How Much Do Cgms Cost
The cost can vary all over the place but it depends on a few factors.
The brand
The two main makers of CGMs are DEXCOM and Abbott FreeStyle. When paying cash, the FreeStyle Libre sensors can cost as little as $75/month . DEXCOM costs about four times that. Because of the price, most DEXCOM users have type 1 diabetes and have it covered by their insurance. Cash-pay folks typically go with the FreeStyle Libre products, so Ill be talking about that.
Your insurance and medical need:
If you have diabetes and are taking insulin multiple times per day, you will most likely get your CGM covered by insurance. Everything other than that is up in the air. I have one client whos doctor coded for pre-diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome and her private insurance covered 50% of her FreeStyle Libre sensors. Another client is prone to hypoglycemia. This was enough to get 50% coverage. But most people will not get insurance coverage.
Start without insurance then continue WITH insurance
Because the price is fairly reasonable, I recommend my clients pay cash for the first month to get started. If the glucose data clearly shows dysregulated blood sugar, we can share the data with their provider. This is sometimes enough evidence for them to code so insurance will pick up part of the bill to make it more accessible in the long-run. Since 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. has prediabetes, theres a good chance youll qualify.
Readers and smartphones
Four Leading Cgm Systems
Currently, there are four Food and Drug Administration -approved CGM systems on the market in the United States.
Two require no fingersticks at all for calibration, while the other two now only require two fingerstick calibrations per day versus past requirements for as many as eight daily. The price and where they are sold varies.
Libre 2 With Optional Alerts
Just approved by the FDA in June 2020 but available overseas a couple of years before that, the Libre 2 was the first model to introduce optional glucose alerts for highs and lows. It uses Bluetooth to determine the glucose range programmable from 60 to 100 mg/dL in order to trigger a Low alert and 120 to 400 mg/dL for a High alert. While the notifications came without a need to scan the sensor, you still needed to scan the sensor before getting an actual result.
For many people, that continued need to scan before getting a result meant the Libre 2 still didnt offer the same kind of protection for high and low glucose levels as competing CGM tech offered particularly overnight, when hypoglycemia can be even more dangerous as people are sleeping and not actively monitoring or experiencing symptoms.
The first two iterations of the FreeStyle Libre named the 14-day and 10-day, respectively were pretty much the same base technology as the Libre 2, minus optional alerts. Both also included the handheld scanner needed to get results, though the 14-day unit eventually could be scanned with a smartphone app instead of the handheld receiver.
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Who Can Use A Cgm And How Do You Get One
A doctor may prescribe a continuous glucose monitor for people with type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 diabetes.
These monitors can be helpful for people who are unaware that their blood sugar is too low, which is called hypoglycemia. This includes young children and some older adults.
It also includes people who regularly have hypoglycemia and no longer feel the typical warning signs.
Doctors may also prescribe a continuous glucose monitor if you regularly have high or low blood sugar levels, or if you are on intensive insulin therapy.
Certain types of monitors can be paired with an insulin pump as part of a closed-loop system.
With these devices, if the monitor detects that your blood sugar levels are outside your target range, it communicates with your insulin pump. The pump then delivers the right amount of insulin directly into your body. Some people call this device an artificial pancreas.
Evidence suggests that this technology can improve the quality of life for people with type 1 diabetes.
But anyone can use a continuous glucose monitor as a tool to better understand their blood sugar levels, which can impact many aspects of their overall health.
In the U.S., continuous glucose monitors are typically only available on prescription.
But the ZOE at-home testing kit includes a CGM for most people who opt to take part in our research program, depending on location and health status.
Tips To Make Glucose Monitoring Easier
Whether youre using a traditional finger-prick monitor or a CGM for your diabetes management, here are some tips to make checking your glucose easier:
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before checking your glucose for a more accurate result. Do not use hand sanitizer before doing finger sticks.
- If inserting a sensor into your skin for a CGM, be sure to wash the area of skin with soap and water and allow it to dry first.
- Change any sensors by the recommended manufacturer time for example, every 14 days for the FreeStyle Libre and every 10 days for the Dexcom G6.
- If using finger strips, you may experience less pain by using the side of your fingertip closer to your fingernail.
- Even if youre using a CGM, you may consider having a traditional meter on hand to double-check your glucose readings. This is in case you experience symptoms of high or low blood sugar despite a normal reading.
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All About The Eversense Implantable Continuous Glucose Monitor
If youve ever dreamed of having your glucose levels monitored automatically by a tiny implantable sensor that beams the data to a smartphone, the Eversense continuous glucose monitor may be the product for you.
Eversense has been available in the United States since mid-2018 and has been sold by fingerstick meter manufacturer Ascensia Diabetes Care since a 2020 collaboration that saved Senseonics from sales woes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Best Continuous Glucose Monitors For 2022
If you’re considering switching to a continuous glucose monitor, try one of these.
Mercey Livingston
CNET Contributor
Mercey Livingston is a health and wellness writer and certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She’s written about fitness and wellness for Well+Good, Women’s Health, Business Insider, and Prevention.com among others. When not writing, she enjoys reading and trying out workout classes all over New York City.
Those with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes must monitor their blood sugar and keep it in check. It’s a huge priority, and while no one loves pricking their fingers all day and testing their blood, it needs to be done. Traditional blood glucose monitors can be a pain, but there is another option. Continuous glucose monitoring systems, aka CGM devices, are much more convenient and can be worn and used for long periods of time. This makes checking your blood sugar a breeze compared to other methods.
“Continuous glucose monitors offer more intensive monitoring of a diabetic patient’s sugar levels,” said Dr. Rebecca Fenichel, an endocrinologist at Westmed Medical Group. “They are particularly well suited to patients who have to check multiple times a day, or to patients who want to get more frequent feedback during the day.”
For this article, we’ve consulted doctors, including Fenichel, and researched the most popular monitors to curate the best continuous glucose monitors on the market for 2022.
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What Is Continuous Glucose Monitoring
A CGM is a compact medical system that continuously monitors your glucose levels in more or less real time .
To use a CGM, you insert a small sensor onto your abdomen with a tiny plastic tube known as a cannula penetrating the top layer of skin. An adhesive patch holds the sensor in place, allowing it to take glucose readings in interstitial fluid throughout the day and night. Generally, the sensors have to be replaced every 7 to 14 days.
A small, reusable transmitter connected to the sensor allows the system to send real-time readings wirelessly to a monitor device that displays your blood glucose data. Some systems come with a dedicated monitor, and some now display the information via a smartphone app, so you dont even need to carry an extra device around with you.
Aside from the constant stream of data, most CGMs can send alerts telling you when your blood sugar levels are rising too high or dropping too low. You can also set the alert parameters and customize how youre notified.
Its not an understatement to say that CGMs have revolutionized diabetes care. Unlike a traditional fingerstick , which provide just a single glucose reading, CGMs provide continuous, dynamic glucose information every 5 minutes. That equates to roughly 288 readings in a day.
Why Doctors Are Reluctant To Prescribe Cgm
Dexcom execs tell us that 49 percent of doctors say all the insurance red tape currently impacts their willingness to prescribe CGM.
The company believes that more than 50 percent of healthcare professionals would increase the number of prescriptions they write for CGM if it were available across the board as a mainstream pharmacy benefit to all patients.
What they are essentially saying is that making CGM supplies cheaper and more readily available could be the key to helping CGM become a true standard of care.
As more people with type 2 diabetes are increasingly seeking access to CGM, it becomes even more critical to have lower-cost, easily usable options that can be purchased in mainstream places like local pharmacies. The rules may vary on how a prescription is written for a T2 patient on CGM, but that shouldnt interfere with buying in a pharmacy as long as the individual has a doctors blessing for using it.
Really, its only a matter of time before all non-implantable CGM systems appear on pharmacy shelves, creating broader and more affordable access for everyone.
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Comparison Of Current Continuous Glucose Monitors
A continuous glucose monitor or CGM reveals short-term trends in glucose as they happen. You can see the direction your glucose has taken over the last 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, or 24 hours. Upload your data to view reports of averages and trends over periods of up to 90 days.
CGMs are now widespread and widely covered by insurance to benefit both Type 1s and Type 2s. Several manufacturers are getting in on the action, offering a variety of features and costs.
Major players in the field include Dexcom, Medtronic, Freestyle Libre, and Eversense. We discuss the features of each below.
What About Health Insurance Coverage
Its helpful to know that the Dexcom G6, Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2, and Eversense implantable CGM are all covered by most private and public health insurance plans, including Medicare . Medtronics Guardian Connect, however, was not covered by Medicare as of December 2021.
Historically, people with type 1 diabetes have had a much easier time qualifying for a CGM through insurance than those with type 2 diabetes because it was easier to establish medical necessity.
Still, if you have T2D and your doctor can make a case for medical necessity, you may qualify. But your insurance company may still want to confirm whether you actually need a CGM.
If you can prove youre experiencing both high blood sugars and low blood sugars regularly, you will likely qualify. This can be proven by providing blood glucose logs uploaded from your fingerstick meter. Generally, hyperglycemia is defined as a blood glucose level of 250 mg/dL or over, while hypoglycemia is a blood sugar 70 mg/dL or below.
If your insurance company denies your coverage for a CGM, talk with your doctors office about peer-to-peer reviews and appeals. Pushing your doctor to fight for you matters.
Manufacturers can have your back here, too. Dexcom, for instance, has an easy-to-complete patient information form you can submit along with your insurance information. The company will then contact your insurer to work on getting your device authorized and covered. Medtronic offers a similar service.
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How To Get A Continuous Glucose Monitor Without Health Insurance
Diabetes is a costly disease in many ways. Accessing critical diabetes supplies like continuous glucose monitors and medication like insulin is a problem for many people.
If you are struggling to afford the medication and supplies you need to survive, utilize these resources:
Pricing is still one of the most significant barriers people with diabetes face in accessing a CGM. Here are some actionable tips if you do not have insurance and are trying to get one.
New Libre Sense Cgm Available Over
The Libre Sense CGM is similar to the Freestyle Libre 2, but its made for athletes and not for people with diabetes
Abbott announced last week a new continuous glucose monitor , the Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor . It is similar to the FreeStyle Libre and the FreeStyle Libre 2 however, unlike FreeStyle Libre, Libre Sense is designed for athletes to help optimize their performance, rather than for people with diabetes . Libre Sense has already been cleared in Europe, where it will be available over-the-counter !
The Libre Sense device looks almost identical to the FreeStyle Libre 2 and is designed to be worn on the back of the arm for up to 14 days. Unlike FreeStyle Libre 2, however, the Libre Sense will stream data continuously to a smartphone app or wrist-worn reader in other words, Libre Sense users wont scan the sensor with their phone or reader to get their glucose values and trends.
For now, Libre Sense will be available for purchase for about $160/month, and only by mail order on the Supersapiens website. The sensor has no alarms and it measures glucose values between 55 to 200 mg/dL. The CGM data will be available on a Supersapiens app to help athletes make sense of their glucose values and trends. Libre Sense will first become available in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the UK, with shipments beginning in early December.
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Are Cgm Devices Water
The FreeStyle Libre 14 day sensor is water-resistant. According to the manufacturer, it will continue working as long as it is not submerged more than three feet or kept underwater longer than 30 minutes at a time.
Dexcom G6 transmitters are water-resistant, and the G6 sensor pod is water-resistant when the transmitter is installed properly. The receiver is not water- resistant or waterproof, and can be damaged if moisture gets inside it.
Medtronic Minimed Guardian Connect
Many think that the Medtronic Minimed Guardian Connect CGM is only integrated into the companys Minimed insulin pumps, but there is also a stand-alone CGM available. The Medtronic Minimed CGM requires a separate seashell-shaped transmitter that connects to each sensor that is worn for 7 days.
Medtronic doesnt sell its CGM sensors and supplies at pharmacies, but you can find these at mail-order distribution companies and directly through Medtronics online store.
- a transmitter : $620
- Medtronic Minimed Guardian Connect CGM sensors : $345
- estimated total: $4,208 per year, or $351 per month
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Can You Buy A Blood Glucose Monitor Over The Counter
Do you or a family member have diabetes? If you answered yes, then you will most likely need to purchase an over the counter blood glucose test. This test is used to measure the amount of glucose in your blood. It is important to note that the amount of glucose can vary, especially due to medications, stress, food, exercise, and type of diabetes. With this in mind, a blood glucose monitor can help you to more effectively manage your diabetes by taking accurate readings, storing this information, and recording trends.
World’s First Glucose Sport Biosensor For Athletes
Abbott’s Libre Sense based on FreeStyle Libre is designed for use in athletes without diabetes.
Abbott is taking its world-leading continuous glucose monitoring technology to the next level athletes without diabetes.
Called Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, the tech is CE marked and is the worlds first glucose sport biosensor designed for athletes.1
Here’s how it works: Libre Sense continuously measures glucose levels of athletes, ages 16 and up, with a small round biosensor worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days. The user will automatically receive streaming glucose data, via Bluetooth® wireless technology, every minute and these data are designed to work with compatible mobile apps,* thanks to Abbotts non-exclusive collaboration with sports tech company Supersapiens.
This over-the-counter product is based on Abbott’s world-leading2 CGM technology FreeStyle Libre, which was originally developed for people living with diabetes.
But Libre Sense goes a step further, showing the potential breadth of sensor-based technology beyond diabetes management.
While the market for high-tech diabetes devices, including CGMs and insulin pumps, is approximately $7 billion the fastest growing medtech market over $1 billion3 expanding the population that can benefit from CGMs beyond those with diabetes stands to substantially broaden the market for this technology.
Why Glucose Matters When it Comes to Athletes
References
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Some Cgm Sensors Cost Less Without Insurance
If you dont have health insurance, this doesnt always mean you cant access a continuous glucose monitor. While health insurance may make it easier for some people with diabetes to access a CGM at an affordable rate, this isnt always the case.
Even if you have a high deductible healthcare plan , you may find that some continuous glucose monitors like the Freestyle Libre 2 cost less out of pocket without running insurance.
A Freestyle Libre 2 sensor can be purchased without insurance at many pharmacy counters across the United States for typically around $130-140 for two sensorsabout a months worth of supplies. So long as you have a prescription for the product, you should be able to fill it and purchase it for around this price point.