Dexcom Stelo to be First Over-the-Counter CGM
Dexcom Stelo Set to Enhance Accessibility and Affordability of Glucose Monitoring: Dexcom has achieved a significant milestone in healthcare technology with the introduction of the Dexcom Stelo, the first continuous glucose monitor (CGM) in the U.S. that will be available without a prescription. This development is particularly notable as it targets a broad audience, including pre-diabetics and those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, who previously might not have qualified for CGM coverage under health insurance.
FDA Approval
Recently cleared by the FDA, the Dexcom Stelo is a more accessible version of the advanced Dexcom G7 but has been simplified to make it more cost-effective. Unlike its predecessor, Stelo does not include built-in alarms, a feature omitted to reduce costs and streamline the user experience.
Implications for Diabetes Management
The availability of Stelo marks a transformative step in diabetes management, especially for the millions of pre-diabetics in the U.S. These individuals can now gain critical insights into their blood glucose levels, helping them manage or potentially prevent the progression of diabetes. This over-the-counter model opens up new possibilities for users to monitor their health independently, fostering greater personal control over diabetes management.
Cost
While specific pricing details for Stelo have not been disclosed, Dexcom’s Chief Operating Officer, Jake Leach, shared with Wareable at CES 2024 that the goal is to make Stelo competitively priced. “I think most people figured for Stelo are going to be folks that are scared about diabetes progressing,” Leach explained. He emphasized the intention to offer a system that is not only more affordable but also more accurate, designed specifically for a demographic that is underrepresented in current CGM usage.
Dr. Tamara Oser, MD, a family physician, highlighted the empowerment that CGM devices like Stelo offer to individuals with diabetes. “Use of CGM can help empower people with diabetes to understand the impact of different foods and activity on their glucose values,” she noted. She also pointed out the significant advantage Stelo provides for those who are newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or not taking insulin, as these groups often do not receive insurance coverage for such devices.
The introduction of Stelo may also influence the broader CGM and health monitoring market. Services like Levels, Nutrisense, and January, which currently utilize devices like the Abbott FreeStyle Libre, may consider incorporating Stelo into their offerings. This integration could provide a less expensive alternative for users, potentially driving down overall costs within the industry.
Dexcom’s Stelo represents a pivotal innovation in the field of diabetes care, setting a new standard for accessibility and affordability in glucose monitoring. As the first over-the-counter CGM available in the U.S., Stelo not only offers crucial health monitoring capabilities to a wider audience but also encourages a shift in how diabetes management tools are perceived and utilized. With its potential to impact pricing in the broader market and its focus on user-friendly technology, Stelo is poised to make significant contributions to the management of diabetes.
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