Choosing the right glucose sensor
Use the comparison chart below to support the conversation on glucose monitoring systems and how they can help people better manage their diabetes. A printable worksheet is available here.
Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) Systems
Recommended as the standard of care for people managing type 1 diabetes to help improve glycemic outcomes and reduce the daily burden of diabetes management.3 As part of the AID system, a real-time CGM is connected to an insulin pump system which uses the glucose data to automate the increases, decreases, and suspension to basal insulin delivery to prevent/minimize hypo- and hyper- glycemia. Dexcom CGMs have been connecting to insulin pumps for over 13 years.
Predictive Urgent Low Soon alert‡
An alert that is unique to Dexcom CGMs. This feature can warn the user up to 20 minutes before a predicted hypoglycemia (glucose of 3.1mmol/L) so that action can be taken to avoid or minimize the effects of a low. This alert has been shown to reduce severe hypoglycemia by 40% while also reducing the effects of rebound hyperglycemia following corrective action to be back in range.2,3
Advanced custom alerts§
Customizing alerts can help the person living with diabetes stay in their target range. Dexcom G7 allows for more personalization with optional Alert Schedules (day/night, weekdays/weekends), Delay 1st high and rising/falling fast alerts. Alerts may also be customized by choice of sound, vibrate only or silenced when necessary.
Sensor warm-up time
The amount of time required between sensor application and when the CGM will show glucose readings. This can also be known as ‘down time’. For the Dexcom G7, the warm-up time starts automatically upon application.
Lifestyle considerations
With the Dexcom G7, every sensor comes with an optional overpatch, multiple wear locations and is waterproof for all types of summer and water activities.
Multiple connectivity
With the Dexcom G7, you are able to connect up to 3 different devices:
- compatible smart device††
- Dexcom G7 receiver, wearable like the Garmin or Apple Watch††
- compatible insulin pump for an Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system
For those with an Apple Watch,|| the user can directly pair the sensor to their watch, enabling them to leave their phone at home.
Interfering substances
Ascorbic acid is vitamin C and found in many fortified foods and common supplements. Hydroxyurea is used in medication including treatment for some cancers.
MARD; Mean Absolute Relative Difference (MARD) is a statistical measure of accuracy.
* Measured on back of the upper arm.
† Percentage of sensor readings that fall within +/-1.1 mmol/L of the Yellow Springs Instrument (YSI) blood glucose values <3.9 mmol/L and within +/- 20% of YSI blood glucose values ≥3.9 mmol/L.
‡ This predictive alert can be triggered with impending hypoglycemia (glucose of 3.1 mmol/L or below is predicted to occur within the next 20 minutes).
§ Additional optional alerts include delay 1st (high) alert, rising fast, falling fast, night time settings, Urgent low alarm.
|| Directly connect the sensor to the Apple watch. Users can go phone-free and still see their glucose/get alerts. Compatible smartphone is required to pair a new Dexcom G7 sensor with a compatible Apple Watch. To use Share/Follow your compatible Apple Watch must be connected to the internet via Wi-fi.
¶ Once connected to Apple Health or Google Health Connect.
# Warm-up time starts immediately on application.
** Abdomen may only be used in non-pregnant individuals.
†† Smart devices sold separately. For a list of compatible devices, please visit dexcom.com/compatibility.
‡‡ Healthcare providers will only be able to view a user’s glucose data if the user elects to share it with them through Dexcom Clarity.
1 Dexcom G7 User Guide.
2 FreeStyle Libre 3 Flash Glucose Monitoring System Users Manual, 2025.
3 Halperin I, et al. Can J Diabetes. 2025;49:5-18.
4 Puhr S,et al. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2019;21(4):155-158.
5 Acciaroli G, et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2022;16(3):677-682. Dexcom, Dexcom G7, Dexcom Follow and Dexcom Clarity are registered trademarks of Dexcom, Inc. in the U.S., and may be registered in other countries.