r/diabetes • u/tazebot • Jul 04 '24
Why is a prescription needed for a continuous glucose monitor Type 1
I tried to just buy a dexcom at a pharmacy and asked about a freestyle libre also, and they said they have them, but can't sell them without a prescription.
What possible rational would prevent a company from selling a product that has absolute zero potential for abuse?
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u/4thshift Jul 04 '24
They will have a non-alarm, non-shareable version on shelves soon — nonprescription.
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u/tazebot Jul 04 '24
Wait - for T2 not T1? Isn't blood glucose the same for either?
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u/MrGradySir Jul 04 '24
Nothing stops a T1 from using it, but it won’t have alarms, and it can’t alert another person if you go low. So it’s less useful. It also isn’t compatible with pumps.
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u/cyfermax Type 1.5 (LADA) Jul 04 '24
Interesting. - if you can connect it to something like xdrip you could get alarms
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u/DelightfullyRosy Jul 04 '24
also the upper limit of its readings is 250
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u/TheOneWhoWinsItAll Type 2 Jul 05 '24
Wow! I'm a pretty well controlled type 2 diabetic, but having a limit of 250? I feel like they should have at least gone to 300 if not 350, given some of the numbers that I see people have gotten in the subreddits when they were first diagnosed and still figuring out how to bring it under control.
I suppose if you're over 250 as long as if it just says you're at least 250, then you know you have to do something and then you can finger prick if you want to know the exact number.
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u/DelightfullyRosy Jul 05 '24
yeah i agree. i’m technically in the prediabetic category, because of certain reasons my doc & i went with a CGM so i’ve been using a dexcom g7. this new OTC one, for the most part, would be perfect for me. except i have excursions where i do hit 300 & i think tracking those is important in learning how to prevent them! so im not sure which one im gonna go with yet
at the same time i sort of understand the logic that they don’t want people making treatment decisions based on the readings so setting the limit roughly around the insulin yes/no would make sense (i think diabetes supplies need to be more accessible so this is a step in the right direction but not yet where we should be)
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u/Bigjoeyjoe81 Jul 05 '24
Yeah I do wish it was higher. But, I figure I’m not on insulin. so if I keep seeing spikes that high with certain meals I need to take measures to lower it in the moment. Then adjust my diet according to patterns I see.
I was part of a study where they used CGMs to monitor BG levels with certain foods in diabetics with average A1C under 7. I ended up significantly improving my A1C because the CGM lead me to make much better choices and behavioral changes.
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u/Stanton1947 Jul 04 '24
'Less useful'? Try 'dangerous'.
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u/MrGradySir Jul 04 '24
I mean if someone’s just used to doing fingerpicks and is really managed well, it’s no more dangerous than nothing at all, but it’s definitely not near as good as the prescribed ones
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u/ConnorLark Jul 04 '24
they have to say that because it isnt licensed as a device to make medical treatment decisions (ie injecting insulin) with. thats how it doesnt need a prescription
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u/aKawaiiBean Type 1.5 Jul 05 '24
Yes and no. The g6/g7 reads every 5 minutes, and this one reads every 15. So technically yes it’s the same, but also no it’s not, since during that time ir obtains an average, and am average over the course of 15 minutes would more than likely be different than 5, especially during zig zag graphs lol
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u/CommercialKoala719 Type 2 Jul 04 '24
Have you seen anything about the price point on these? I’m curious.
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u/InformationForward39 Jul 04 '24
I’ve heard around $90 for a month’s supply. Supposedly it’s supposed to hit the shelves around August, I think.
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u/gracecee Jul 04 '24
Gosh I have sucky insurance a few years ago and it wa over 300 a month. Paid an expensive insurance this year and it’s down to 75. Course I pay over 2000 a month for a family of four. It sucks to be self employed.
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u/CommercialKoala719 Type 2 Jul 04 '24
The manufacturer for the libre has a program that you pay no more than $75 out of pocket/month. I’ve been doing that since my insurance refuses to cover a cgm. $300 a month is crazy for sure
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u/Distribution-Radiant Type 2 | G7 | Omnipod DASH | AAPS Jul 04 '24
Heard. I'm paying nearly 800/mo for myself. And it's an HMO on top of that.
It was the only marketplace plan I could find that didn't have either hard limit of 10 omnipods a month or any kind of preauth for them. I could have dealt with preauth, but I go through 12-15 pods a month. My rx is written for 15.
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u/CommercialKoala719 Type 2 Jul 04 '24
Hmm not terrible. My insurance won’t pay for my libre so I pay $75 for a month’s supply, $90 for a dexcom would be doable.
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u/Distribution-Radiant Type 2 | G7 | Omnipod DASH | AAPS Jul 04 '24
I wonder how long until xdrip+ and/or AAPS support it? It's basically a neutered G7, right?
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u/Miguel30Locs T2 Diabetic A1C 13.8 (10/01/18) Jul 04 '24
Oh wow thank you for posting that. Didn't think we type 2s have something to work with. Imma get it.
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u/Frosty_Ad8515 Jul 04 '24
I don’t have a good reason so I’m going to give you the bad ones (aka the reasons I have been told). 1) if you need to monitor your blood sugars you should be under a doctor’s care already. 2) if they make it over the counter, some insurances would refuse to cover it. 3) it has a needle, therefore it is invasive and needs a prescription (although this ignores that lancets and regular monitors are over the counter)
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u/omgmanatees T1, 2001, Pump Jul 04 '24
That’s so weird cause you can buy syringes over the counter at basically any pharmacy in the US, I def get the insurance coverage and doctor relationship shop aspects tho
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u/scarfknitter T1 Jul 04 '24
Not all states allow the sale of syringes without a prescription. Even then it's still up to the pharmacist.
I've been denied before.
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u/RiPont T1 | 2002 | Dexcom | t:slim X2 Jul 04 '24
At least you can usually get pen tips, now. I sure hope drug dealers don't start selling opiates in pens.
Pro tip: It's cheaper to get pen tips on Amazon without a prescription or insurance than it is to get pen tips at the local pharmacy with a prescription.
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u/Distribution-Radiant Type 2 | G7 | Omnipod DASH | AAPS Jul 04 '24
Yeah, been buying pen tips for a couple of years from Amazon. They won't ship to addresses that require an RX AFAIK. But I spend $12 with tax on 200 tips, and don't have to deal with figuring out which ones are covered by insurance. Retail is typically $10/50 tips.
Don't buy name brand ones such as BD, you'll get either imported ones or knockoffs. If you stick to brands like Caretouch, Amazon is generally okay.
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u/Wadsworth739 Jul 04 '24
Virginia went from legal, to illegal, to legal again. Problem is, Amazon didn't switch back to legal even after a year. Calling their help center has me explaining what a Virginia is to someone in another country.
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u/Bigjoeyjoe81 Jul 04 '24
I had a doctor tell me I didn’t need to monitor my BG because it is “well controlled”. I tried to explain it’s like that bc I test my blood sugar fairly regularly. Apparently I wasn’t supposed to do that either…
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u/Distant_Yak Jul 05 '24
I’ve had doctors tell me I tested too often. It’s like they seriously don’t get that you run the risk of going high or low anytime you eat something or hours later. My prescription (with type 1) is for 4 strips a day. More realistic is 10-15, especially when some strips fail due to not enough blood or unknown errors.
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u/DDOSSEDbyRussia Type 2 Jul 04 '24
There is a subscription service that will provide CGMs to non-diabetics as a health/fitness aid. Levels and Nutrisense
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u/GrizzlyMahm Jul 04 '24
I believe this is more so why the OTC CGMs are coming out … they saw that huge push a couple years back from the health hackers that wanted them.
I’m prediabetic (and had Gestational a decade ago). I can’t get the dexcom, and it was pulling teeth to get the FreeStyle a few years back. I like to use the CGM a couple times a year to see how I’m doing throughout the day over a couple weeks. But I don’t want the hassle of taking my doctor’s time for the Rx and prior auth. I will definitely be buying these OTC the help myself out.
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u/rgc6075k Jul 04 '24
We may soon be able to obtain one over-the-counter based upon this approval Abbott received.
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u/vprz2021 Jul 04 '24
I’m type 2 (non insulin dependent) and asked for a prescription for a cgm and was denied by my doctor. She told me my case was not “severe”. Like really?! They just want to keep us sick it seems. I’m trying to be proactive and lower my A1C. I want to see how foods affect my glucose without having to poke myself a million times. And I too am willing to pay out of pocket. I wish they were available otc just like test strips and lancets.
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u/TheOneWhoWinsItAll Type 2 Jul 05 '24
Depending on what country you live in, any doctor or nurse provider can write that prescription for you. They don't have to be your primary care physician, and let's say if you were to Google "type 2 diabetes CGM prescription", one would probably find a number of interesting websites that would offer somewhat reasonable prices for said prescriptions...
Thankfully my doctor is actually a fan of them, but I still have to pay through GoodRx because Kaiser won't cover it for me.
Also at the end of August Dexcom comes out with their over-the-counter version, and Abbott is coming out with two, one for people with type 2 diabetes but aren't on insulin, and another one for people who don't have diabetes (think social media influencers, fitness-oriented people, and maybe even people who are pre-diabetic).
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u/OriginalBaxio Type 1 Jul 04 '24
What Country are you in? I can buy them in the UK, I had to say I was diabetic but they never asked for proof
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u/anti-sugar_dependant Type 1 Jul 05 '24
Here in the UK they're available OTC to anyone, you just get the VAT relief if you're diabetic. But frequently this has to be explained to pharmacists who still don't understand.
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u/Agentb64 Jul 04 '24
Big Pharma is to blame. Lots of money in diabetes management because there are lots of diabetics. That will all change, I bet, when Ozempic generics hit the market.
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u/nexus6ca Jul 04 '24
I can buy them without a prescription (Freestyle anyway) in BC.
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u/acros996 Jul 04 '24
How much do you pay?
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u/nexus6ca Jul 04 '24
Around $100 a meter. Not cheap. I only buy it when I need data for my endo visits as my A1C is very controlled.
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u/acros996 Jul 04 '24
Yuck
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u/nexus6ca Jul 04 '24
To qualify for it to be covered under my work benefits I would need to be on 2 insulin injections a day AND have out of range A1c.
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u/Distribution-Radiant Type 2 | G7 | Omnipod DASH | AAPS Jul 04 '24
Same with my marketplace insurance. They've yanked my cgm from me before, same with my omnipod.
I have AAPS set to let me run high enough that I wind up being a little out of range now. Thanks, Cigna..
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u/fm2xm Jul 04 '24
About 5 months ago, my primary wrote me a prescription for a CGM that my insurance company approved. I went with Libre 3
The first prescription was for one month, basically two devices. Libre 3 is good for 14 days. My prescription pills, the prescription is good for a year. Anywho, I called my primary to make it a 90 prescription. All went well, sort of.
Now at 90 days, no more refills, I had to call for a renewal. I did, they renewed it for 28 day supply, basically only two monitors.
WTF. Why am I having to deal with calling my primary. Why can’t they write an annual, 90 day supply prescription, it’s not like they are paying for it or subsidizing its cost. I’m about to set up a meeting and ask what is their deal about this.
A CGM is a friggin monitoring device, should be available over the counter for all those who want to buy.
Imagine if a blood pressure checker also required a prescription.
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u/MindlessRip5915 T2 2021 (Janumet, Optisulin) Jul 04 '24
Imagine if a blood pressure checker also required a prescription.
Don’t say that so loud, the FDA might hear!
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u/1Pandora Jul 05 '24
They can. I asked my Dr for a 90 day supply with 6 units. She wrote it like that and I have been doing 3 months at a time for a couple years now.
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Jul 04 '24
I'm in Detroit area, can I drive over into windsor and buy one?
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u/adonoman Jul 04 '24
At least in Manitoba, a pharmacist can prescribe and sell them. I don't know about Ontario.
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u/figlozzi Jul 04 '24
Because they want a doctor managing your diabetes. Will your doctor not write a prescription? I do agree that one shouldn’t be required as well as for insulin. I think it should be required for a pump.
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u/Shoddy-Worry9131 Jul 04 '24
How do so many fitness people have them now? I have to fight to get my daughter hers and she has type 1. They are so stingy they don’t even give us any overlap in time.
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u/MindlessRip5915 T2 2021 (Janumet, Optisulin) Jul 04 '24
They go through “health and wellness clinics” who write off-label prescriptions for anything under the sun that could potentially have an even negligible wellness/fitness effect as part of an expensive “lifestyle program”. Obviously paying out of pocket isn’t an issue, since they’re being gouged already on the “program”.
The bit that will do your head in, is that in countries with single payer healthcare, if you can get an off-label prescription written, you lose the government subsidy but the shelf price is still less than people in the US (or their insurers) pay!
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u/Bigjoeyjoe81 Jul 05 '24
There are “bio hacking” programs and companies that do this. You get one by paying a monthly fee for it and for their other services. Fitness influencers promote them.
I mean I’m not completely against the concept of bio-hacking but this one is a bit off. Most people don’t have issues with their BG levels and still sign up. I suppose it does show them what eating one food vs the other does to their body but it’s not necessary. Especially when diabetics go without CGMs for various reasons.
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u/bigrob_14 Jul 04 '24
It being a prescription is a secondary issue to me. The cost is the primary issue.
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u/Bitok_2012 Jul 05 '24
I got my Endo to write a script but I pay full price for Libre 3. Basically, I have to be a terrible diabetic for insurance to cover it. Which makes no fucking sense. You use the thing to try not to be a terrible diabetic. USA reactive health care at its finest.
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Jul 04 '24 edited Jul 04 '24
Dexcom is getting ready to release and over the counter CGM called Stelo. It is supposed to be released in August or September.
https://www.medtechdive.com/news/abbott-dexcom-over-the-counter-cgm-launch/719928/
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u/acros996 Jul 04 '24
I also called teledoc and they couldn’t “prescribe” it to me. Is it a narcotic? Can I overdose on it?
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u/buzzybody21 Type 1 2018 MDI/g6 Jul 04 '24
No. It requires continuous monitoring by a physician. Which is why they won’t prescribe it.
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u/pancreaticallybroke Jul 04 '24
It definitely doesn't require monitoring by a physician. You can buy them in lots of countries without a prescription. I'm in the UK and Dex and libre 2 are available to buy. It's around £48 for one libre sensor that does 2 weeks. This seems really expensive to most of us but we're used to getting most of our health care for free
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u/mriss_s Jul 04 '24
same with me in canada, same price too without insurance. But even using insurance i dont need a doc prescription, the pharmacist will do it for me. Im assuming this is an American thing for sure. Very unfortunate
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Jul 04 '24
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u/supermouse35 Jul 04 '24
My endo looks at like 3 days worth of the data and only from the 3 days immediately before my appointment. There's no continuous monitoring of any kind going on. IMO, all testing supplies should be available without a prescription. They aren't altering body chemistry like a drug does, there's no reason to have a gatekeeper preventing me from getting them when I need them.
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Jul 04 '24
Well we’re getting OTC versions in the US in a few months.
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u/acros996 Jul 04 '24
Wait really??
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Jul 04 '24
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u/figlozzi Jul 04 '24
it goes for 15 days but I bet it is less accurate since it’s not meant for diabetics on insulin. They couldn’t get the G7 through for 15 days.
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u/ExceptionRules42 Jul 04 '24
why and how would it be "less accurate" than other CGM's? Did they dumb it down or something?
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u/TheOneWhoWinsItAll Type 2 Jul 05 '24
Since when? I live in Colorado, in the US, and no my doctor does not have access to my data nor do I show him it (although if he asked I almost certainly would). He wrote me a prescription because I was willing to go outside of Kaiser insurance, and I argued that having that data would make it more likely that I could be compliant with changes that I would need to make to manage my diabetes.
In no way does he 'manage" my CGM or my diabetes. That's on me. He informs me, educates me, and if you agrees with me that I need a certain prescription or medication, or if he thinks there's something I didn't consider, then we discuss it. It is a partnership, not a dictatorship.
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u/BB5er Jul 04 '24
Even with a prescription, at least in the US, it’s not covered by any insurance unless you’re on at least 3 shots of insulin per day. I’m fortunate to be able to afford it, and it’s been a game changer.
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u/Robbie_the_Brave Jul 04 '24
My mom's doc refused to give her a cgm even though she is on ozempic because her a1c is not high enough.
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u/principalgal Jul 04 '24
She needs a new doc. That’s crap. The point it so use it to identify patterns with eating and foods.
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u/NyxPetalSpike Type 2 Jul 04 '24
The point is insurance doesn’t care, and pre authorizations burn up doctor’s time If the a1c isn’t above the magical insurance threshold they won’t pay matter how much the doctor screams.
My insurance will only pay if you are 1) on short acting insulin like Humalog and 2) have two cases of documented lows in your actual chart like a ER visit or you needed to call your doctor and had them wrangle the hypo.
BC/BS told me I can “easily” find food pattern glucose readings with a note book and a cheap glucometer. Test 2 hrs after meal and 5 hours for two weeks. It’s doable, but what a PITA.
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u/principalgal Jul 04 '24
It may be worth is to try it for free (Abbott will give you one for free), pay for one more with a good pharmacy coupon) to get the info
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u/MightyDread7 T2 2024 Metformin/Ozempic Jul 04 '24
they are refusing to even prescribe it though
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u/jenyj89 Jul 04 '24
My A1C is in a good range but I forget and don’t like the finger sticks. I told my Dr and asked for a CGM…he wrote out a script. I’m lucky because it’s covered by my insurance. (in US)
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u/Bigjoeyjoe81 Jul 05 '24
Same thing happened to me. I do have a new doc who is willing to prescribe it. However, insurance won’t pay for it.
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u/bjockchayn Jul 04 '24
Are you a diabetic? Or do you want a CGM for biohacking or general health?
The prescriptions are there to prevent the general health crowd from taking up stock, so that there is always enough supply for people who depend on CGM as a life saving device. There are already FAR too many halfwit health influencers out there telling people to use CGMs and certain diabetes medications for dietary and biohacking purposes. That increases demand, decreases supply, and reduces access for the diabetics who actually NEED these things for survival.
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u/Bigjoeyjoe81 Jul 04 '24
This is a good point. The thing is that people like myself can’t (or it’s hard to) get one and I am a diabetic. I’m one with fairly well controlled BG and not on insulin. I was in a study years ago using BG monitors to see how food impacted diabetics with A1C under 7. That thing helped me behaviorally. I got my A1C down to prediabetic range and needed less meds. Felt a lot better too. Even so, the doctor said the clinic she worked for wouldn’t let her write the script.
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u/bjockchayn Jul 04 '24
I don't know enough about that. I think they do limit access to T2s, particularly well-controlled ones, because their need is not as acute as that of. T1s. There is so much sensitivity about supply/demand bc of how hard it is to get diabetes supplies in North America so it is a lot more regulated.
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u/DodobirdNow Type 2 Jul 04 '24
Amazon (Canada) will sell Freestyle Libres without a prescription. The price is more than my pharmacy charges though.
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u/CandiceJoy218 Jul 04 '24
My insurance denied my request for a CGM because it’s not medically necessary… I know people with T2 who aren’t insulin reliant and have a CGM. So if I could just buy the thing on my own that would be cool.
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u/Prudent_Level1307 Type 2 Jul 04 '24
You can still buy it on your own, just have your doc give you a paper RX, and have the pharmacy not try to submit the claim and pay out of pocket using a GoodRx coupon.
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u/Milo-Vanilo Jul 04 '24
Your Doctor has car payments and kids to support. They are also good at lobbying.
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u/groundhog5886 Jul 04 '24
About as bad as my insurance comprequires a script for my One Touch glue code monitor and strips, in order for them to pay.
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u/ikurumba Jul 04 '24
If it was over the counter my insurance probably wouldn't cover it. Whenever I need to take something and I can buy it they refuse to cover it.
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u/bionic_human T1/1997/AAPS (DynISF)/DexG6 Jul 04 '24
Tylenol would be Rx-only if it was introduced today due to the liver toxicity. 🤷♂️
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u/inertSpark Type 2: HBA1C 7.2 (Now 4.5) Jul 04 '24
You can buy Freestyle non-prescription here in the UK. Hell you can even buy a Libre 2 on Amazon.
£48 per sensor.
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u/HoloInfinity Jul 04 '24
It's probably to keep enougb in stock for those who need them. Unlike how wegovy/ozempic rxs have been handed out for weightloss instead of reatricted to diabetics or obese patients. That's just my theory of the reaspn
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u/Tasty-Mix830 Jul 04 '24
You can order a Libre3 monitor, with alarm, on line. I do it to keep an extra spare, because I got a defective one from pharmacy, was traveling l, so had to go without for a few days. Now I carry a spare, and my “stick” monitor, too
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u/IamMe90 Type 1 Jul 04 '24
You can buy them online without a prescription, but they are not covered by insurance and are extremely expensive.
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u/terraaus Jul 04 '24
I understand people who do not have diabetes are starting to buy CGMs just because they want to check their blood sugar levels. Perhaps the prescriptions are to make sure there are enough for diabetics who need them. Remember how Ozempic ran low for diabetics because people who wanted it for weight loss started buying it in droves?
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u/WildMartin429 Jul 04 '24
I'm honestly not sure why a prescription would be required to purchase one out of pocket. I could see a prescription being needed if you want health insurance to pay part of the cost. I bought Contour Next glucose tester without needing a prescription. Of course that's the kind you have to prick and do the strips with.
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u/VladTepesDraculea T1 1993 MDI Jul 04 '24
Here in Portugal you don't need a prescription, but there is no state co-pays without prescription though and you pay full price (~ €60 per Liber sensor VS ~€8).
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u/SemiOldCRPGs Jul 04 '24
Dexcomm is just about to release Stelo, which is an over the counter CGM that doesn't require a prescription. My endo can't prescribe one for me because I'm not on insulin.
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u/msexcitement Jul 04 '24
You don’t need a prescription anymore - get a Dexcom stelo next next month when they come out over the counter
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u/loco_gigo Jul 04 '24
The are two OTC monitors set to be released late this year. No word on price. Most doctors will write the script, but insurance only covers them for type 1.
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u/vasagle_gleblu Jul 04 '24
In Canada you do not need a prescription to buy diabetic supplies. However, you need one to qualify for any medical insurance coverage.
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u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER Jul 05 '24
You can get them by going to fitness subscriptions route which includes CGMs
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u/LifeguardRare4431 Jul 05 '24
Dexcom Stelo Is a over-the-counter CGM no prescription required. In the United States it has already been FDA approved. I don't know what Dexcom is waiting for. Maybe they need to manufacture enough of them. I don't know. They're supposed to be available summer of 2024 which is right around now. So I don't know I'm guessing very shortly within a month or two maybe earlier, they should be available at pharmacies without a prescription.
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u/MerelyAnArtist Gestational Jul 05 '24
The Stela CGM should be coming out really soon. According to articles, it’s the first FDA approved non-prescription CGM on the market. Many others out there that are not FDA approved are going for $300+ per month.
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u/WIBadgerFootball Jul 05 '24
It’s weird - I wanted to do a home sleep study and they wanted a prescription from my doctor…WHY?!!!!!
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u/Embarrassed_Bad9678 Jul 05 '24
I agree. I have been trying to get one myself but have to get a script first and I can’t afford to see a doc.
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u/PeZet2 Jul 05 '24
It depends on the country. In Poland you can buy whatever cgm you want without any prescription. If you have one you pay only a fraction of the price, if you don't you pay full price.
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u/PickledPigPinkies Jul 05 '24
https://www.dexcom.com/stelo This will be over-the-counter, no prescription needed .
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u/ViniusInvictus Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24
It’s because of the overarching reach of the tentacles of the bureaucracy combined with the nefarious influence of crony capitalists.
If they could’ve, they’d have kept regular glucose strip meters prescription-only, as well.
By having selective restrictions, the parties involved can tap into several lucrative revenue streams through arbitrary price fixing.
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u/Aev_ACNH Jul 05 '24
Nutrisense sells one
Not sure how accurate or what to expect
Worth a google search
Otherwise wait on the fda
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u/Important-Pain-1734 Jul 05 '24
I work in insurance so I checked and it isn't DME that requires a prescription. Then I checked Amazon and they sell it, they do offer a cheaper price if you have a prescription but it's not mandatory.
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u/red_shedevil Jul 05 '24
And then insurance makes you have your dr send updates twice a yr of the prescription. Like.. yup still got it.. not going to magically cure itself 🫠
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u/NoAd3438 Jul 05 '24
Government bureaucracy is bloated, they have lost all common sense. The insurance companies are probably behind the lobby that creates the bureaucracy.
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u/Cyc68 Type 2 2013 Insulin Jul 05 '24
Where are you? In Ireland I can buy Libre 2 cgms direct from Abbott, from my local pharmacy and even from Amazon.
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u/PanAmFlyer Jul 05 '24
You may already know this, but don't buy the hardware. You just need the sensors and the software on your phone.
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u/kn0tkn0wn Jul 05 '24
Dexcom is supposedly releasing a cheaper personal use glucose monitoring device called “Stelo” later this summer. No prescription required, possibly.
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u/MommaNix19 Jul 05 '24
The FDA just approved a new product by Dexcom for OTC use back in March. I'm not sure how long until it hits the market. They are shooting to release it over the summer here in the USA. You can sign up on their website to get alerted when the Dexcom Stelo is released.
My thought is, once they roll it out, it won't be long until others are available. I think I remember seeing when the keto diet became all the rage, there were companies offering a cgm type of device online, but it turned out you needed to get a doctors approval. One company, Signos, would have their doctors approve you, but I think it still has to go through some sort of and you have to allow them full access to your personal Health Data
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u/MommaNix19 Jul 05 '24
What I would love to see is the CostPlus Drugs program by Mark Cuban to partner with one of the CGM companies so those of us having to pay out of pocket could be assured we could afford them OTC. That program saved me before I had insurance! Even when we used GoodRX, having the FreeStyle was very expensive for us. Thankfully we have insurance now.
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u/jakethesnakebakecake Type 1 Jul 05 '24
Because this country is run by idiots, and diabetes is treated like it's temporary by every single aspect of medical care. Insurance has warped what people are willing to find acceptable after years of painful conditioning to extremely aggravating rules and decisions outside of our control.
There's also some sort of concern that normal people would buy and hoard sensors if they no longer required a script, but I feel like that's a very weak argument and likely could be easily prevented with a little bit of applied critical thinking.
In summary, no matter what people tell you, there is no good reason. Insurance doesn't want to pay for it and pharmacies don't want to deal with people buying out their inventory. They treat these things like some impossible puzzle that can never be solved.
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u/Nedscottyscott Jul 05 '24
Abbott just got FDA approval for 2 new over the counter CGM’s which will be based on the Libre 2.
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u/Single-Presence-8995 Jul 05 '24
From my understanding, in NC, I was written a life time prescription for Dexcom... It may have been removed, I am unsure. But definitely ask! :)
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u/Terryleffler Jul 05 '24
Wait till August you can then buy the dexcom Stello with out a prescription but might only be able to get it through dexcom website at first stello will be the fist otc available with out a script
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u/925doorguy Jul 06 '24
I have a prescription for my Libre but I also went online to Diabetic Warehouse and got a few backups with no scrip
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u/BreakingB1226 Aug 30 '24
I'm type 2 diabetic and was sick and tired of poking my fingers but my doctor won't prescribe me a continuous glucose monitor. I just buy my sensors from people that want to sell them online and don't give a shit if I have a prescription or not. I do t need the reader because my phone does everything the meter does and my phone is on me all day anyway so I just need to buy the sensors. Lots of people sell them and they are sealed brand new and not expired. Usually it's from different people because once they find out what they are selling the listing gets removed. May pay a little more but that's ok. Doctors are basically forcing people to get them this way because they want to be dicks.
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u/No-Net-7049 Sep 24 '24
I just ordered a Libre 3 online with no more information than the payment method, i used paypal, my email address for the sales receipt, my address for the shipping and my phone number. NO SCRIPT. It was $92.99 total, no tax, no shipping charge, from a place called Discount OTC dot com. And also referred to as Save Rite Medical located at Mailing Address:
Save Rite Medical
168 10th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Business Hours :
Monday - Thursday 9:00am to 5:00pm Eastern Time
Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm Eastern Time
Web orders may be placed 24 hours a day.
Toll-Free: +1 (866) 923-1544
Phone: (718) 534-0607
Fax: (718) 854-3040
Email: [cs@saveritemedical.com](mailto:cs@saveritemedical.com)
I hope someone else can use this info. ben/ michigan
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Jul 04 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/diabetes-ModTeam Jul 04 '24
Your post was removed for breaking one of Reddit's rules.
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Please see the Content Policy for more information.
Reddit has explicitly told the moderators that the giving away of insulin, sites, sensors, or any other diabetes supply is forbidden. Unfortunately, we must remove this post because they will remove the entire community if we don't.
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u/NyxPetalSpike Type 2 Jul 04 '24 edited Jul 04 '24
It’s considered a medical device per the FDA.
Don’t get my started on why you need a script to purchase a CPAP machine. No one has died from getting room air blown into their airways.
Just looked it up. FDA considers both a Class II medical device, which means prescription required.