The Stelo steady glucose monitor (CGM) is now on the market; it’s the first over-the-counter CGM accessible in the USA. Made by Dexcom, Stelo goals to supply an inexpensive and accessible choice for individuals with prediabetes and kind 2 diabetes who don’t use insulin.
Like different CGMs, the Stelo attaches to the pores and skin and samples blood sugar ranges across the clock, routinely sending the information to a smartphone. It could present an unmatched alternative to grasp how way of life choices like meals and train instantly affect blood sugar concentrations.
Right here’s a better take a look at the Stelo, with insights from Jake Leach, Chief Working Officer at Dexcom.
The Worth of CGM Information
At this time, most insurance coverage firms are reluctant to reimburse the price of a CGM for individuals who don’t use insulin. However CGM knowledge for these with prediabetes or sort 2 diabetes can nonetheless be actually useful.
“We have already got the proof on the advantages of CGM in sort 1 diabetes,” defined Leach. “We all know it improves time-in-range and reduces A1C ranges. We all know it may do the identical for individuals with prediabetes and kind 2 who aren’t utilizing insulin.”
CGM knowledge in sort 2 diabetes has demonstrated the identical advantages plus lowered general medical prices — fewer journeys to the emergency room, fewer general dependence on the hospital system, and extra motivation to take medicines as prescribed.
Analysis additionally confirmed important enhancements in A1C ranges when individuals with sort 2 diabetes use a CGM with non-insulin diabetes medicines in comparison with medicines alone.
Leach explains these constructive ends in a method that most individuals with diabetes ought to be capable to perceive: When an individual can see the affect of their medicines and way of life habits, it may change their behaviors.
An individual with prediabetes, for instance, will inevitably be extra motivated to make adjustments in what they eat or drink if they’ll watch their blood sugar spike after consuming a bottle of soda daily with lunch. And somebody with sort 2 diabetes is significantly extra more likely to proceed taking their glucose-lowering medicines if they’ll see the real-time affect it has on their blood sugar ranges.
There are practically 140 million individuals throughout the nation with diabetes or prediabetes. “The Stelo is a superb instrument to assist them perceive their way of life habits and the place they’ll make adjustments. We’ve all been informed what it is best to do, however while you really see your individual knowledge, it actually exhibits you what’s occurring,” mentioned Leach.
The information can provide priceless motivation.
“We’ve seen that one hundred pc of customers make adjustments to their food plan due to CGM knowledge,” mentioned Leach. “It’s customized, real-time knowledge that connects the dots between what you eat and the way it impacts your blood sugar. It reinforces wholesome habits.”
Meet the Stelo CGM
Listed here are the fast information you should know concerning the Stelo CGM — and why it’s most likely not superb for individuals who take insulin.
Primary Particulars:
- Is concerning the dimension of three stacked quarters — identical because the Dexcom G7
- Attaches to the pores and skin of the higher arm
- Delivers real-time blood glucose knowledge by way of Bluetooth to the app in your smartphone
- Measures glucose ranges each quarter-hour
- Is wearable for as much as 15 days
- May be inserted simply at house with none coaching
- Is waterproof
Stelo is offered over-the-counter, no prescription mandatory. Anybody with or with out diabetes should purchase one. As of this writing, it prices $99 for a pack of two (one month’s price) when bought on-line immediately from Dexcom. A subscription plan presents two Stelo sensors for $89.
Stelo Differs from Earlier Dexcom Fashions
The most important distinction between Stelo and the Dexcom G7 is that Stelo doesn’t sound alarms for prime or low blood sugar values. Individuals who don’t use insulin (or sure glucose-lowering medicine, reminiscent of sulfonylureas) solely hardly ever encounter a hazard of critically excessive or low blood sugar ranges, so this characteristic is essentially pointless for Stelo’s meant prospects.
This distinction additionally makes Stelo inappropriate for individuals with diabetes who do use insulin. For those who take insulin, your blood sugar can fluctuate extra typically, simply, and dramatically.
As a substitute, Stelo presents a brand new “spike detection” characteristic. This CGM learns what occasions of day your blood sugar tends to considerably spike. The app will ask you what you ate or drank earlier than that spike.
“This characteristic is exclusive to the Stelo,” defined Leach. “It’s actually making an attempt to have interaction the individual within the affect of their choices round what they eat or drink, serving to them perceive what brought about the spike,” defined Leach.
Understanding the trigger creates a chance to make completely different selections. Stelo has the potential to empower easy however impactful adjustments in what an individual eats or drinks because of the within take a look at blood glucose ranges.
One other Over-the-Counter Possibility is Coming Quickly
Stelo will be the first over-the-counter CGM accessible in the USA, however Dexcom’s greatest competitor, Abbott Laboratories, is shut on their heels. Abbott lately obtained FDA clearance to promote two over-the-counter CGMs, the Libre Lingo and Libre Rio — with the official launch deliberate for this month, September 2024.
That’s excellent news for individuals with diabetes. With quickly rising charges of weight problems, prediabetes, and diabetes, extra choices imply extra entry to this doubtlessly life-changing know-how.
“We hope to see that the Stelo has made an affect on the rising charges of weight problems and kind 2 diabetes,” says Leach. “Hopefully Stelo can curb these numbers and alter the curve.”
