I’m just starting to review the G7, which I’m not using yet. The Dexcom site always says “required” overpatch but says little about what it is or why it’s “required”. Nearest I can see, it’s to ensure the sensor alone won’t peel off by accident. Am I right?
For you who are using the G7 already, do you agree it’s required or are you skipping it without problems? Just asking…
Thx.
The footprint of the G7 is much smaller than the G6, so they are basically requiring it so the sensors stay on for the full 10 days. I tried a sample G7 - it was easy to insert but since I put it on my arm, I had to have help to get the overpatch on.
They are including them with every order so you really should use it.
I don’t think skipping the overpatch on the G7 is wise. I used an overpatch a few times on the G6 but found that the adhesive on the G6 sensor without a patch held well enough on my skin, even with two showers a day that after a couple of times, I discontinued using an overpatch on the G6. If I remember correctly the adhesive patch on the G6 extended by almost 1/2 inch around the sensor.
On the G7, the adhesive patch only extends about 3/16 inch around the sensors. I would be concerned that after a few showers, the sensor/transmitter may start to peel away from the skin, especially if the sensor/transmitter got caught on some clothing or bumped in a doorway. The G7 over patch extends about 1/2 Inch around the sensor/transmitter, and since the G7 has both a smaller and lower profile than the G6, it holds to the skin very well with the over patch.
Yes, the adhesive is smaller, but I think the “required” overpatch is to free them of any liability for their recent replacement policy changes. They’re basically only replacing for every they consider malfunction, and only allowing a max of 1 sensor replacement a month, maybe 1 every three months. I haven’t found it in print anywhere, so I’m going off of people retelling their experience with tech support, and the stories vary a little. They’re no longer replacing for medical procedures, you’re supposed to schedule appointments around sensor changes (like that’s possible). And most relevant here, they’re not replacing sensors that fall off. It’s your responsibility to make sure they stay attached, hence the “required” overpatch. If you need more than that 1 allowed replacement for a valid reason, then it has to get approved by a supervisor. From what I’ve heard, though, they’re all getting approved without issue… It’s just an annoying extra step to ward off requests.
That’s pretty sad if Dexcom is placing such requirements on sensor replacements. If that is the case we’ll have to see if that works for them. People will run short of sensors and I can’t see people wanting to pay the cost themselves. I would expect Libre to gain more customers with that decision, especially in the type 2 world that Dexcom is pushing for. Replacing a Libre at only $39 is a lot cheaper. We all know that Dexcom has a higher markup in the US and we are the biggest market for them. It’s a monetary decision, possibly a bad one.
It’s easy for a sensor to fall under the malfunctioning aspect for a replacement. And 1 a month, possibly 1 every 3 months isn’t that onerous. Except that these things don’t always time themselves like that. We’ll have to see if they actually stick to something like that.
The medical work around is ridiculous. They tried to pull that with me. I told them that’s ridiculous as I had to have an MRI done as soon as possible and you have to take the time slot available. A lot of MRI’s are generally a needed, not wait situation. An MRI can’t be timed around a sensor’s end time. I had two replaced for that, I’ve actually had 5 MRI’s over the last 6 months. I would have been calling them more except I restart mine so if they were restarted sensors I didn’t call them in. Once I switch to a G7 and can’t do restarts it will be a different story. They are asking for a class action lawsuit on that one. Trying to put the sensor value higher than a medical test needed. And imagine delaying a test because of your sensor session timing and something happens.
The last time I filled out the online form for Dexcom, it was approved for a sensor that was way off, so it was easy. I know Libre tried to make it tedious to call them in at one time and irritated a ton of people and they changed it to an easy process although you still get sent a kit to return the old sensor. Insulet still makes it tedious, but since they are the only patch pump they are getting away with it, I expect that might change with competition.
I have real mixed thoughts on this. I can see Dexcom’s perspective. I mean, why should they front the cost when their product didn’t malfunction? The problem is, it’s a controlled pharmaceutical so we don’t have access to replacements any other way. If we’re expected to just run out and buy replacements, then they need to be made available over the counter and at a reasonable cash price. Or at the very least, it should be a standard part of patient care that hospitals need to rectify any prescription/DME they took away. As in, if they make you remove a sensor then they give you a new one ASAP and bill insurance for it. You shouldn’t be leaving their care in such a life-threatening disadvantage. But that’s on Dexcom to institute that practice with hospitals.
I do think the adhesive is part of the warrantied product, though. If they designed a controlled pharmaceutical that’s intended to be worn for ten days, and bargained with insurance that they only need to pay for one every ten days so extras are nearly impossible to get, then I expect it to last the entire 10 days on the sweatiest, greasiest, and/or most water-logged amongst us. They took on that burden when they marketed a controlled pharmaceutical for a certain time frame.
I guess you could always just wait for a sensor that fell off to error out, and file a claim for that instead of the falling off. I don’t know if that works on G7, but the G6 will read “—” if it’s not in you, and eventually give a sensor failed alarm.
I also thought it was a seriously stupid move on Dexcom’s part to be less patient friendly when Libre pump integration is now available in and out of the US. We have options now. We’re not a captive money stream.
Dexcom appears to have taken a page out of Medtronic’s playbook requiring us to apply an additional layer of adhesive.
I haven’t seen anyone say here on Tudiabetes they were denied replacements of the G7 yet so replacement limits are just speculation at this point.
I wasn’t using the G6 when they came out so I don’t know the history on replacements for medical procedures. As it stands now I would expect my insurance to cover the replacement. I also know there is no automation or “duh its obvious” clauses in the contract to cover a replacement so I will have to make the the doctor who submits the PA for a procedure will also have to submit a separate PA for another sensor.
Dexcom is working to change their business model.
Dexcom aims to bring new glucose sensor to the market.
@Tom_in_SC thanks for asking the question. I haven’t used a G7 yet so I took a look in the manual then the quick start guide where I found the “must” language. Dexcom’s G7 sensor application video shows the G7 with the patch ends up looking as big as a G6 adding an inch to the diameter of the G7. The G7 product page shows no one wearing the overpatch. Dexcom failed to disclose the overpatch to the FDA when it submitted the G7.
I think they tried to match the size of the Libre with the adhesive patch, but somehow failed to match the adhesiveness, so that an overpatch became necessary to make sure the sensor held. This is probably a fixable problem, should they want to.
There is tremendous development in diabetes management worldwide, so I expect to see continuous improvements from all the manufacturers to stay competitive. In the US, we have four CGM manufacturers to choose from. Still, other countries, such as China, which has a diabetic population size four times larger than ours, keep coming out with better diabetic management systems every few months. China has six companies producing or developing CGM products now.
I am MDI, and for the past 20 or so years, I have used digital pens made in Korea that dose 0.1 units of insulin. Korea went out of that market, and now I have switched to a Chinese digital pen, which not only does the 0.1u dose but also has a pulse feature. The burn was quite noticeable when I injected more than ten units at a time with the Korean pens. With the Chinese pen, I set it to pulse 0.5u every .5 seconds and can inject as much as I want pain-free. The technologies are remarkable. We don’t get the latest technologies in the US due to the lengthy, costly FDA approval process, but I don’t mind using better non-FDA-approved devices from other countries as they become available.
Eventually, I see a global fight to the bottom price for diabetes management systems, and that is when we will finally benefit from the cheapest, best-quality systems globally available.
The Tandem pump also infuses insulin in a similar fashion. I wonder if this reduces tissue damage at the sites. I don’t have any personal knowledge of the other pumps here in the US on deliver, perhaps they pulse as well.
Susan4, I think that is exactly the right answer!
I think Dexcom is well aware of the problem with the G7 staying on the full 10 days and that’s the reason they provide and suggest their overpatch. There is a lot more skin movement on the back of the arm compared to the abdomen which causes the G7 to fall off. I have had lots of them come off and have contacted Dexcom each time. They are very accommodating about providing replacements but I’d rather the G7 just stayed on.
To help make sure I get the full 10 days I start by using I.V. Prep (by Smith&Nephew) to help with adhesion prior to insertion of the sensor. I then use a larger overpatch I found on Amazon (by Honyou). Finally, I use very sticky paper tape over the overpatch! And then I have a fighting chance I’ll get my full 10 days. The other option (not recommended by Dexcom, but it works just fine) is to place the G7 on your abdomen like you did with the G6. Less skin movement and smaller profile means better chance the G7 will stay on until you need to replace it.
The Dexcom G7 overpatch is a piece of work. I had to resort to putting the G7 sensor on my abdomen (doctor approved) so that I could use both hands to put the overpatch on; but, even then, I’ve messed up a couple of times. I would prefer that the G7 have an ample amount of adhesive on its own instead of our having to rely on an overpatch to keep it in place. The G6 was a much better thought out product; I never once needed an overpatch to keep it in place. But the overpatch is not the only problem with the G7. Let’s just say that accuracy is not its strong suit.
Well, the G7 is a heck of a lot more accurate than the G6. It’s funny how many people are lulled into a false sense of accuracy with the G6 when the G6 takes the data, averaging and smoothing the curve to make it look more accurate than the G7. Run a G6 and a G7 side by side, and when there is a huge delta between the two, verify which one is more accurate using a finger stick and then make your claim. I have run them side by side for several weeks and stand by the Dexcom G7, which is far more accurate than the G6.
I also wear my G7 on the abdomen to avoid compression lows when I sleep and avoid loss of signal as well.
I started G7 last March. I have knocked off several sensors with and without the over patch. Never knocked a G6 off and didn’t use patch. I do use SkinTac. Also compression lows on the G7 are annoying. Have to make sure I insert it way back on arm. Also not a problem with the G6. Love, love the warmup time of basically none. Next change I am going to try on abdomen. Have to say Dexcom has replaced any sensor that either fell off or I had one that wouldn’t deploy the cannula. Really hate the patch. They need new adhesive. I used FSL for awhile and never had one get knocked off. I ask them whenever I call why they advertise a small sensor and then add the unsightly over patch. They say working on it. But they are all so nice.
I, and several others wear the dexcom G7 on the front, not back of the shoulder, toward the breast. It is a more secure location, not likely to be hit, or dislodged while sleeping. It has never fallen off for me.
Thanks. I will definitely try. So on shoulder not upper arm?
Jane Cerullo
Upper arm. Front. Sorry.
Got it. Thanks Susan.
Jane Cerullo
@Robyn_H I might be very wrong about the denials.