to being attracted to some of its features. It claims it is not subject to false lows due to compression while sleeping. My sleep has been interrupted all too often by false lows on my Dexcom G6.
The company also claims that its accuracy is especially good under 70 mg/dL. Since I target 87 mg/dL and the 65-120 mg/dl range, this feature appeals to me.
Senseonics have certified the Eversense 365 as an “iCGM” which will pave the way for future integration with commercial pumps and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems . No integration deal seems imminent and these kind of deals can take considerable time.
Senseonics has had an ongoing discussion with Beta Bionics for its iLet system. iLet is not for me due to its relatively high BG targets. There are no deals with Beta Bionics as yet announced.
Most importantly for me, this CGM System is not compatible with my do-it-yourself (DIY) Loop, an older Medtronic 722 pump paired with an app running on an iPhone. There may be some workaround using Nightscout and/or other data handling apps that I’m not aware of.
I did, however, discover that Medicare covers the cost of the Eversense CGM including the professional fees to insert and remove. Your portion of the Medicare payment would be subject to whether you carry Part B and supplemental insurance.
If Eversense integrated with a DIY Loop equivalent AID system, I would actually be a serious applicant. If the sensor has to be removed for an MRI as @Luis3 states above, that is also a serious point.
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Brand new video here - two endocrinologists (who are long-time diabetics themselves) discussing it: Eversense 365 CGM: What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know | TCOYD
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I tried it twice when the 90 day sensor was the only one available. Charging the transmitter and calibrating were not too big of a deal for me, easy to get used to doing those as part of a daily routine. There were some positives, most notably the accuracy was good and I did not have to do the “replace sensor” routine with Dexcom which can be inconvenient if a sensor dies at an unexpected time.
Another positive I enjoyed was the vibratory alerts on ones arm when not carrying my phone or any receiver. That worked great for outdoor heavy chores and sports, etc. when I did not have my phone turned on or with me. But now the G7 with direct to watch has the same capability.
The insertion/extraction is a big downside. I still have two raisin shaped scars in my arms. The first few days after an insertion the numbers are all over the place and can’t be relied on. Also, I had one sensor insertion that became infected and had to be replaced.
Overall I would probably try the 365 day Eversense if they can get it communicating with either the Omnipod 5 or a Tandem pump. Who knows if/when that will happen though.
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Thanks to All for your input.
Does anyone have an inside scoop when the Freedom device will be released? A target year and quarter?
Update: I found presentation here with Freedom launch in Q4 2027.
[Senseonics Investor Presentation - November 2024]
(https://www.senseonics.com/~/media/Files/S/Senseonics-IR/reports-and-presentations/sens-investor-presentation-november-2024.pdf)
This device sound great. BUT. It’s the surgical insertion and removal process that bothers me. It is made glass and could be inadvertently broken under the skin resulting in surgery. Hoping they find all pieces.
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Thanks for posting that investor report, that was a fun read. I noticed they used a codename for the sensor they are using in Gemini and Freedom, Rome2, but don’t mention if that is the same sensor they are using in the 365. Since you’ve been looking for information on this already, have you seen anything say the 365 is also Rome2?
Like other have said, the calibration requirements have kept me from trying one. I did watch another of the TCOYD videos on insertion of the Eversense - https://tcoyd.org/2023/02/watch-dr-es-eversense-e3-cgm-insertion-we-filmed-it-live/
Doing a little more digging here’s the FDA submission for the 365 including the clinical trial data. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/reviews/K241335.pdf Values from the 365 based on the comparator values look similar to the Libre. What really doesn’t work for me is it appears to be slow to respond to changing BG. Might be due to the small study size, I really wish they’d report on 1000 people instead of 100.
I started the Eversense 365 on December 6, 2024. The short answer is that I strongly recommend it over other options unless interconnection with AID is currently required (however, expect AID support to be available in the first half of 2025). My first CGM was the Lebre 3, and I used it for over two years. I still use it to compare results between the two devices.
The #1 importance of a CGM is accuracy because most of us use them to decide the correct amount of insulin to consume. When the BGL shown is off by 20 or more %, we can over or under-inject, which likely results in many problems.
Once the Eversense is calibrated, it is far more accurate and stable. As I type this, my Libre shows 89 and the 365 was 77. Finger sticks are 78 (3 finger avg). The last 4 Libre CGMs, have shown from 1 to 35% differences (+ or - and varies by the hour/days). One of them failed and had to be replaced after 28 hours, and another one failed to make the full 14 days (died at 12). Over the last 2 years, approximately 20% of them either failed early or had such a significant error (not matching or close to the finger sticks) that I had to replace them and return them to the manufacturer for credit.
Is the 365 flawless? No, I have a number of things I want them to improve in the device and in their software app. Cannot list them here because it will make this a long post, and I don’t have the time.
BTW, the most accurate BGM consumer grade (finger tester) I have found is the “Contour Next One”. I have purchased and tested maybe 10 different BGM devices.
Welcome to TuD, @halprewitt! I have watched Eversense for many years now and it is starting, with its one year model, to gain my serious consideration. I’ve used Dexcom CGM products for 16 years now and have been mostly satisfied with their performance.
Since 2016, my CGMs have become an integral part of my DIY Loop AID. Eversense has been certified as an iCGM yet it can’t mix and match and perform with just any AID system. If/when that happens and it works with Loop DIY then I would be interested in using Eversense.
My loyalty to Loop DIY has been earned by the wide spectrum of user accessible controls (like a glucose target of 87 mg/dL) that respects a user’s knowledge. It has delivered, in part, sustained (many years!) A1Cs < 5.5% and added immeasurably to my quality of life. I suspect that the available commercial AID systems would disappoint me.
Unfortunately, I’ve been around the diabetes tech space long enough to know that these things sometimes take much longer than expected and sometimes things even surprise you and evolve quickly.
I’m still on the sidelines with Eversense but they have my attention.
Thanks, @Terry4. What pump are u using?
I left off naming stability but described it as problems with the Lebre 3. As an engineer and tech guy, I think these issues likely occur with all skin-mounted CGMs. Users don’t know this happens because they don’t have two or more sensors installed simultaneously. I did not discover the reading variations until using 2 Libre 3’s and the Eversense 365 at the same time.
I don’t have experience with the Dexcom versions, so I cannot say if they have some variance and different results after expiration.
I use a number of apps (Nightscout, Juggluco, xDrip and the CGM’s tools) to track data. BTW, xDrip now reads the 365 data (using a recent update I worked with them to create).
I am investigating your DIY and there maybe a way to integrate the 365. Will let u know what I think.
I use the Medtronic MiniMed 722 pump. I’m aware that Eversense use can be translated through NightScout to enable Loop DIY to work, but that requires a continuous connection to the internet. I unfortunately got disconnected from NightScout after several years use due to some IT evolutionary reason that is still not clear to me.
I would need some knowledgeable and patient technical guidance to restart NightScout. I tried at the time but several efforts on my part failed. NS is not essential to my insulin therapy and I function well enough without it. I use a combination of Google calendar and Apple Health to paper over the vacancies left by NS.