First CGM Available Without a Prescription
The Stelo by Dexcom came out in August 2024 as the first continuous glucometer monitor (CGM) available without a prescription. CGMs have only ever been available with a script, so the idea of an over-the-counter CGM was pretty revolutionary.
Dexcom has been known in the diabetes community as the CGM. They are also known for being PRICEY though! So, it was a pretty big deal when the Stelo came out as not only an OTC product, but also for only $99 per month.
Who Is Stelo For?
For the longest time, Dexcom products were only really used by people with type 1 diabetes. The Stelo is for a completely different demographic; this product is for people 18 years and older not on insulin. It is marketed to people with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and really anyone who wants to know more about their glucose levels.
Stelo and Dexcom G7 Similarities
So, how does the Stelo compare to their prescription product, the G7? First off, there are a lot of similarities. It is the exact shape and size, just a different gray color. The applicator is exactly the same and they both have a warm-up time of 30 minutes.
Another similarity, that I feel is most important, is the fact that healthcare professionals can still get patient data from the Stelo using the Dexcom Clarity program. This is not the case for the other over-the-counter CGM, the Libre Lingo. I find a lot of value going over Clarity reports with patients and I send them to providers as well, so I LOVE that this is an option.
Stelo and Dexcom G7 Differences
You know that Dexcom wasn’t going to provide everything the G7 has to offer at less than $100/mo, so there are definitely some differences.
The biggest difference, in my opinion, is the limited glucose range the Stelo will read. While the G7 can read glucose levels from 40-400, the Stelo can only read levels from 70-250. This is why they state it is not for people on insulin, and I personally would never recommend it for a patient on a sulfonylurea or a history of hypoglycemia for any other reason.
In the same vein, the Stelo does not have any sort of alarms. No urgent low, low or rising fast alarms here.
While users of the G7 can use the app or a receiver, there is no receiver for the Stelo. Therefore the use of a smartphone is required.
What Stelo Provides that the G7 Does Not
While some elements were taken away, Stelo does have some additional features that some users may enjoy. The Stelo provides a lot of in-app education as well as e-mails and blog posts on their website.
The Stelo app also has a “spike detection” feature that will alert users when their glucose levels are going up. The app provides information on when the spike started, and users can add a description of what happened.
Stelo vs. G7 Overall Thoughts
It is wonderful that people can now get a CGM at a reasonable price without a prescription. However, the Stelo is not for everyone and has limitations. If patients have glucose levels outside the 70-250 range, the G7 product should be used instead.