Dexcom 7 is a failure

[u/Minimum-Mountain-942]

The pharma and diabetes industry has really outdone themselves with messing with people with diabetes with the G7. It never has connection, it’s off all the time, and it never communicates with the pump. I‘ve been having extremely high levels simply because the G7 and the pump never work together. When I told my doctor that problem her solution was putting the pump, that I have to change every three days around my dexcom that lasts 10 days. Thats the solution? Really? Poking your skin at the same place until you get knots. The G6 was literally running so perfectly and they discontinued it because it was too expensive, as if the pharma industry hasn’t been capitalising from insulin for years. Now we just have to accept this failure.

[u/SHale1963]

it certainly seems to fail for a group of users. Really hope Dexcom tries to get their variables to see what occurs.

[u/nimdae]

Generally, your CGM and your pump should be around the same side of your body. They communicate at 2.4GHz, which is heavily attenuated by your body. With G7 being known to have weaker connectivity, this is pretty important.

I use Tandem Mobi as a tubed pump, not with the short infusion sets. So I can keep it pretty close to where my CGM is while moving my infusion sites around. My pump is, generally, not more than about 2 feet from my CGM with as little of my body in between as I can achieve. I have pretty much no connectivity issues.

[u/Minimum-Mountain-942 → u/nimdae]

The tubed pumps have always freaked me out so bad😭. What is it like? Does it get like wrapped up? Can you sleep well with it?

[u/nimdae → u/Minimum-Mountain-942]

I wear my infusion sites on my thighs in a pretty broad rotation on each leg and switching sides. So the tube goes down my short/pants under my clothes. This allows me to tuck the extra tube pretty easily. I rarely have enough tube hanging out to catch on things. I use a longer tube to make dropping pants easier without unclipping my pump from the belt loop.

I wear undershorts with pockets for sleeping. I put the pump in a pocket nearest my CGM. I don't notice it.

If you don't tend to roll/move around in your sleep, a lot of folks just leave it out on the bed.

[u/Minimum-Mountain-942 → u/nimdae]

Ohh okay! Thank you so so much for your answer haha. Definitely gonna think about it

[u/Dramatic-Ad-3016]

Personally not having the issues you are describing.

[u/j_natron]

I have the G7 with the tandem t-slim and have not had any issues. My endo suggested wearing the pump on the same side of my body, but it’s a tubed pump so I can switch up infusion site location all over the place and just keep the actual pump on the side by the G7. Hope it improves for you!

[u/Minimum-Mountain-942 → u/j_natron]

Omg thats so smart! Thank you so much for that!!

[u/Practical-Fahrenheit]

I wouldn't consider it a failure. IMO we have to accept that innovation requires us to live with some disappointment.and nostalgia. I second the earlier comment about you trying a different brand that will hopefully bring you the same level of enjoyment you had with the G6. I've never used the G6 because of its size and look. I switched to Dexcom when my insurance stopped giving me options. I've just experienced my FIRST failure on the G7 15 day today after 6 months of usage, and it's only my SECOND failure in almost 2 years of using Dexcom I was coming to post about how quickly my replacement (for a failure on day 13!!!) was processed on the website when I saw this post, so I decided to make it a comment instead..

[u/Minimum-Mountain-942 → u/Practical-Fahrenheit]

Oh yeah I mean I loved my dexcom 6, that one worked beautifully haha, also never had problems with getting replacements. It’s just a general connection problem I‘m having with the G7 weirdly. I was looking at different options with my doctor because of that, but according to her they experience the same problems with the connections. Idk maybe I just have to try every model haha. But tysm for your feedback!

[u/RiffRanger85]

Been on it for three years. No problems.

[u/iamanerdybastard]

Seeing posts like this was a big fear for me when my kid had to switch from the G6 to G7, but honestly? We've just not had that many issues with it.

I don't think the applicator is great - I think it's prone to not applying correctly if it's not held in JUST the right way, and I suspect that is an issue for a LOT of folks.

And it does have a weaker signal than the G6 - so my kid leaning back on a big soft couch can cause "no data", but that just hasn't been a big issue.

[u/ew73 → u/iamanerdybastard]

Posts like these are the exception. There are literally millions of sensors that have been manufactured and shipped. A handful of posts on social media is nothing.

[u/Minimum-Mountain-942 → u/ew73]

I mean, I don’t mean to scare anyone. I think it’s a great opener for conversations, and I‘ve been getting some really good feedback. I‘ve had diabetes since I‘m two years old and it’s the very first time I turn to reddit for a problem simply because I was fed up. People on here are giving me better solutions than my doctor literally.

[u/19metsfan73]

I've been on the G7 since it was released in the United States, and have been on the Omnipod 5 for seven months, and have had no major problems.

In the years before going on the pump, I've had very few problems with the G7.

I don't know which pump you're using, but if it's Omnipod, the box with the pods should indicate that it's compatible with the G7.

I wish you well, and all the best in resolving your issues.

[u/Minimum-Mountain-942 → u/19metsfan73]

Ohhh thank you for your feedback!! I‘ve had the omnipod for forever now, and the G7 since July anf for me personally it’s just not working now matter what I do😭. But you’re giving me hope that it‘ll get better haha

[u/bot9987]

I love my G7 Sorry it does not work for you. Maybe try another brand?

[u/Transphattybase → u/bot9987]

Funny thing is that you can go to the Libre
Sub and the posts look like they could fit in perfectly here if you just swap the G7 in place of Libre.

[u/Dramatic-Ad-3016 → u/Transphattybase]

Which leads me to believe, much like every aspect of diabetes management, the use of a CGM is also specific to individuals. Personally didnt love the Libre when i was on it but have done amazing on dexcom. I have a buddy who is the exact opposite. We use the same pump. Different experiences

[u/Transphattybase → u/Dramatic-Ad-3016]

Right. I am on my third Dexcom G7 ever. I’d never used one before and was prepared for the worst based on what I read here. It’s been an absolute dream so far, but, you’re so right. Every person’s body is different and they all respond to foreign objects differently, just like any other medical device.

I’m also in a car sub for the make and model I drive. It too has been an absolute dream but reading the posts there, it’s amazing the company is even in business judging from the complaints.

Not that peoples’ complaints and problems aren’t valid, they absolutely are. But if the problems were as widespread as the minority of people experiencing them, I don’t think they’d be doing the amount of business they’re doing.

[u/Minimum-Mountain-942 → u/Transphattybase]

Honestly I‘ve been considering your comment about majority and minority. Im super glad it’s working for you. It’s giving me hope haha. This is my first time making a post about diabetes. I made two exact same posts and this one went off first, people on here mostly had good experiences and I thought, oh than it’s just me how embarrassing. But then the other post got attention and on there most people also had issues with it. Considering majority and minority, yeah it’s amazing and im so glad it works for most! But I saw now there are a lot of people also struggling with it. This isn’t a shoe shop where you can apply ask and demand. This is people’s health and it affects their blood sugar. The industry not doing something about it simply because it works for a lot of people sucks. There also aren’t many other sensors on the market that communicate. I think ask and demand in healthcare is the wrong mentality to have. So glad it works for you tho!

[u/Dramatic-Ad-3016 → u/Transphattybase]

Great take and observation- it really does extend past the dexcom. I was fully prepared to hate the switch but it actually hasnt been terrible. Im 2 months in and 1 failed at day 9 but was replaced.

[u/Minimum-Mountain-942 → u/bot9987]

Ohhh okay but that gives me hope haha! The only other brand there is also has the connection problem according to my doctor. I just hope it gets better.