Disclaimer: *Disclaimer: All content and information in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. For the latest information please visit the manufacturer’s website. Last updated on 1/6/2025.

Whether you’re the type to snooze through your CGM alarms or one more beep from launching it into orbit, adjusting the tone, frequency or glucose thresholds can make all the difference in keeping you safe and sane.

Dexcom G6 

What Alarms and Alerts Does Dexcom G6 Have?

Dexcom G6 is packed with a variety of alarms and alerts to help you stay on top of your glucose levels:

• Urgent Low: Alerts you when your sensor glucose is at or below 55 mg/dL. This alarm cannot be turned off or adjusted.

• Urgent Low Soon: Lets you know when your sensor glucose is expected to drop to 55 mg/dL or below within the next 20 minutes.

• Low: Notifies you when glucose is below your target glucose range (default 70 mg/dL, range, range 60-100 mg/dL).

• High: Goes off when glucose is above your target glucose range (default 250 mg/dL, range 120-400 mg/dL).

• Rise rate: Alerts you when your glucose level is rising at or above the set rate (between 2 or 3 mg/dL per minute). 

• Fall rate: Alerts you when your glucose level is falling at or below the set rate (between 2 or 3 mg/dL per minute).

• Signal loss: Notifies you when your transmitter loses signal. 

• No readings: Alerts you if your sensor hasn’t transmitted readings for more than 20 minutes. 

How can I change my Dexcom G6 alarms and alerts?

For Dexcom G6 App Users

1. Open the Dexcom G6 App and then head to Settings.

2. Tap Alerts and select the alert you want to adjust. Then…

3. Turn On/Off: Toggle the switch to turn your alert on or off.

4. Change Level: Set your “notify me above/below” threshold to your preferred glucose level.

5. Repeat: Choose how often you want your alert to repeat if your glucose stays out of range by selecting a timeframe between 15 minutes to 4 hours.

6. Sound: Sample different alert sounds and pick the one that suits you best. If you prefer a little less noise, you can always select vibrate. 

For Dexcom G6 Receiver Users

1. Open the Dexcom G6 Receiver, click Menu and tap Settings.

2. Select Alerts and choose the alert you want to modify. Then…

3. Turn On/Off: Toggle the switch to turn your alert on or off.

4. Change Level: Set your “notify me above/below” threshold to your preferred glucose level.

5. Repeat: Choose how often you want your alert to repeat if your glucose stays out of range by selecting a timeframe between 15 minutes to 4 hours.

6. Sound: Sample different alert sounds, like soft tones, melodies or vibrate only,  and choose the one that suits you best.

Dexcom G7 

What Alarms and Alerts Does Dexcom G7 Have?

Dexcom G7 has a variety of alarms and alerts to let you know when it’s time to take action. 

• Urgent low: Alerts you when your sensor glucose is at or below 55 mg/dL. This alarm cannot be turned off or adjusted.

• Urgent Low Soon: Lets you know when your sensor glucose is expected to drop to 55 mg/dL or below within the next 20 minutes.

• Low: Notifies you when glucose is below your target glucose range (default 70 mg/dL, range 60-150 mg/dL).

• High: Goes off when glucose is above your target glucose range (default 250 mg/dL, range: 100-400 mg/dL).

• Rise rate: Alerts you when your glucose level is rising at or above the set rate (between 2-3 mg/dL per minute or 3 mg/dL or more per minute).

• Fall rate: Alerts you when your glucose level is falling at or below the set rate (between 2-3 mg/dL per minute or 3 mg/dL or more per minute).

• Signal loss: Notifies you when your display device temporarily stops getting sensor readings due to an issue with the connection.

• Brief Sensor Issue: Alerts you when your sensor can’t read your glucose right now.

• Technical Alerts: Alerts you when you’re not getting sensor readings which includes: sensor failed, replace sensor now and similar alarms. 

How can I change my Dexcom G7 alarms and alerts?

For Dexcom G7 App Users

1. Open the Dexcom G7 App and then head to Settings.

2. Tap Alerts and select the alert you want to adjust. Then…

3. Turn On/Off: Toggle the switch to turn your alert on or off.

4. Change Level: Set your “notify me above/below” threshold to your preferred glucose level. 

5. Sound: Sample different alert sounds, like soft tones, melodies or vibrate only, and choose the one that suits you best.

6. Delay 1st Alert: Available for High alert only. This will delay the first alert until your reading is at or past the high alert setting for a while. You get to choose how long.

7. Snooze: Turn the snooze alert on if you want the alert to repeat. You can choose a timeframe between 15 minutes to 4 hours. 

For Dexcom G7 Receiver Users

1. Open the Dexcom G7 Receiver, click Menu and tap Settings.

2. Select Alerts and choose the alert you want to modify. Then…

3. Turn On/Off: Toggle the switch to turn your alert on or off.

4. Change Level: Set your “notify me above/below” threshold to your preferred glucose level. 

5. Sound/Vibrate: Choose how your alert notifies by sampling different alert sounds and pick the one that suits you best. If you prefer a little less noise, you can select vibrate.

6. Snooze: Turn the snooze alert on if you want the alert to repeat. You can choose a timeframe between 15 minutes to 4 hours.

Troubleshooting Common Dexcom Alerts Issues

Why are my Dexcom alerts going off all the time?

Frequent alerts may mean your thresholds are set too tightly and/or your repeat frequency is too short. To adjust:

1. Open the Dexcom G6/Dexcom G7 app.

2. Navigate to “Alert Settings” and review your high and low thresholds.

3. Consider widening the range slightly or increasing the repeat interval to reduce alert frequency. 

Why aren’t my Dexcom alerts going off frequently enough?

If you’re missing important alerts, your thresholds are set too wide and/or your repeat frequency is too long. To adjust:

1. Open the Dexcom G6/G7 app.

2. Navigate to “Alert Settings” and review your high and low thresholds.

3. Consider tightening the range slightly or decreasing the repeat interval to increase alert frequency. 

I don’t want my Dexcom alerts going off while I’m at work or school.

Instead of turning off or silencing all alerts and risk missing notifications, try these options:

1. Create an alert schedule to match your work or school hours and choose “vibrate” for a discreet sound option.

2. If you’re using the Dexcom G7, enable “Quiet Mode” to automatically switch alerts to vibrate or silence them during specific times. 
   

3. Dexcom G7 users can turn on “quiet mode” to automatically put alerts into vibrate or silence them. 

If you’re missing important alerts, your thresholds are set too wide and/or your repeat frequency is too long. To adjust:

4. Open the Dexcom G6/G7 app.

5. Navigate to “Alert Settings” and review your high and low thresholds.

6. Consider tightening the range slightly or decreasing the repeat interval to increase alert frequency. 
   

References:

Dexcom G6 User Guide

Dexcom G7 User Guide

Shop Dexcom Adhesive Patches