Dexcom Stelo a New OTC Biosensor - Review After Wearing It for 30 Days

UPDATE: You can now acces Dexcom Clarity for Stelo as well as share your Dexcom Stelo readings directly with your medical team.

Do you want to know if Dexcom Stelo is worth buying? Then this is the video for you.

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I’ve been wearing Dexcom Stelo for 30 days, so it’s time for a review where I’ll give you the download on what works and what doesn’t, and of course if it’s worth the money.
And if you’re new to CGMs or biosensors don’t worry I’ll also briefly explain how they work and the core benefits.

Remember this is my experience wearing Dexcom Stelo, yours might be different.

This is NOT a paid promotion, none of this content is endorsed by Dexcom.

DISCLAIMER: I’m not a medical professional, never stop your current treatment without consulting with your doctor

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Video Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:48 Basics of Biosensors and CGMs
2:31 How Stelo works
5:33 Pro #1 - Access
7:03 Cons #1 - Affordability
7:58 Pro #2 - Blood sugar overview
14:10 Cons #2 - Requires analysis
15:36 Pro #3 - Accuracy
17:23 Cons #3 - Customer service
20:46 Dexcom Stelo or Freestyle Libre Lingo
22:41 The Future of CGMs and Biosensors

[cesalt]

I had no idea that the Clarity app was available, and I'm on my 2nd Stelo. Thanks so much for the tip and the wonderful review here. I'll certainly check out the Lingo next.

[craiglee]

Been using the Stelo for a couple of months now. I like being able to see how my body responds to food and have come to realize that it takes 2.5-3 hours to see a response after a meal. A couple features that would be useful is calibration, my Stelo's have been consistently 8-10 points off from a finger stick. The other is for the sensor to read lower than 70 to be able to see how far I can drive down my blood sugar during a fast.

[sherryp]

Thank goodness for you tubers like Christel who take the time to help us all out! Too bad Dexcom is not as thorough in their support!

[BillYovino]

I used Stello for a month and found it to be wildly inaccurate. It was always 20 to 40 points higher than my finger sticks. I switched to the Abbott Lingo CGM and it is always very close to my finger stick results. The Lingo currently only works with iPhone. The lingo is thinner and smaller and doesn't require an over-patch.

[lolz-fc]

I’ve been dying to get a continuous meter for years. My doctor kept telling me I couldn’t get one unless I was insulin. I’m type 2, my testing never seems to match my A1C, and it’s hard to test at work for me. I’ve been wanting this convenience and insight for soooo long. I’m so excited to get it in the mail!

[lunacydress]

Got my first Stelo a week ago and put it on. Had the Freestyle Libre 3 before, but new insurance doesn’t cover it. Libre can go more on the side of the upper arm as long as it’s below the deltoid, from what my diabetes educator told me. Stelo is supposed to go more on the back/underside of the arm and you have to use some kind of patch with it to keep it on. The backs and undersides of my arms are more fatty than muscular- I wouldn’t call it loose skin, which they advise against inserting into, but it’s definitely softer than the side and the spot I picked didn’t work. The tape that’s on the sensor didn’t grip well to the soft tissue, and then the overpatch didn’t cover all the edges of the tape on the sensor because it’s really hard to do that on the back/underside of your arm. After less than a day, I had to use a Tegaderm patch to cover the whole thing completely (that’s what I’d occasionally have to do with my Libre 3, like if it seemed like it was coming loose.

That didn’t work very well either- that soft part of my arm just isn’t a good place to try and stick this thing!

Tonight, which I think is day 5 or 6, I could feel that even with a Tegaderm sheet covering it, it was coming loose after I was cleaning the house and moving my arm a lot, and the whole thing pulled out, so a wasted sensor after only a few days.

I also don’t like that you have to have the patch on it and the back/underside of the arm is much more delicate and sensitive skin. I had a little rash around the whole thing, before and after the Tegaderm.

The same thing would happen with the Libre 3 in the first 2-3 days, it then it would go away. I think the fact that it was on the side of the arm where the skin is a little tougher helped.

I’m going to try again- I’m going to get some of those covers you use. That same company makes something you can put between the sensor and your skin if you tend to have allergic reactions to the adhesive- I tried that when I had the Libre and every time I did, the sensor would fail within hours.


It this is on the outside, so maybe it’ll be ok.

[DerricGoodwin]

I have been using Libre 3's until recently I cannot get them in stock any more. My Dr. prescribed me dexcom 7's and my insurance does cover it. But I tried the Stelo while waiting for my deductible and FSA to reset Jan 1. And I like the 15 day wear of 2 sensors compared to 3 sensors with D7. Also, the Stelo has alarms if you look into and use 3rd party apps. You do not have to be tied to the default Stelo app... So keep that in mind... I am still on the fence if I will go with the Dexcom 7 or the Stelo with 3rd party apps and alarms for my lows... Stelo for me has been very accurate for 5 minute updates and interstitial fluid vs blood readings. 3rd party apps will show you values below 70

[RonMac]

I've used two of the sensors so far. I lost 9 pounds during the month I was using them. The first one I tried was reading high by 20 to 40, the higher it read the more it was off. It didn't matter because I was looking at spikes and trends. The second one I used was fairly close, within the margin of error of the sensors. I just ordered two more.

[slugo]

Morning Christel, another good video on a cold Saturdays morning in the northeast.

[MrRangerLab]

T2 here. I’ve been using Stelo since it was available, before that I used a Dexcom 7 for about 2-3 months. Overall I like it. When I compare it against fingersticks, it has been pretty good except sometimes for the 1st 12-24 hours. This doesn’t surprise me. So far they have been lasting for 15 days. Miss some of the Dexcom 7 features though. I wish it had an alarm that can be turned off for high/lows. Agree that customer service needs work. Adding that my insurance will not cover a CGM so the $89 subscription price is welcome.

[debbiec]

I have been using the Stella now for 2 months and I find it has give me great insight on my levels and doing it is way better than doing a finger prick throughout the day. I learn if I insert my next sensor 24 hours before the other one is done helps the arm heal and I don’t get the wacky up and down numbers for the first day I just wait to to start it. I have found that the customer service is a hit or miss which is the case with most customer service. I have had 2 times that I had to get a replacement sensor and that process was way better than I was expecting. For me the con is it is recommended to use it anywhere except your upper arm.

[kipditlow]

For me cost is a huge issue. As a type 2 that uses diet to control my blood sugars and not being on insulin I have to pay the entire cost of the sensors out of pocket. As you pointed out the cost of the prescription based sensors is a lot higher than the stelo. Besides the cost if I have not seen a doc in a while i have to go in and see them before I can get the prescription and that blows half a day for me. The only significant downside with these off prescription ones that I can see for me is that I will have to crawl out of the dark ages and get a smart phone. The added features are not really relevant to me because all I really want is the data to be able to see how a particular meal effects me. And the fact that it does not take readings as often as the more advanced units does not really matter much. If I can get readings in 15 minute increments that works fine for adjusting my diet. In fact the first cgm I used was a libre 14 day which if I remember worked the same way.

[scottdurbin]

I can see this as a product for someone who is a pre-diabetic or borderline and wants more information than what finger sticks do. It also could be good for someone who wants to try out a CGM without the commitment. Customer service is one thing that needs to be a priority for this product. I love my G7 but would recommend the Stelo for someone to try.

[robertrose]

I just got one after starting Wegovy. Not diabetic, I just want to see the data. Applying today.

[belfegor]

Good morning Christel, how are you? I am using the Sibionics CGM at the moment, I am on my third right now. This is also a good option, I found it more accurate compared to the Freestyle Libre 1, of which I used 14 units. In your comparison, Sibionics might compare to Dexcom G7, it works with a mobile application and sends glucose info every 5 minutes. I did a good number of finger pricks and the accuracy was very good! Sibionics is the cheapest option here in Hungary, at approximately 65 USD/unit. My only issue with the Sibionics CGM is that it itches a bit. Not as much as an allergy reaction though. I would love try more options!

[Maxup]

Thank you very much for this information. I didn't know i could buy without a prescription God bless 🙌 🙏

[SwissPGO]

It's the exact same sensor as the dexcom G7, it's only crippled at the software side. If they can produce these at a 60% discount, it means that dexcom is just greedy when they sell it at way higher cost to T1D users. I suggest all T1D patients write to their legislators to protest about this.

[RickCobello]

T2 Waited for years since Medicare does not pay...
Great reference product that shows the effects of food..exercise, and stress!

[BrianRousseau]

Thanks @billyovino I am seeing the same. Stelo 78 finger stick 130 wtf. I wore g7 a bunch and loved it. Stelo so far not impressed. Someone mentioned calibration why the F did they take that out of stelo. Sign. This might go in the trash. I was looking to see if other had crazy differences in sticks vs stelo.

[jofziwb]

are they waterproof for showering, swimming etc . . . . .