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new glucose monitoring tech could change the lives of canadians living with diabetes
dexcom’s new vice president joined the company after being inspired by its trailblazing innovations in diabetes management
dexcom recently received approval from health canada for the next generation of glucose monitoring: dexcom g7. supplied
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this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
every day, millions of canadians wake up facing the need to manage their diabetes, its risks and dangers— but new technology is helping to make diabetes management easier and more reliable than ever.
it was the prospect of helping those people gain control of their condition that attracted andré côté to his new position as vice president and general manager of dexcom canada.
dexcom is a technology and innovation leader in continuous glucose monitoring systems for people with diabetes. côté says he was struck by the company’s dedication to evolving the technology, given its key importance in diabetes management and improving health outcomes for so many canadians.
“given that continuous glucose monitoring (cgm) is a standard of care that has been established by the diabetes canada guidelines, it is a privilege to help canadians benefit from this ground-breaking innovation.”
the technology does away with the need for routine fingersticks*, the decades-old practice of measuring a person’s glucose levels by pricking a finger to get a blood sample, multiple times per day. instead, a real-time monitoring system uses a sensor to continuously check glucose levels automatically, with the data sent to a smart phone† or other device.
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“real-time cgm has brought a lot more simplicity and ease to people with diabetes in their day-to-day lives, lessening the burden of diabetes management. the added peace of mind of being able to know before they’re low is life-changing for people who take insulin,” says côté.
another thing that impressed him about dexcom canada was the people who work at the company and their connection to the community of people with diabetes that dexcom serves.
“we’re in a unique position to see on a daily basis the impact this technology has for people with diabetes,” says côté.
“from the parent of a four-year-old daughter with diabetes, who can be more at ease when she goes on a sleepover because her levels can be monitored remotely; to a grandparent with diabetes feeling more confident while taking care of their grandkids; to the elite athlete that is playing at the top of their game – all rely on dexcom cgm, and it’s a privilege to make a product that can make such a profound difference. honestly, the stories we hear would bring tears to your eyes.”
andré côté, vice president and general manager of dexcom canada. supplied
people with diabetes face the constant threat of a medical emergency caused by a hypoglycemic event, which if severe can cause loss of consciousness, a seizure or even a diabetic coma.
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that is a scary prospect when you consider that studies have shown almost two-thirds of patients with type 2 diabetes using insulin report having an average of 35 hypoglycemic events a year — including one or two that are severe. and in patients with type 1 diabetes, that number is even higher.1
but côté says real-time cgm technology can help alleviate that fear by providing predictive alerts when a person is in danger of a hypoglycemic event. this means that they or a caregiver can properly intervene.
“it gives people their lives back, so they don’t live in constant fear of hypoglycemic events.”
côté says dexcom recently received approval from health canada for the next generation of glucose monitoring: dexcom g7, which further advances the technology with greater accuracy, simplicity, and personalization that will make diabetes management easier for those who use it.3
“what g7 brings is the smallest and most accurate sensor that we’ve ever produced.3 it’s going to meet the needs of anyone with diabetes, ages 2 and older – now also including pregnant women. we are extremely pleased to have the value of this innovation recognized, which is building on the success and proven health outcomes of our g6 technology,” he adds.
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he says that includes reducing the level of a1c, which is an important measure of overall health for people living with diabetes, increasing the time spent in range of a user’s glucose levels and reducing a patient’s fear of hypoglycemia2,3,4,5.
“this is going to be a great improvement for so many people,” says côté.
dexcom g7 connects to an app in your smartphone, providing real-time updates and alerts. supplied
he adds that one in three canadians are affected by the condition when you include those with prediabetes6, so dexcom canada also continues to advocate for greater access to real-time cgm through both public and private health care plans, in keeping with dexcom’s corporate focus.
“the origins of continuous glucose monitoring are in dexcom’s dna, and this is a company that never stops innovating,” says côté. “sensor technology is all we do. for the last 20+ years, dexcom has been solely focused on making the journey for people with diabetes easier.”
dexcom has been a pioneer in advancing cgm technology and was the first cgm to be approved to replace routine fingersticks* for making diabetes treatment decisions, and the first company to send cgm data to a smartphone using bluetooth connectivity.
“as we look to the future, we’re seeing a lot of possibilities (to make) these sensors more discreet, and even simpler to use. we’re really excited about what tomorrow holds.”
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this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of dexcom.
*if your glucose alerts and readings from the g6 do not match symptoms or expectations, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions.
† for a list of compatible devices, go to dexcom.com/compatibility.
1 aronson r, et al. can j diabetes. feb 2018;42(1):11-17.
2 beck rw, et al. jama. 2017;317(4):371-378.
3 welsh jb, et al. j diabetes sci technol. 2022:19322968221099879
4 beck rw, et al. ann intern med. 2017;167(6):365-374.
5 visser mm, lancet. 2021;397(10291):2275-2283.
6 diabetes canada. diabetes in canada 2022 backgrounder. accessed july 2023. https://www.diabetes.ca/advocacy—policies/advocacy-reports/national-and-provincial-backgrounders/diabetes-in-canada
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