Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dharma on January 18, 2011 at 2:14pm

I personally don't see why they can't make a smart phone app, and eliminate the receiver all together (for those who want to choose this option). I had the Navigator before switching to the Dex7, and it had a blood tester built in, so I understood why they couldn't do it. But it seems like Dex could build an app that syncs with your monitor via bluetooth, and gives you all of the same info (including alarms, they'd just need to feed into the alarm system built into most smart phones), trends, etc...
Side note: why don't they have statistics on the receiver? Eg, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60 day averages?? This drives me crazy!

Permalink Reply by strack350 on January 18, 2011 at 3:52pm

If I could integrate into my iphone that would be great, and just one less thing to carry around. The reciver is WAY to big....

Permalink Reply by Mike F on January 18, 2011 at 4:09pm

I like the iPhone idea as an another option but I am not sure I would like it under my pillow at night and definitely not near water. A waterproof watch would be the killer app as it could go everywhere I go without worry including wearing it in the shower, working-out, and when I sleep. Probably the one issue is making it small enough (and fashionable) to be comfortable on a woman's or child's wrist.

Permalink Reply by Kaayle on January 21, 2011 at 10:26am

I'm actually shocked they don't have options for smaller receivers... They have options for regular meters why not CGM?

Permalink Reply by MossDog on January 29, 2011 at 11:21am

I suppose because CGM is just in it's infancy where meters have been around for a while. I would guess in the next 10 years we will really see the CGM coverage/market increase (I wish I had money to buy stock right now!!!) with more "choices" available to us. One can hope anyway!!!!!!!

Permalink Reply by strack350 on February 4, 2011 at 3:43pm

I would seriously hope that it would be sooner than 10 years. With the technology available there is absolutly no reason there is not a smaller option, I would pay a premium to have a smaller/thinner dexcom reciever even if it cut the battery life in half I would be OK with it. Come on DexCom......

Permalink Reply by MossDog on February 6, 2011 at 10:00pm

I agree. I guess I was not responding that it will take 10 years to have a smaller unit but in the next 10 years we will have different CGMS options (one that actually monitors from blood vs interstitial fluid etc..). Dexcom will have a smaller unit by the end of this year. I will not guarantee but it is highly likely.

Permalink Reply by Adam on February 14, 2011 at 10:12am

I have a Dexcom and I too would like to have the option of the transmitter transmitting bluetooth that I could read from my cell phone. The new phones I think you can make text as large or small as you need it so it would work for all. They could still support the large device if people want those too. It is way too big in my opinion all I need is something that vibrates for alerts and that I can look at quickly to get a number. Shouldn't need something that big for that purpose in most cases.

Permalink Reply by strack350 on February 14, 2011 at 11:29am

As said before I agree 100% I wonder if Dexcom themselves are watching this forum, because alot of great ideas come from it. Especially the smartphone option, it would make "checking" your readings much much more discrete....

Permalink Reply by MossDog on February 14, 2011 at 4:01pm

I have responded to this before but the reason the unit is so big is because they had to "wrap" the wire that receives the transmission so many times around the core unit to get a decent signal. When Animas partnered with Dexcom they gave them millions of dollars to fix this issue because they did not want to make their pump any larger. This problem is fixed and the next generation sensor will be coming with a smaller receiver.
I have heard they are working on the bluetooth technology. Only problem I see is that most smart phone users complain of how often they have to charge their battery. Now mix in a unit that is sending a signal to the phone every 5 minutes not to mention activating the phone to see what the glucose is as well as alarming when high/low and all the sudden that battery is going to be used even sooner..........

Permalink Reply by Katie I. on February 14, 2011 at 5:45pm

Interesting! Thanks for the info.
I kind of thought it was a technical issue like the wiring, even though the Dex customer service person told me the receiver is so large because they want visually impaired people to be able to see it. Sounds like she didn't have the whole story.
I am really looking forward to a smaller one!

Permalink Reply by Rickst29 on February 16, 2011 at 10:10pm

Katie, I think that smartphone "Receivers" are an extremely unlikely future. The fundamental flaw is the fact that users get to buy Apps, and do Software Updates, and install Media Files. The FDA *will not* approve such a device as a Dexcom Receiver unless it is TOTALLY locked down.

Now, how many of these smartphones are waterproof? (right... no better than the current receiver.)

Pump integration is probably THE solution, providing for both replaceable batteries and waterproof construction. In the short term, Dexcom might have to create alternate "Transmitters" which match the exact communications frequency of the pumps for which they're designed... but, as already mentioned by another person, it is probably going to be switched to bluetooth.

And, with an unexpected "Not yet, and we need more information" response the the Gen4 Approval Request, it could be shelved. If Gen5 is nearly ready for Trials, it might not make good business sense for Dexcom to undertake the enormous costs of releasing GEN4 for Sale at all.

I'll SWAG that Gen5 is pump integration (with custom transmitters), and BlueTooth is later. But that's only a guess- I'm just another customer, without any non-public "insider" information.

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