New Dexcom OTC Without Prescription: Here’s How To Join The Waitlist
There is much to discuss regarding Stelo continuous glucose monitor (CGM) from Dexcom, and especially, it hit the headlines as the first OTC, that is, over-the-counter CGM.
The approval of this revolutionary tool by the FDA is promising and is a major breakthrough in diabetes care, as millions of diabetics will now be able to afford to use a modern invention that can help them manage their diabetes.
As the Stelo CGM system offered by Dexcom showcases various distinctive features, the author seeks to discuss its advantages, as well as to explain how this development can change lives and healthcare systems for the better.
The Real Advancement of (CGM) Technology
The technology used in CGM has evolved significantly over the years – it remains, however, for one to understand the various ways through which the technology has transformed. CGM has also advanced significantly from a large, less accurate device that has been used in the past compared to the modern, compact, and sophisticated systems that show real-time glucose level data.
This evolution has been attributed to enhancements in Sensors, Data Analytics and Digital Health platforms, which have enhanced the accuracy of CGMs whilst transforming them into user-friendly technologies that fit seamlessly into people’s lives.
Dexcom has been in the vanguard of many of these developments and has been a leader, or indeed often the initiator, of many of the improvements that have occurred in CGM technology. The company pursues the company purists? a noble cause of enhancing the lives of the diabetic populace through innovation.
CGMs have been integrated into insulin delivery devices by Dexcom enabling users to control their insulin treatment depending on continuous glucose monitoring. This integration can be viewed as a great leap in diabetes management as it concerns the indirect manipulation of insulin doses and minimizes the incidence of hypoglycemia.
One of the main innovations which can be distinguished in Dexcom equipment is the compatibility of CGMs with smartphones. Such connectivity gives users the ability to review glucose information on their phones, along with enhanced comfort and health decision-making.
In this regard, what the Stelo CGM does is bring this smartphone connectivity to the next level to support simple and intuitive management of glucose levels. Patients are able to monitor their glucose levels, trends, and alerts on the phone, and they can be notified easily of their diabetes.
Another ultra-skinny tracker from Dexcom is Stelo, which uses the same technology and contains similar analysis options – in this case, users are introduced to glucose trends.
Being able to monitor how users’ lifestyle choices, diet and exercise affect glucose levels is made easier through this feature. With such identifications as these, the users will be in a position to take better actions aiming at enhancing their glycemic control and health.
Of all the advantages of Dexcom’s Stelo is that it is comparatively non-invasive. Inaccurate finger prick measurements are still needed often before or after meals and at bedtime in conventional blood glucose monitoring.
On the other hand, Stelo CGM employs a small sensor that has minimal possibility in the body to be intrusive and therefore, it is worn all the time.
This feature not only mitigates the pain of glycogen monitoring but also yields more accurate results than that of a regular glucometer, as levels are recorded at midpoint, morning and night.
Main Features and Benefits of Dexcom’s Stelo
Dexcom’s Stelo CGM stands out for its notable features and benefits, transforming how people with diabetes monitor their glucose levels. Let's dive into what makes Stelo a game-changer in diabetes care.
Over-the-Counter Availability
Another major perk of Stelo is that it is available as an OTC drug, or stated differently, that it is officially classified as an OTC drug. Conventional CGMs used to be prescription-only, thereby making them inaccessible to many individuals in the course of receiving healthcare services.
The above shows that with Stelo, this becomes impossible. In the past, one had to get a prescription from his/her doctor to be supplied with the drug, but now, one can buy it over the counter.
This is a monumental step up from previous years and opens more doors for the citizens who are diagnosed with diabetes to get the right tools in order to manage their disorder.
Real-Time Glucose Monitoring
One of the most important monitoring engagements for diabetes is the real-time monitoring of glucose levels, which Stelo offers.
This implies that users can monitor their glucose levels arbitrarily to avoid getting a fingerstick test. In Stelo, it communicates with a purpose-built device or a smartphone application by continuously sending data.
Through the gluco monitoring system, patients get actual details of the glucose level in their body, thereby enabling the patients to make appropriate decisions with regard to their diet, exercise and intake of medicines. This kind of feedback is crucial in order to avoid fluctuations in glycemic levels which are characteristic of diabetes, and to keep the levels as steady as possible.
User-Friendly Interface
Like most other tracking devices, GlucoTrack is friendly with a user interface, thus simplifying the process of glucose monitoring through Stelo. It could be through a device that is specifically set for the purpose or an application on an installed smartphone, and the information is relayed in an easy-to-understand language.
Through the app, users can monitor their actual glucose levels at a given time, track a linear trend and get notified of glu levels that are too high or too low. It feels rather convenient and easily understandable, so even a person without technological expertise will be capable of treating diabetes by using this device.
Advanced Analytics
To be more precise, one of the key advantages of Stelo is its analytics feature, which is essential in the modern world. It does not only offer instant information about desired glucose levels but also can assist in understanding tendencies and rhythms of glucose level change.
This information can be quite useful in knowing how certain foods, exercises and even medications impact diabetes mellitus type II. Thus, using history API allows the user to see what has been effective for their bodies, and they adjust for their well-being.
Non-Invasive Technology
Compared with FGM, Stelo adopts non-invasive technology, which is a significant improvement over blood glucose measurement techniques. Stelo's conversation is centered on the technology, which is unique from other blood monitors as it is a small sensor and not a Fingerstick test.
Relative to finger-pricking, which is arduous, this sensor regularly tracks glucose levels, thereby making the process less burdensome. To many of the users, this translates to improved quality of life because they can minimize the discomfort associated with the results of blood tests.
Accessibility and Availability
The blood glucose monitoring provided by Dexcom’s Stelo CGM is now as convenient and feasible as ever before due to the advancements in technology.
Stelo is to appear in September 2024 on the market in the USA and in the EU in the form of an over-the-counter medication. There are several reasons why this is a huge advancement at a basic level.
Impact on Healthcare System
Stelo’s concoction over the counter means that this change will go a long way in changing the façade of the health care system. Stelo can find new ways to make CGMs more accessible, thus easing the pressure on the healthcare system and its professionals.
It will also reduce the number of visits to the doctor due to the ability of the patients to regulate their levels of glucose on their own, hence less spending on health. Thus, the shift to self-management as a major theme is not only cost-efficient but also beneficial since patients have to take charge of their own health.
Broader Reach
Moreover, the availability of Stelo through online pharmacies will also benefit more individuals by having access to this innovative tech. Scientists expect that many people with type 2 diabetes, who may have never used CGM in their management previously, will be able to receive real-time glucose measurements.
This reach of the guideline leads to improved overall diabetes management among the population with an aim of improving the health on a larger scale.
Release Timeline
Stelo is at this target, and Dexcom anticipates putting the product in the pharmacy by the summer of 2024. It is so important for those who want to see the technology behind CGM products becoming more easily accessible soon.
The cost structure of the G5 has not been fully unveiled but the company’s affordability guarantee of the product puts it in a strategic line for many. Further details will be provided as the nearer release date is marked, including possibly some of the ways that could cut costs as well as precise instructions on the use of the given product.
Implications for People Without Diabetes
Thus, users could get more detailed information and, with the help of CGMs like Stelo, get real-time data on their glucose levels valuable for athletes, XBRs, people who pay attention to their metabolic health and so on. But still, the possibility of using these devices for non-diabetic people is in question in all healthcare professionals.
Potential Benefits for Non-Diabetic Users
CGMs are employed to continuously monitor the onset of diabetes by displaying the glucose level readings for that particular day. To the remaining population or those with non-diabetic individuals, such gadgets could be very informative as to the ways individuals' glucose levels can be influenced by aspects like diet, physical activity and stress.
Sportsmen, on the same note, can effectively manage their performance by monitoring the amounts of glucose in the blood through CGMs and the manner in which they are influenced by the foods they consume or the training they go through.
Metabolism can be quite unpredictable at times, and while alterations may be perfect for lifestyle experimentation, CGMs can help track glucose fluctuations from changes in one’s diet or even fasts.
A recent development is that people are aware of using the CGMs for weight loss. Thus, people will monitor glucose reactions to certain sorts of food and decide whether these specifically provoke sharp glucose rise and, therefore, consider modification of their diet.
It could, in a way, help people develop better eating habits and, subsequently, better metabolic health from the approach used for compiling the data.
Joining the Wait List
As of this writing, they can also join the waiting list for Dexcom’s Stelo CGM, which becomes a useful decision for those who want to be among the first to use it. The Stelo is set to hit the market for over-the-counter sales from summer 2024 onwards after its launch online this summer.
If you wish to know more about the updates on Stelo or get a notification when it is released, joining the wait list is always an option. This means that you will be kept informed of all information and availability announcements without missing any of them.
To sign up on the waiting list and discover more about Stelo please visit the Dexcom website at Dexcom Stelo. Here, you can also check if you qualify for now get started with Another more superior type of CGM from Dexcom: Dexcom G7. This singular proaction enables one to be proactive regarding control of one’s health through the best technology available.
Conclusion
Dexcom's Stelo CGM represents a significant advancement in diabetes management, offering real-time glucose monitoring, a user-friendly interface and non-invasive technology. Its OTC availability is set to democratize access to this innovative tool, empowering more people to manage their health independently.
While the benefits for non-diabetic individuals are still being explored, the potential for improving metabolic health is promising. However, caution is advised due to the risk of information overload and anxiety.
As we look forward to its release, Dexcom's Stelo CGM stands poised to make a transformative impact on diabetes care and beyond, heralding a new era of accessible, personalized health monitoring.
References:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13300-023-01431-3
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658694/
About The Author
Meet Dr. Ahmet Ergin a highly skilled and dedicated endocrinologist with a passion for diabetes care. Dr. Ergin earned his medical degree with honors from Marmara University in Istanbul. He completed internal medicine residency and endocrinology fellowship at Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Ergin is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism due to his vast medical expertise. He's a certified diabetes educator, author of " The Ultimate Diabetes Book," and founder of " the SugarMD YouTube channel." Dr. Ergin offers exceptional diabetes care to his patients in Port Saint Lucie, FL, helping them manage effectively.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Information on this website isn’t intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss with your doctor and do not self-treat.