On October 4th, Dexcom announced the roll out for their latest generation of continuous glucose monitoring sensors (CGMs). Although the US is still *patiently* awaiting the roll out, it has begun in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Hong Kong. Let's compare the difference between the Dexcom G6 and G7 models so you know exactly what you can expect when it comes your way.

Update: On December 8th, Dexcom announced FDA clearance of the Dexcom G7 in the US.

Difference Between Dexcom G6 and Dexcom G7

There are a few notable differences between the Dexcom G6 version and the newest generation that has yet to hit the market. Here’s a summary that stuck out to us:

Sensor Life

The sensor life for the Dexcom G6 is 10 days. The Dexcom G7 will be 10 days plus a 12 hour grace period to change the site.

Sensor & Transmitter Insertion

Currently, the Dexcom G6 requires insertion of both a sensor and transmitter. While the insertion tool has made major improvements compared to the previous generation, the newest sensor will have both the sensor and transmitter integrated so you won’t need to remember to reorder a new transmitter battery every 3 months.

Accuracy

The MARD is based on the comparison between paired measurements of a given CGM system and comparison glucose measurement. In general, the lower the MARD score, the more accurate the CGM system will be. The Dexcom G6 scored a 9.0% while the Dexcom G7 scored a 8.2%, which is 0.8% lower. The Dexcom G7 will likely be the most accurate CGMs system once it is available.

Size

The Dexcom G7 is noticeably smaller than the Dexcom G6. The G7 is almost 60% smaller than the G6. The size difference can be helpful with site rotations especially with children who may have limited site options.

Warm Up Period

The Dexcom G6 has a 2-hour sensor warm up period while the Dexcom G7 will have a much quicker warm up period of only 30 minutes.

Integrations with Insulin Pumps

The Dexcom G6 currently is compatible with the Tandem t:slim x2 and Omnipod 5. The team at Dexcom is working towards having Dexcom G7 be compatible with these insulin pumps as well as having integrations with Bluetooth smart insulin pens for multiple daily injection users.

Dexcom Applications

Right now, Dexcom requires the use of the Dexcom App for blood glucose readings and the Dexcom Clarity App in order to generate helpful blood glucose reports. With the Dexcom G7, there are is said to be simplified integration between these two applications into one for a more user-friendly experience.

When will the Dexcom G7 be available?

There is no telling exactly when the roll out will reach each country. Right now, the predictions seem to be later in 2022 or possibly 2023.

When do you think Dexcom G7 will roll out?