My Eversense CGM experience

Someone asked me recently to share my experience with my Eversense CGM, and today I have the chance to do it. There's a TLDR bulleted list of pros and cons at the end, but spoiler: I love it.

Eversense is a CGM that is inserted completely under the skin, like long term birth control. You stick a transmitter over the skin with an adhesive patch that can be removed, replaced, and changed as often as you want. The Eversense sends data to an app on your smartphone. The unit doesn't get calibrated in the factory, so you use 1-2 finger sticks a day to calibrate it.

I'm recently identified as T1 after years of telling my doctors their T2 pills didn't work. Eventually I found an Endo that put me on insulin, and just over a year ago, I started on a pump that finally got my A1C on track. I've used both Dexcom and Libre CGMs.

I react very severely to the Libre adhesive, so they switched me to Dexcom. For awhile I was fine with that, but then I began getting painful rashes from the Dexcom as well. I did the IV3000 barrier, but the extra steps were mentally taxing for me. I have a second autoimmune, and I'm on the spectrum. Dexcom was using too many spoons. I also had so many failed insertions and constantly sweated off the sensors. The constant calls to customer service for replacements took a lot of time.

I learned about Eversense from a FB add, and I brought it up with my Endo. Initially, they told me that I couldn't get it because no one in their office could do the insertion. Eventually, Eversense reached out directly to find out why I decided not to use them. They explained that I could have the insertion done at a different office and keep my regular Endo. So we got started on it. Insurance was actually easier than getting my Dexcom.

The insertion was painless. I got a local anesthetic. That shot was the worst part. You wear a bandage over the site for 3 days. You can attach the transmitter over the bandage. Some people that still react to this adhesive just use an ace bandage to hold on the transmitter.

For the first 24 hours, the sensor warms up and produces no readings. During that time, you use a manual meter. (This is the only warmup period for the entire 6 months.) After 24 hours, you do 4 fingerstick calibrations 2 hours apart. After the second calibration, you start seeing numbers. My numbers were pretty accurate by the 3rd calibration.

Days 2-21, you do 2 daily calibrations about 12 hours apart (there's a 4 hour grace period). After day 21 (ish), you get a notification to switch to 1 daily calibration. I usually do when I wake up, because my sugar is the most steady then.

I did have issues with staying in the 1 calibration phase. There's some algorithm that determines how many calibrations you need a day, and my wacky highs and lows were knocking me back into 2 calibrations. My Endo contacted Eversense, and they did a software update that fixed that issue.

My readings are typically within 10 points of my fingerstick value, which is a huge improvement over Dexcom. I do notice a longer lag in correct readings when I am falling or rising rapidly than I had with Dexcom.

Eversense does not link to any pumps currently, so automatic mode is not available with the Eversense. I never used that mode, so I don't miss it. If you rely on automatic adjustments, Eversense is not for you.

The transmitter was a rechargeable. They told me to recharge it daily, but I get 3 days out of it. After recharging, there is a guide in the app that helps you line the transmitter back up with the sensor in your arm.

However, if you are sick and tired of Dexcom's nonsense like I was, I recommend trying it out.

Pros:

More accurate than Dexcom and Libre

No pressure lows

Can clean under the adhesive daily

You have a whole giant packet of adhesive stickers that can be replaced if you sweat off the sticker, swim, or get an X-ray

No reaction to adhesive

Only changed every 6 months

(For me at least) requires fewer mental spoons than Libre and Dexcom

No more calling customer support for failed insertions or premature sensor loss

Cons:

1-2 finger sticks to calibrate daily

Insertion is a minor surgical procedure that you might have to travel for. I get my insertion about an hour away, not at my regular Endo.

Doesn't link to pumps, so no automatic mode

Not all endos have heard of it

Only works with smart phones. No external receiver is available.

No MRIs because you have metal under your skin (edit: another user provided a link that certain MRIs are safe. Link in comments)

I'm happy to answer any questions I can! I know that's a lot of info at once.