Product review: Stelo™ direct-to-consumer Continuous Glucose Monitoring by Dexcom™
- Christine Daecher, DO
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
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™ Continous 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 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:
Continuous glucose monitors measure the glucose level in the serum fluid in the tissues and not in the bloodstream. Serum glucose levels lag behind blood glucose levels by about 15 minutes. If you notice a spike in serum glucose, don't panic—it may decrease quickly. For example, in a 24-hour summary, only 1–2 elevated readings (taken 15 minutes apart) may already be trending downward.
Also, serum glucose levels are typically 10–15% higher than blood glucose. While a blood glucose level of 140 mg/dL or higher after eating is considered abnormal, this may correspond to a serum glucose level of approximately 119–126 mg/dL.
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 likely be excited to start using it. Before applying the device, it's important to clean the skin with rubbing alcohol. Note that an alcohol wipe is not included in the package. The tape itself was slightly itchy. It's summer in Savannah and it was difficult to get it high enough to hide it under a T-shirt as well as have a site with enough subcutaneous body fat.
In the case of my guinea pig (husband), the first sensor stopped working after just 33 hours, shortly after a shower. There were no visible breaches in the protective adhesive ring that would suggest water had entered the device. Fortunately, a quick call to customer service—answered promptly by a live representative—resulted in a replacement device being shipped free of charge, with no shipping fees.
It was surprising to observe rapid glucose spikes even after consuming small amounts of sugar, including something as simple as a few grapes A noticeable pattern also emerged: at certain times of the day, eating carbohydrates caused a spike, while the same foods consumed at other times did not have the same effect. I believe the Stelo™ may end up serving as an effective deterrent to sugar intake.
Currently, the Stelo™ is only available through the company's website.
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