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Diabetes Device Choices

This is a personalized report of your diabetes device recommendations and choices. This report is a guide not a clinical recommendation. It's a guide based on your input, the best advice from Standford and the first hand knowledge of the T1 Community at DiabetesWise.org.

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Share your top 3 device combos with your friends, family, or diabetes care providers to get their advice or support. Or, send it to yourself for future reference!

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Disclaimer: All prices are in USD and are estimates only.

Overview

Sensor & Injections

Dexcom G7 & Medtronic InPen

Dexcom G7+Pen

If you don't like having more than one device on your body but want glucose data at a glance, the Dexcom sensor can be used with the Medtronic InPen to track blood sugar on a smartphone.

Sensor & Smart Pump

Beta Bionics iLet

iLet

The Beta Bionics iLet system determines 100% of all insulin doses and requires very little input from the user.

  • iLet Pump + Dexcom Sensor 

Priority: Overall

Overall

Next Steps Next Steps

You're going to do great on the devices you choose

1.
Talk to your provider

Talk to your provider to get a prescription. Advocate for yourself with a list of reasons why you believe it is best for your lifestyle.

2.
Call the device companies

Talk to the device companies about the device you want and if your insurance will cover it. They can help with this.

3.
Call your insurance

Many insurance companies require documentation of different qualifications before approving diabetes device coverage. every insurance company is different but some common qualifications include checking your blood sugar 4-6 times per day or having frequent low blood sugars. Understanding what qualifications are necessary for device coverage before starting the approval process can make things a lot easier.

Visit https://study.diabeteswise.org/resources/getting-treatment/qualify-for-insurance/ for more resources.

Questions for your Doctor

Dexcom G7 & Medtronic InPen

Can I try this before I commit to it?

A lot of provider offices have sample devices you can touch and feel to get a sense of how they work. Some offices even have a trial device you can use for week to see how it works for you.

Beta Bionics iLet

More on how to Talk to your Doctor

Questions for your insurance

Many insurance companies require documentation of different qualifications before approving diabetes device coverage. Every insurance company is different, but some common qualifications include checking your blood sugar 4-6 times per day or having frequent low blood sugars. Understanding what qualifications are necessary for device coverage before starting the approval process can make things a lot easier.

Get the Guide for Talking to your Insurance

Talk to the device companies

Dexcom G7

Call Dexcom and ask them about your coverage. Talk to your Doctor to get a prescription.

1-888-738 3646 Dexcom Website

Medtronic InPen

Call Medtronic and ask them about your coverage. Talk to your Doctor to get a prescription.

1-888-350-5440 Medtronic Website

Dexcom G6

Call Dexcom and ask them about your coverage. Talk to your Doctor to get a prescription.

1-888-738 3646 Dexcom Website

Additional Resources

By Priorities

Active Lifestyle Active Lifestyle

Sensor Share feature allows someone else to keep an eye on your blood sugar from the sidelines
Can use sensor trends for dose adjustment
Unable to suspend insulin
Tubed pumps have the most infusion sets to pick from
Pump is watertight

Avoiding Highs and Lows Avoiding Highs and Lows

Custom alerts can be set for highs, lows, and rapidly rising or falling glucose levels
Syringes and pens limit your ability to adjust insulin throughout the day
Custom alerts can be set for highs, lows, and rapidly rising or falling glucose levels
You cannot give a correction dose of insulin
You cannot give additional insulin boluses when your blood glucose levels are high
Your blood glucose levels could rise above 250 mg/dl after Meal Announcement

Comfort Comfort

Have to carry pens and pen needles
Low profile/low maintenance sensor
Shortest sensor warm-up time
Sensor and transmitter are one piece
Have to carry supplies
Requires fewer parts than do-it-yourself systems

Easy Insulin Dosing Easy Insulin Dosing

More precise dosing than syringes
Can use sensor trends for dose adjustment
No carb counting required
Software makes most dosing decisions for you
You cannot program any insulin settings (no basal rates, correction factors or carb ratios)
You cannot enter carbohydrates into a bolus calculator or determine the amount of insulin to give for a meal.

Easy to Use Easy to Use

Pens are faster and easier to use than syringes
12-hour grace period allows you to swap sensors when convenient for you
Very little info required for set up
You cannot change how the iLet is automating insulin delivery.

Fewer Fingersticks Fewer Fingersticks

Factory-calibrated sensor: fingersticks needed for backup only
Factory-calibrated sensor: fingersticks needed for backup only

Privacy Privacy

Ability to check sugar on phone or watch
Pens are low profile
Alerts
Small sensor
Lowest profile sensor
Ability to check sugar on phone or watch
Touchscreen of pump looks like normal tech device

Cost & Coverage

Dexcom G7

Dexcom G7

Dexcom G6

Dexcom G6

Glucose Testing Supplies

Sensors

Receiver (1-time purchase) - not required 

Sensors

Transmitter

Receiver (1 time purchase)

Glucose Testing Cost Estimate

Startup $80 to $239

Monthly less than $40

These prices vary by Insurance. It may be covered under durable medical goods or a pharmacy benefit.

Startup $80 to $239

Monthly $35 to $105

These prices vary by Insurance. Many insurers support the G6 Dexcom. It may be covered under durable medical goods or a pharmacy benefit.

Medtronic InPen

Medtronic InPen

Insulin Dosing Supplies

Insulin Dosing Cost Estimate

Monthly $5 to $1260

The total cost depends on the amount of pens you use which is dependent on how much insulin you use.