How Can I Upload Dexcom 5 Data From My Phone?

By Adam Brown and Kelly Close

Twitter summary: Dexcom G5 CGM: expands options for viewing data (app, receiver, both), customizable alarms, meliorate data analysis, maintains leading accurateness

Five years agone, the concept of Dexcom's G5 system seemed utterly impossible. Sending continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data from a sensor on the body straight to a phone – no receiver required? The FDA would never approve information technology!

Well, what seemed incommunicable v years ago is now available. G5 takes the aforementioned accurate G4 continuous glucose sensor, adds Bluetooth to a new on-torso transmitter, and introduces a new iPhone/iPod Impact app for viewing the existent-time data and getting notifications on the phone. The data can also be viewed on a CGM receiver lone (e.g., for those with an Android phone).

Dexcom'due south G5 is a landmark device approval for the FDA, and a sign of how tremendously far CGM and connectivity take come since Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone in 2007 (nosotros were using the first-gen Dexcom STS!). But expectations have too risen markedly in that time. In much of the U.s., people now expect things to work correct out of the box with a earth-course user experience. Attention spans are way shorter. The bar for dandy devices is far college.

The G5 has many advantages. It expands patient options for viewing existent-time CGM information (phone or receiver or both) and takes advantage of the smartphone's many assets to evangelize a stronger patient experience (more customizable alarms, ameliorate screen, cloud connection). The web-based Dexcom Clarity software is an excellent upgrade for those trying to assimilate overwhelming CGM charts and statistics. And chiefly, G5 retains the G4 Platinum sensor accuracy and the widely praised receiver pattern.

But for others, G5 is a symbol of the complicated and tumultuous time we live in. As phones and gadgets get more useful and more addictive, many are pushing back – "spend less time in front of screens and more than time in the world." If my Dexcom G5 app goes off in the middle of a meeting, will my co-workers remember I'm rude to look at my telephone? Is it okay to have my telephone in the bedroom? If I trust my phone with my life, what do I practise when the battery dies in the middle of a hike?

The G5 is an ambitious and strong foray into an incredibly challenging area: merging a high-risk medical device with cut-edge consumer electronics. Dexcom deserves tremendous credit for getting it canonical and launched quickly.

This is a long test bulldoze, so nosotros've created a Summary section below for those who want the virtually critical takeaways: major highlights; areas for improvement; who might love G5; and who might exist less impressed. Those interested in a very detailed review should read on to the Deep Dive section.

Summary

G5 Highlights

• Expanded options for viewing real-fourth dimension CGM data – phone, receiver, or both. Switching between devices is effortless, and you tin can calibrate on either device and the other will update.

• More customizable alarms on the G5 app – 22 unlike sounds, more volume options than the receiver.

• Improved visual design – a more than prominent CGM value in the app, bold colors, the font is easier to read.

• Strong web-based Clarity analysis software with easy upload, better pattern recognition, and more digestible charts and statistics.

• G5 posts glucose data to Apple Health, assuasive other apps like Glooko, Meal Memory, and I Drib to use it (very few diabetes devices do this).

• It retains the excellent accurateness and reliability of the G4 Platinum with Software 505 (ix% error vs. laboratory blood glucose values).

• Keeps the widely praised G4 receiver pattern, updated with a brighter screen and more specific depression and high warning notifications.

• Retains the Dexcom Share characteristic for remote monitoring.

• Fast setup passed our no-instruction-manual test.

G5 - Areas for Improvement

• Low glanceability when using G5 app alone – seeing the current CGM value requires unlocking the phone and pulling the app up. Could benefit from a "Today" widget (like seeing the weather with just 1 swipe on the lock screen) or smart watch compatibility (presumably coming soon).

• Not Android compatible, but this is coming in 2016 (and a receiver option is still available for now).

• The G5 app depletes phone battery slightly faster than if yous were not using it. It does work in Airplane and Low Power Mode.

• The G5 transmitter range seems shorter than the G4, and the telephone app loses signal a bit more often than the receiver.

• At that place are no statistics or pattern recognition within the G5 app, and the separate Clarity iPhone app simply allows viewing a static PDF (full functionality on the web).

• The transmitter is slightly larger than the most contempo G4 transmitter, and has a labeled battery life of 3 months (down from 6 months with the G4).

• The three-hour delay to mail service data to Apple Health could be reduced (this is an FDA issue).

• Cost, particularly for those without insurance or loftier deductibles.

Dexcom told us information technology is actively working on these improvements, or is because them for hereafter products – nigh are not simple or they would have been washed already!

Who might love G5?

• Dexcom users who prefer not to carry the receiver, or those resisting CGM because they don't want to bear another device.

• Heavy sleepers that don't wake up to CGM alarms.

• Very agile users who don't like carrying the receiver during practise.

• CGM users desiring more alert customizability.

• Those who want more discretion (e.g., annoyed by questions about the receiver like, "Is that a pager?")

• Parents, caregivers, and loved ones that want to remotely monitor CGM data.

• Those who have trouble reading the pocket-sized font on the receiver.

• Those who desire automatic data upload for analysis and pattern recognition.

• Anyone that loves apps and nerds out on data!

Who might be unimpressed with the boosted benefits of G5 vs. G4?

• Those trying to spend less time on their phone or who observe smartphones stressful.

• Those who struggle to keep their phone charged.

• Android users (until 2016).

• Current Dexcom users who don't care almost getting CGM information on their phone.

• Current Animas Vibe and t:slim G4 users that are happy with the G4-integrated pumps.

• Non-CGM users that: desire something smaller on the body than the G4/G5 transmitter; discover CGM besides expensive; or want a device that requires no fingerstick calibrations.

Deep Dive

Tabular array of Contents:

• What is G5 and How Does it Work?

• The G5 iPhone App

• G5 Daily App Interaction, Alarms, and Customization

• G5 Transmitter

• G5 Receiver

• Sensor Accurateness and Calibration

• Dexcom Clarity (spider web-based assay software)

• Apple Health

• What Does it Toll?

• Our G5 Wishlist

• What is Next for Dexcom?

• Concluding Thoughts

What is G5 and How Does it Piece of work?

Dexcom's G5 CGM system has four main components:

1. The same G4 Platinum CGM sensor inserted under the skin for 7 days. Information technology requires two fingerstick meter calibrations per day and has an industry-leading nine% error vs. lab-measured glucose values.

2. A new transmitter equipped with Bluetooth that sends a glucose value every five minutes. The transmitter pairs with ii devices, allowing you to choose how you want to see your CGM information: receiver lone, G5 phone app lone, or both.

3. A new G5 iPhone/iPod Touch app that (i) displays the existent-time CGM information and trend; (ii) alarms the user with sounds and notifications; and (iii) sends the information to caregivers (Share), the new web-based Dexcom Clarity analysis software, and Apple Health. The app functions on the phone as a fully standalone receiver. It is a free download on the App Store.

4. A slightly updated G4 receiver that can display the CGM data alongside or independent of the G5 app (e.g., if y'all don't accept your phone with you, for Android users). You must buy the receiver when you get G5, just y'all don't have to use it. Those who ain the G4 Share receiver can update the software to work with G5.

Setting up G5 took less than 10 minutes, and we did not need to open the newspaper instruction manual in one case. Later downloading the G5 app from the iTunes app store, nosotros made a Dexcom account and ran through the easy guided setup screens. Instead of having to enter a clunky transmitter serial number, the app simply asks you to take a picture of the box – very absurd. From there, the G5 app Bluetooth paired with the G5 transmitter within v minutes.

Electric current Dexcom users will be familiar with the remainder. Later inserting a sensor and snapping the G5 transmitter in, you simply press "Start Sensor" on the app. G5 still needs a two-hr warm-up, and then it asks for two start-upwardly fingerstick calibrations. You can offset a sensor session on either the app or the receiver; the other brandish will update within a few minutes.

The G5 iPhone App

Highlights

• Current CGM value shown forepart-and-eye in larger font.

• First-class utilize of colour.

• The clean carte du jour layout includes the essentials and doesn't bog users downwards with besides many options.

The G5 app communicates via Bluetooth with the transmitter every five minutes, at which signal it updates the CGM value, graph, tendency arrow, and sends a notification (if applicable; more on that below).

The benefit of the phone over the receiver is immediately apparent after opening the G5 app. A larger screen area shows the CGM value more than prominently – if the G4 receiver showed the CGM value in size ~12 font, this is size ~36 font on an iPhone 5. It'south a big improvement, since existent-time CGM should prioritize "What'due south my current number and trend" above all else.

Color is much better used in the G5 app, and Dexcom has redesigned the fashion the CGM value and trend arrows announced – a cerise airship denotes a depression, a yellow balloon denotes a high, and a muted gray means in-range. The arrows wrap effectually the balloons, a design selection that makes the trend less apparent than with G4 (where the pointer appeared separately to the right of the CGM value; run across flick). We like that G5 changes the graph background color dynamically, providing a bolder visual reminder that blood glucose is low or high.

The phone app was a bit less reliable than the receiver connectivity-wise. In our tests, the G5 app had more "signal lost" alerts and isolated dropped data points throughout the 24-hour interval. That said, the G5 app connectivity is definitely reliable plenty to use every bit the sole receiver. And perhaps our feel stemmed from lots of Bluetooth interference here in San Francisco.

G5 can deplete your phone battery slightly more quickly than if y'all were not using information technology at all, and then beware if your phone tends to die in the center of the mean solar day. Fortunately, the G5 app volition continue giving you lot real-fourth dimension data in Airplane Mode and Low Power Manner, both excellent options for extending the iPhone's bombardment life.

The G5 app menu structure is elementary and in that location is goose egg unnecessary or overwhelming. Too the main home screen (described to a higher place), there are three other master screens: enter a meter calibration, enter "Events," and Dexcom Share. A few highlights:

• Fingerstick calibrations tin can at present exist entered using a keypad, saving time over the previous scroll interface on the receiver.

• The events screen – allowing manual entry of carb grams, exercise, insulin, and wellness – demands enough extra steps that it'south hard to use routinely. This could exist automated if Dexcom somewhen integrates with other apps and devices.

• G5 preserves remote monitoring with Dexcom Share, allowing parents and caregivers to receive notifications on Apple or Android devices (via Dexcom Follow). G5 users now won't demand to run the Share app.

Interface wise, there is still some wasted white infinite on the main trend graph screen in the G5 app, though at to the lowest degree you can reduce the pinnacle-end to 300 mg/dl. It would be nice if this graph was fully customizable (e.grand., y'all could drag the alert confined to signal how much space you desire the hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia ranges to take up).

There is likewise no way to view statistics or trends within the G5 app (unlike the FreeStyle Libre reader). You must either open the separate Clarity iPhone app to view a static PDF, or log onto the web-based Clarity software (see below) for total functionality. Both are easy but information technology is an extra stride. According to Dexcom, making the assay software separate from the G5 app actually made the regulatory process easier (i.e., Clarity is lower risk). That should hopefully event in faster improvements to the software.

G5 Daily App Interaction, Alarms, and Customization

Highlights

• Alarms are much more customizable and can be louder than receiver.

• Notifications announced on the lock screen, one swipe and phone unlock to become direct to the G5 app.

The G5 app runs in the background, significant y'all can use other apps at the same time or have the phone locked. If the app is fully exited you will not receive CGM data or alerts, though you will get an immediate notification ("App is closed. Y'all volition not receive glucose data.")

Unlike the receiver - which requires pushing one button to see the current CGM value – the G5 app requires you to unlock your telephone and so bring the G5 app on screen. The glanceability could improve with a "Today" widget that enables a single downwards swipe on the lock screen to see the CGM value and trend graph (e.k., similar weather or calendar). We assume Dexcom will eventually release an Apple Lookout version of G5 too. Unlocking the telephone and pulling upward the app only takes a couple seconds, only it does add upwards, and it is more inconvenient than the receiver.

• A workaround is to disable your telephone's passcode, simply that has its own drawbacks.

• Yous tin can also use Siri and say, "Open up G5 app," though you'll nonetheless have to enter your passcode if you have 1. (Hint: Siri hears "Dexcom" as "Decks COM," and so stick with "G5 app").

When glucose goes above or below range, a notification conveniently appears on the iPhone lock screen – for example, "Low glucose alert." The notification does not show the actual CGM value or trend arrow, though a right swipe and phone unlock volition immediately pull up the Dexcom G5 app with the popular-upwards alert.

Notifications tin can be accompanied with a audio like on the receiver, assuming:

• The phone ringer is on and loud enough to hear.

• The phone is not on vibrate (silent) or "do not disturb."

Of course, you can likewise opt for vibration alerts alone.

Like any other iPhone app, the notification settings and sounds are customizable, which has pros and cons. On the plus side, the iPhone tin can be louder than the receiver alarms, and upward to 22 different sounds can be selected for the loftier and low alerts (including the original G4 receiver sounds). Adam initially selected "Sonar Horn" for his low warning, but when his colleagues jumped out of their chairs and thought it was a fire drill, he opted for the same low alarm as on the receiver. Cull your sounds carefully!

Customizing audio preferences does take some footling on the iPhone. Adam usually keeps his telephone on silent or "exercise non disturb," so turning the ringer on was non something he was excited to do. But he still wanted the Dexcom audio alerts, so here was his workaround:

• Turn ringer on.

• Go into "Notifications" settings and turn off audio alerts for every app except Dexcom.

• Go into "Sounds" settings and plough off audio alerts for text messages, calendar, postal service, social media, etc. Adam fix these to vibrate or off completely.

This is a skilful manner to duplicate the receiver'south audio functions, just to minimize the cacophony from other random phone notifications. Obviously, G5 app notifications can be turned off or ready to vibrate at any fourth dimension.

It tin be easier to wake upwards to alarms at night with G5, since the iPhone sounds are much louder and more varied than on the receiver. G5 will piece of work on aeroplane mode (though Share won't work), offering a good dark option to minimize notifications and keep the phone in the aforementioned room.

G5 Transmitter

Highlights

• The transmitter pairs with ii devices (telephone and receiver), which tin be used independently, together, and seamlessly swapped.

The transmitter is really the hub of G5: it broadcasts the sensor signal via Bluetooth and allows both the phone and receiver to independently pick it up. You can enter a fingerstick calibration on the telephone or app, and the other device will update automatically within a few minutes.

Fortunately, you don't accept to tell the telephone or receiver which one you are going to use at whatever given time. The transmitter sends out a new point every five minutes, meaning each device will independently choice the indicate up if information technology is in range. This allows switching betwixt displays effortlessly.

On the downside, the G5 transmitter range seems shorter than on the G4. While G4 had a 20+ foot range in our feel, we got more than of a 5-ten pes range with G5. G5 cannot transmit through multiple floors of a business firm, while G4 generally could. The G5 phone app drops the bespeak more than oftentimes than the receiver, just it doesn't happen overwhelmingly often. And usually it is just one or two data points.

The G5 transmitter is the same size as the original G4 Platinum transmitter. That is smaller than we would have guessed, given the addition of Bluetooth and the ability to pair with two devices. A downside to the new transmitter is a battery life of three months, downwards from six months for the G4 Platinum. The G4 transmitter generally lasted longer than six months, and then perhaps G5 will too.

Nosotros'd note that the transmitter sends data in real-time and does not save any glucose history. In other words, information technology cannot backfill missing data when both displays are out of range. For example, if you leave both the receiver and phone at home and go for a run, the data is completely lost. This is an issue for those limited cases when you don't have either the telephone or receiver in-range, only actually want to gather the glucose data during that time (exercise is the obvious one)

G5 Receiver

Highlights

• White background screen is easier to read.

• Better use of color and notifications actually show the current glucose value and trend arrow instead of a generic low or high alert.

For those familiar with the G4 receiver, the new G5 receiver won't experience much unlike. Dexcom has primarily fabricated some user interface tweaks: (i) the groundwork screen is at present white, making it much easier to read (ii) the receiver shows colored banners across the top to indicate a depression or high (instead of a colored number on a black groundwork); (three) high or depression pop-upwards notifications really show the current glucose value and trend (Depression – 77 mg/dl > ) instead of only a generic message (LOW).

The receiver still has outstanding battery life (lasting at least a few days on a single charge), and the size is still MP3-similar (great for a pocket or purse). The alarm settings, profiles, and volume are identical to the G4 receiver.

Like the G5 app, in that location is still a lot of wasted white space on the main tendency graph screen, and yous cannot become statistics or design recognition on the receiver itself. On a positive note, Dexcom Clarity automatically detects a plugged in receiver (via a Mac or PC software tool), so uploading information and viewing stats takes less than one infinitesimal on a computer.

Those using the G4 Receiver with Share tin can update the software to make their electric current receiver talk to the G5 transmitter.

Sensor Accuracy and Calibration

Highlights

• Retains the first-class G4 Platinum accuracy and reliability – an boilerplate 9% mistake versus laboratory claret glucose values.

G5 uses the same G4 Platinum sensor and includes the updated Software 505 algorithm. This gives G5 an average 9% error vs. laboratory blood glucose values – for context, if your blood sugar is 100 mg/dl on average, that means G5 will be off from your existent blood glucose value by ~9 mg/dl on boilerplate. This is the all-time accurateness of any CGM available (on average), though everyone experiences different results. Dexcom believes this accurateness approaches glucose meters; we would agree in our experience.

Like G4, G5 asks for two calibrations per day. The most of import calibrations are the starting time few. It'due south crucial to wash hands and really take two individual fingersticks at start-upwards – meters are less accurate than we all believe!

G5 is notwithstanding non canonical for dosing insulin in the U.s.a. (it is in Europe), only many patients exercise this in the real globe as they proceeds trust. Adam has built enough confidence in G4 and G5 that he ofttimes only tests ii times per day (once in the morning time and one time at night). He tests more than ofttimes on day one of a sensor (when accurateness is the worst), if he doesn't believe the CGM value, or if he is well-nigh to have a large correction dose of insulin.

Dexcom Clarity (web-based analysis software)

Highlights

• Outstanding design recognition, critical statistics, and colorful graphs to place problem times.

• Makes CGM information more approachable, simply allows for customization in the correct places.

• Data running through G5 app posts automatically to Clarity; the uploader is PC and Mac compatible and automatically detects receiver.

• "Best Glucose Twenty-four hour period" study.

Adam is addicted to Dexcom Clarity, the new web-based analysis software (gratis) that launched with G5 and also works with the G4 receiver. If you're running the G5 app, CGM automatically posts to Clarity with a iv-hr delay. Otherwise, y'all can download the PC and Mac uniform uploader, which sits in the background on your computer, auto-detects the receiver within seconds, and uploads the data in ~20 seconds.

The spider web version of Clarity revolves around only 4 screens and is focused on identifying problem areas (When am I going low or high?) and keeping things approachable. Every screen allows for customizing the date range, though it defaults to two weeks and can't display more than xxx days of data at a fourth dimension.

The "Overview" screen is a terrific one-page snapshot of key information – within 60 seconds you can reply, "Where am I having problem?" This page shows an estimated A1c, average blood glucose, hypoglycemia risk (depression, medium, high), time-in-range, calibrations per 24-hour interval, and any identified patterns.

"Patterns" gives a deeper dive on the times of twenty-four hour period when glucose was consistently in a higher place or below target, and Clarity shows the days of CGM traces that make up a particular pattern. The software also identifies your "all-time glucose day," a nice focus on the underappreciated positive side of diabetes. This screen also gives "possible considerations" based on the pattern, but they are besides generic to be actionable.

The "Information" page shows a single CGM graph with error bars to bespeak times of day with lots of variability. The use of color and the error bars makes information technology articulate what times of solar day are a problem. You tin can also thumb through daily CGM traces, and Clarity will add "event" markers entered into G5, such as logged grams of carbs, exercise, and insulin doses. It'due south currently not easy plenty for Adam to regularly add events, but perchance futurity app integrations will amend this experience.

"Compare" shows 2 periods of time side-by-side each other. This is useful to see the touch a particular alter has had on your diabetes – e.chiliad., eating lower carb for a week, exercising more often over two weeks.

Dexcom does accept a Clarity iPhone app, though it only allows viewing a PDF of the past two weeks of data, which will be absent unless you've uploaded the receiver or are using the G5 app. It would be nice if more Clarity functionality was available in the iPhone app, though it is not a tremendous hassle to open the website. The Clarity app seems ideal as an on-the-go choice for appointments with a provider.

Apple tree Health

The G5 app automatically posts data to Apple Health, assuasive other diabetes apps like Glooko, Meal Retention, and Ane Driblet to access it (probably mySugr too in the future). This is the idea of a diabetes "ecosystem of apps" targeted to specific needs and patient preferences. Imagine apps for meals, for practice, for deeper CGM analysis, for social networking, or anything else. That is the promise of Apple Health.

The i downside is G5 posts data to Apple tree Health with a three-hour delay, pregnant other apps cannot offering existent-time benefits. This delay stems from how the FDA defines historical ("retrospective") data; possibly it will decrease in the future.

What Does it Toll?

The best answer is to talk to Dexcom, since insurance varies past company and plan. Most US private insurance companies (east.g., United, Aetna, Humana, Anthem, Cigna) cover CGM, though requirements, co-insurance, and deductibles vary widely. Medicare does not cover personal CGM, but this volition hopefully change. Many European countries are at present paying for CGM, but again, it varies beyond the board.

If you don't have insurance, CGM is expensive, probably running a few g dollars per year.

The G5 pricing model is like to G4: an upfront price to get the starter kit, which includes the receiver, a transmitter, and 4 sensors. The G5 app is free. Ongoing costs include transmitters (up to four per twelvemonth, though might be less in practice) and seven-day sensors. Dexcom has not disclosed what each component costs.

Nosotros hope CGM gets less expensive over time, particularly if more than patients tin can pay a pharmacy co-pay for sensors (similar to picking upwards a drug).

Our G5 Wishlist

App

• Make it easier and faster to see existent-time CGM values and trends on the phone: (i) add a Today widget; (ii) add smart scout compatibility; (three) show actual CGM values and trends on the lock screen notifications.

• Android compatibility (reportedly coming in 2016).

• Add together statistics within the G5 app, or build out the Clarity iPhone app with more functionality.

• Enable users to accept a picture of a meal instead of merely manually logging the carbs in Events.

• Improve Events logging by integrating with other apps and devices (Fitbit, Strava, LoseIt!, myfitnesspal).

• Allow customization of the trend graph to prevent wasted white infinite. Can the scale be modified to devote larger areas of the screen to hypoglycemia and in-range?

• Reduce the three-hr fourth dimension-delay to post data to Apple Health (this is an FDA event).

• Add an insulin-dosing calculator that uses the CGM value, trend arrow, and planned carb intake.

Transmitter

• Amend the indicate reliability between the transmitter and the G5 telephone app.

• Increment indicate range.

• Reduce transmitter size and extend the battery life beyond three months.

• Enable some data back-filling – could the transmitter store the final 30 minutes of data?

System

• Make information technology less expensive.

• Obtain FDA approval to dose insulin without a confirmatory fingerstick (the G5 already has this approval in Europe).

• Factory scale (no fingersticks).

Dexcom told u.s.a. information technology is actively working on these improvements, or is considering them for hereafter products – almost are not simple or they would take been done already!

What Is Side by side for Dexcom?

• Android G5 – 2016

• FDA approval for insulin dosing off CGM – 2016

• G5 pump integrations (Tandem, Insulet, Animas, and Bigfoot Biomedical) – tardily 2016 at the very earliest

• G6 – 2017 (one calibration per mean solar day, with fewer expected over time)

• Smaller transmitters and a new receiver – In development

• Google/Dexcom dispensable sensor – 2017-2018+

Last Thoughts

We're excited that the G5 has arrived – earlier than expected – and we're obvious fans, unsurprising since we both started wearing CGM many years ago. It'southward great to see how fast Dexcom is moving, a company with aggressive goals and stiff leadership. We can't wait to see what's next!

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Source: https://diatribe.org/dexcom-g5-mobile-cgm-your-phone-receiver-optional

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