My rep told me that the new G4 is completely different than the 7+ also. She suggested donating the sensors and/or seven plus to my doctor's office who will undoubtedly know someone who can use them.
My rep also told me that the new receiver is warrantied for one year (not 4-6 months as reported here) and that the transmitter is good for at least 6 months and up to 9 months. Unfortunately, the insurance will not cover a replacement transmitter until the entire system is out of warranty (a year). Doesn't make good sense in my opinion, but as my rep said: "It is the payoff for increased range and accuracy."
I am wondering if there is anyone out there (international friends?) who has used both the seven plus and the G4? If so, can you tell us what your experience has been as far as the improved accuracy and range?
Contacted Dexcom on Tues night and traded emails w/ the Customer Service Manager yesterday. Got my paperwork started to get the new G4. Can't wait to see if it's actually better than the 7+.
This is great news, I had recieved my 7 plus system back in Feb. and I am very happy with it. I suspected with the $200 rebate offer, that I took advantage of, that was running for months on the 7 plus kit was for "inventory clearance" making way for the G4. A friend of mine who does a little investing in the markets saw how enthusiastic I was about getting the Dexcom 7, and decided to buy into the company after doing some DD, going into the G4 news. Looking at the DXCM quotes recently, I would say she did well with her decision. Ahhh....capitalists...bless their hearts. :-)
Maybe we should have day-traded DXCM for the cash to buy a spanking brand new G4 :)
I didn't consider that Dexcom would stop selling the SEVEN completely and I've got an 18 mo old transmitter likely to conk anytime. Would be great if they held a fire sale on SEVEN transmitters and sensors!
just went through the tutorial. looks awesome. calibration is once 2 hours after insertion and every 12 hours after that. sensors last 7 days. range is 20 feet from transmitter to receiver. takes 3 hours to charge the receiver. water resistant to 8 feet. getting a pink one with my insurance should be about $80 for the receiver and about $35 a month for sensors.
I'm pretty sure they will continue to sell 7+ sensors for a while. Just how long, I don't know, but the rep also told me to keep the 7+ as a backup. And it's not wise to hold on to sensors for too long, because they do expire. Ergo, they will keep selling sensors.
I've been on the Dexcom 7+ system for three years now. I use it 24/7 and it has been very useful in almost eliminating night-time lows and generally keeping my BGs in a good range. I credit the Dex with lowering my A1c by one full percentage point.
As soon as I saw this post last week I contacted Dexcom customer service to get on the list for the Gen4 system. Two days ago I received confirmation that they intend to ship me the starter kit (receiver + transmitter) plus two boxes of sensors on October 29.
While the Gen4 system is still not as accurate as I would like, it is still better than the 7+, a system that has served me well for three years. The thing that really appeals to me about the Gen4 system is the claimed greater accuracy in the hypo range. I'm also hoping the increase in transmitter/receiver range will avoid the data dropouts, especially while I sleep, that I experienced with the 7+.
I like the fact that Dexcom continues to make reasonable progress with this technology. Animas, by contrast, is still selling virtually the same pump that I purchased four years ago. That lack of technical progress prompted me to switch to the OmniPod system recently.
I look forward to receiving the Dex Gen4 system soon and hope to read about people's experience here as soon as they receive them.
Just got my FedEx confirmation and my new G4 platinum and sensors will be here tomorrow by 3PM. I am so stoked to slap this puppy on and really give it a full run through on usability, accuracy, distance and sensor insertion. The downloads will be super enlightening also. Once the insulin delivery devices hit shortly after this, it will really open up incredible opportunities in self management for people living with diabetes . As sensor technology and insulin delivery continue to improve, the lives of people living with diabetes will also!
I hope you give us an immediate report. For us diabetes geeks, this is more exciting than a new iPhone!
+1
Mine just arrived! That's the good news. The bad news, for me anyhow, is that the G4 does not come with sensors and I'm not eligible for any G4 sensors until December since I got 3 months of Seven Plus sensors in September.
Here's an album of images showing the size comparison to the Seven Plus along with a first generation iPod mini and second generation iPod nano (since the new G4 kind of reminds me of an iPod with its control disk).
I had planned on doing a side by side comparison (wearing both units at the same time and calibrating with the same values) but that will have to wait until I get sensors in.
Also, I don't care for the new belt case. It's black leather and needs to be un-snapped in order to read the display.
Is the new unit thinner than the seven plus? Thanks for the pictures!
Yes, the new unit is thinner. Here are some more pictures that show the thickness better as well as what the new case looks like.
I love that it's not so bulky for the pocket. Your right about the case. Don't care for it. Looks inconvenient to use.
The case looks like a pain in the butt. The 7+ case allows you to see and press buttons without unsnapping or unfolding anything. I don't know why anyone would want a case that had to be unsnapped and unfolded in order to view the screen and make adjustments. And it's decidedly masculine-wallet-looking -- but a lot of us are GIRLS!!!
I far prefer the new case -- so much easier (for me!) to deal with. I had a hard time with the old one on the 7+ simply because you had to twist it up in order to see it, and I found myself crooking my neck down to do that. Now, THAT was a pain in the butt. This new case is very easy to deal with, even though you have to unsnap it.
I also found that over time the old clip got loose from all the twisting I was doing in order to read it on my belt.
I thought the old case was masculine-centric-designed as well. Techy stuff sort of always looks that way to my eye. At least this new one is smaller.
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I only got my 7+ in Aug. so I haven't had time to see if the clip loosens. :-) And I'm pretty sure I'll have to twist up the new case too, but I'll see when I get it! Thanks for your response! :-)
No, actually you don't 'twist up' the new case -- when you undo the snap the unit folds out conveniently so you can see it perpendicularly and read it very quickly. I think it works much better than the 7+ case.
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Do you know if the 'new Gen4 sensors' can be re-started? I had heard that they shut off after 7 days.