Product review: Stelo™ direct-to-consumer Continuous Glucose Monitoring by Dexcom™
- Christine Daecher, DO
- May 21
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Well, they did it. Dexcom made it possible for people without diabetes to purchase a continuous glucose meter (CGM) for a reasonable cost. You can imagine I was delighted when someone from Dexcom contacted me about the new Stelo.
Stelo™ Continuous Glucose Monitor Overview:
The Stelo™ takes approximately 30 minutes to warm up.
It measures serum glucose (see note below) every 15 minutes.
Unlike the Dexcom G6 and G7, Stelo™ does not feature audible alerts or alarms for abnormal glucose levels.
Data is stored on the device and later downloaded to the phone app. This means you do not need to have your phone nearby at all times to collect data. The Bluetooth range is approximately 30 feet.
You must open the app to view your glucose data.
The app includes preset glucose ranges for normal, prediabetic, and diabetic, or you can create your own. The device can measure levels between 70–250 mg/dL, with the option to customize this to a narrower range.
Each wearable monitor lasts 15.5 days.
You will receive a daily notification showing how much time your glucose levels were within your selected range.
The app also allows you to log meals and exercise.
Important Note on Serum Glucose:
CGMs measure glucose levels in the interstitial (serum) fluid within the tissues—not directly in the bloodstream. Because of this, serum glucose readings typically lag behind blood glucose levels by about 15 minutes. If you notice a spike in your CGM data, don’t panic—it may already be declining. For instance, in a 24-hour summary, just one or two elevated readings (taken 15 minutes apart) might reflect a peak that is already on its way down.
Additionally, serum glucose levels are generally 10–15% lower than blood glucose levels. So, while a blood glucose reading of 140 mg/dL or higher after a meal is considered elevated, the corresponding serum glucose level might be in the range of approximately 119–126 mg/dL.
Specific to Dexcom’s™ CGMs, clinical trials show they meet 93% accuracy compared to laboratory-tested blood glucose levels. This means that 93% of the time:
For readings below 70 mg/dL, the CGM must be within 20 mg/dL of the lab result.
For glucose levels above 70 mg/dL, the CGM reading must be within 20% of the corresponding lab value.
This accuracy standard is known as the 20/20% YSI (Yellow Springs Instrument) criteria.
For example, if a lab measures blood glucose at 100 mg/dL, a CGM reading between 80 and 120 mg/dL would fall within the acceptable range. As you can see, that’s quite a wide window!
Cost:
Dexcom offers several purchase options for the Stelo™:
One-time discovery offer: $99 for one month of CGM or 2 monitors.
Monthly subscription: $89 per month.
Three-month subscription: $252 for three months.
Shipping is included with all purchase options.
Thoughts on using it...
When you receive your Stelo™, you’ll probably be eager to start using it. Before applying the device, be sure to clean the skin with rubbing alcohol—note that an alcohol wipe is not included in the package.
Once applied, the tape became slightly itchy after a few days. Given the summer heat in Savannah, it was also a bit tricky to find a spot with enough subcutaneous fat that was high enough on the body to be easily hidden under a T-shirt.
In my husband’s case (he served as my test subject), the first sensor stopped working after just 33 hours, shortly after he took a shower. There were no visible breaches in the adhesive ring to suggest water had compromised the device. Fortunately, a quick call to customer service—answered promptly by a live representative—led to a replacement device being shipped at no cost, including free shipping.
One of the more surprising discoveries was how quickly glucose levels spiked after consuming even small amounts of sugar, such as a few grapes. A clear pattern emerged: at certain times of day and while driving, eating carbohydrates led to a noticeable spike, while the same foods had little effect at other times or when not being behind the wheel. I suspect the Stelo™ may ultimately be a powerful deterrent to sugar consumption.
Currently, the Stelo™ is only available through the company's website.
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