16KIT
G7 launches in the UK
A look at the latest generation of Dexcom CGM sensor,
and how the company grew to its present marketleading
size and influence. Here it's CEO Kevin Sayer
looks back at the devices' development.
"I want to take a moment to recognize the amazing
milestones made possible by CGM technology. I've been
working in diabetes for more than two decades and
honestly the first time I saw a prototype CGM sensor
measure glucose in 1994 and I thought our work was
done, but it wasn't that simple!
"It has been a long journey from measuring glucose in
a beaker in a lab, to mass producing a tiny wearable that
displays glucose values on a smartphone in real-time. Our
Dexcom G4, launched in 2012, was really the first CGM
system to deliver on the promise of real-time glucose
monitoring. Since then, we've been a pioneer in advancing
CGM technology -- making it easier and more convenient
to use. We were the first to send CGM data to your smart
phone using Bluetooth connectivity, integrating with both
iOS and Android phones.
"Based on feedback from users, our engineers at
Dexcom invented Dexcom Follow, and to this day it
remains the feature I hear the most stories about from
customers. For example, a parent who can sit at their
desk while at work and monitor their daughter's glucose
levels at school. The ground-breaking ability to share
medical data with loved ones and/or carers has proven to
be incredibly powerful.
"With Dexcom G5, we were able to make a sensor
accurate and reliable enough for users to make diabetes
treatment decisions without fingerpricks. Because of this,
people with diabetes have eliminated more than 15bn
painful fingerpricks from their lives.
"According to our statistics, our users have
acknowledged more than 52m urgent low soon alerts,
more than 11m in the middle of the night. For many
people, including parents, it means sleeping with less
worry. Our G6 sensor, which is still available and widely
used, is a wonderful product that's improved the quality
of life for people with diabetes around the world.
The next step
"In order to take a big step forward from G6 to G7,
we started with the people who wear it. Dexcom's
patient-first mindset remains our focus today. Dexcom
employees, many of whom have diabetes, come to work
to take care of our users. We ask ourselves, what will
Dexcom President Kevin Sayer.
enhance improve their ability to manage their diabetes,
and their lives?
"Our products must be convenient for our customers,
so we're pushing for a smaller size, a better interface and
making using CGM easier. We measure data to prove
that use CGM improves health outcomes, so doctors can
recommend its use without a qualm.
"Dexcom G7 builds on the trusted performance of
Dexcom CGM and is smaller and simpler to use. Dexcom
G7 is made for more. It's made for you. As you can tell,
I'm proud of where we have come from, and I'm excited
about where we are going and the future for people with
diabetes."
"I would like to thank our Dexcom Warriors and
employees of Dexcom for making this launch so special.
The new G7 is built on a dynamic platform, like your