Article Highlights
Traditional fingerstick testing provides snapshots of glucose at isolated moments. Between those checks, your glucose could spike after eating, drop during exercise, or drift low overnight without your awareness. Continuous glucose monitoring fills these gaps with a real-time view of your glucose levels, updated every five minutes, 24 hours a day.
You see not just where your glucose is, but where it's going and how fast it's changing. Beyond immediate management, continuous data reveals patterns that fingerstick testing often misses, like consistent afternoon stress responses, overnight trends, or unexpected breakfast spikes.
The Dexcom G6 stands apart through three key characteristics that have made it one of the most prescribed CGM systems in Canada.
Factory calibration eliminates routine fingersticks: The G6 is calibrated during manufacturing and does not require routine fingerstick calibrations to function. While you should keep a meter available for confirmatory checks in specific situations, daily calibrations are eliminated.
Broad integration creates flexibility: The G6 works as both a standalone monitoring system and as the sensor component in several automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. When paired with compatible insulin pumps like the Tandem t:slim X2 with Control-IQ or Omnipod 5, it enables the pump to automatically adjust insulin delivery.
Proven performance builds confidence: Approved by Health Canada in 2019, the G6 has accumulated years of real-world use across diverse populations. Dexcom has since released the G7, which offers a smaller all-in-one sensor design and a 30-minute warmup, but the G6 remains widely used due to its compatibility with certain pump systems and its proven reliability.
To learn more about how the two CGMs compare, visit our article on the Dexcom G7.
The Dexcom G6 is indicated for people with diabetes ages 2 and older. In practice, it is most commonly used by people on intensive insulin therapy, such as multiple daily injections (MDI) or insulin pump therapy.
Successful use requires:
- The ability to apply and remove sensors (or a caregiver who can help)
- Understanding when sensor readings might be inaccurate
- The ability to respond appropriately to alerts
The system is not suitable for:
- Children under 2 years of age
- Anyone who cannot safely respond to CGM alerts or recognize and respond to hypoglycemia
The Dexcom G6 measures glucose in the interstitial fluid just beneath your skin using a very thin sensor filament. The sensor communicates with a small reusable transmitter that snaps into the sensor housing. The transmitter sends glucose readings to your smartphone or receiver every five minutes.
Glucose moves from your bloodstream into interstitial fluid over several minutes, creating a typical lag of about 5 to 10 minutes. This is normal and affects all CGM systems. During stable glucose periods, the lag is minimal. During rapid rises or falls, you may notice a larger difference between your CGM reading and a fingerstick.
Every 10 days, you apply a fresh sensor using a one-button automatic applicator. Approved wear sites include:
- Adults and adolescents: Abdomen
- Children ages 2 to 17: Upper buttocks
The reusable transmitter typically lasts about three months. When you apply a new sensor, you snap the same transmitter into the new sensor housing. The app provides warnings as the transmitter battery approaches the end of its life so you have time to arrange a replacement.
To help your sensor stay on for the full 10 days, clean the site thoroughly with soap and water and let it dry completely before insertion. Avoid lotions, oils, or sunscreen under the adhesive. Check with a meter when readings don't match how you feel, you suspect sensor compression, you are sick or dehydrated, or you are making an important treatment decision.
The Dexcom G6 provides your current glucose number, a trend arrow showing direction and speed of change, and a graph showing your recent glucose history. Trend arrows indicate how quickly your glucose is changing — the arrow is often more important than the number itself. A glucose of 140 mg/dL with a flat arrow might not require any action, while the same 140 mg/dL with a fast downward arrow could mean you need to act quickly to prevent a low.
You can set high and low glucose alerts that match your personal targets and comfort level. The Urgent Low Soon alert warns you when the system predicts you will reach 55 mg/dL within about 20 minutes, giving you time to treat and prevent severe hypoglycemia.
Dexcom's Clarity software helps you look beyond individual readings to see patterns over days and weeks. The Ambulatory Glucose Profile (AGP) overlays all your glucose readings on a typical 24-hour day, making patterns easier to see. Your diabetes care team can use these reports to help fine-tune your insulin doses, meal planning, and activity strategies.
The Dexcom Share feature allows you to share your glucose data in real time with up to 10 followers using the Dexcom Follow app. Common use cases include parents monitoring a child at school, partners providing backup support overnight, and healthcare teams reviewing shared data between visits.
Formal clinical studies and real-world data show that the Dexcom G6 offers high accuracy and meaningful benefits for many people with diabetes. In pivotal trials, the G6 achieved a mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of around 9%, representing high accuracy across glucose ranges. Clinical trials of CGM use in adults with type 1 diabetes on multiple daily injections (such as the DIAMOND and GOLD trials) showed improved time in range, reduced A1C without increasing hypoglycemia, and fewer severe hypoglycemic events.
The Dexcom G6 integrates with several AID systems available in Canada, including Tandem t:slim X2 with Control-IQ and Omnipod 5. When used with these pumps, the G6 enables automatic basal rate adjustments, automated correction boluses in certain systems, and safety features to reduce hypoglycemia.
Approximate supply costs before insurance: sensors (3 per month for 10-day wear) roughly $350–$450 per month; transmitter (about every 3 months) roughly $350–$450; receiver (optional, one-time) roughly $500–$700. Taken together, total monthly cost is often in the range of $450–$600 before insurance or public program coverage. For those paying out of pocket, CGM costs can be similar to or somewhat higher than intensive fingerstick monitoring.
The Dexcom G6 may be a strong fit if you:
- Want continuous glucose monitoring without routine fingerstick calibration
- Value predictive low alerts and trend information to help prevent hypoglycemia
- Would like to share glucose data with family members or caregivers
- Use, or plan to use, a compatible insulin pump and are interested in automated insulin delivery
The G6 may be less ideal if you:
- Prefer a shorter warmup time (the Dexcom G7 offers a 30-minute warmup vs. the G6's two hours)
- Want an all-in-one, smaller sensor without a separate transmitter
- Regularly take very high doses of acetaminophen that may interfere with CGM readings
A prescription is required when using insurance or provincial coverage programs, but it is not required for out-of-pocket purchases. Before ordering, check provincial or territorial funding eligibility and private insurance coverage, including any prior authorization requirements. Dexcom provides video tutorials, printed and online guides, and phone and online support. Many people are able to start within a few weeks after prescription, depending on how quickly coverage is approved.
Endor carries the Dexcom G6 and makes it easy to purchase and start using real-time CGM. We offer fast delivery and guide you through ordering, coverage, and setup so you can begin using your G6 with ease and confidence. Download the Endor Health app to get started.
- Dexcom, Inc. Dexcom G6 CGM System User Guide. Retrieved from https://www.dexcom.com/
- Shah, V.N., et al. (2018). Performance of a factory-calibrated real-time continuous glucose monitoring system utilizing an automated sensor applicator. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, 20(6), 428–433.
- Wadwa, R.P., et al. (2018). Accuracy of a factory-calibrated, real-time continuous glucose monitoring system during 10 days of use in youth and adults with diabetes. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, 20(6), 395–402.
- Beck, R.W., et al. (2017). Effect of continuous glucose monitoring on glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes using insulin injections: The DIAMOND randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 317(4), 371–378.
- Lind, M., et al. (2017). Continuous glucose monitoring vs conventional therapy for glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes: The GOLD randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 317(4), 379–387.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace advice from your healthcare provider. Always consult with your diabetes care team before making changes to your diabetes management.
For more information:
- Dexcom Canada: 1-888-738-3646
- Website: www.dexcom.com/en-ca
