Thought it would be useful to start a topic looking at the pricing of the various CGM and GM options out there. Feel free to add others as they come up. This is solely for stand alone systems. Those with the Animas Vibe or Medtronic pumps, for example, can add their own posts with the TCO detailed.
So, what are the costs?
Dexcom G4 (available direct from Dexcom) - No longer available:
Sensor Pack (4 sensors): £205
Replacement Transmitter: £260
Receiver Kit: £350
Lifetime of sensor: Est. 4 weeks
Lifetime of Transmitter: Est 12-14 months
First year cost assuming 1 sensor lasts for a month: £1170
Second year cost (including replacement transmitter): £875
Total Two Year cost: £2045
Dexcom G5 (available direct from Dexcom):
Sensor Pack (4 sensors): £205
Replacement Transmitter: £200
Receiver Kit: £275
Lifetime of sensor: Est. 4 weeks
Lifetime of Transmitter: 3 months
First year cost assuming 1 sensor lasts for a month: £1690
Second year cost (including replacement transmitters): £1415
Total Two Year cost: £3105
Dexcom G6 (available direct from Dexcom):
Sensors: £55
Replacement Transmitter: £200
Receiver Kit: Not required
Alternatively - monthly subscription - £159 per month
Lifetime of sensor: Est. 2 weeks
Lifetime of Transmitter: 3 months
Total annual cost using pay monthly: £1908
Total Annual cost buying individual components (20 days per sensor/6 months per transmitter): ~£1400
Abbott Freestyle Libre:
Start up kit: £138
Sensors: £48 per sensor
Replacement reader (if you lose/break the original): £48
Lifetime of Sensor: 14 days
First year cost: £1290
Second year cost: £1248
Total Two year cost: £2538
No longer available
Obviously, having a pump with the built in CGM capability vastly reduces the initial start-up costs on the Dexcom.
Both the Dexcom and the Abbott Navigator are true CGM and provide alerting for blood glucose level variation, which isn't something that can be achieved with the Freestyle Libre.
The way that Abbott charge for the Libre allows for a much easier spread of the cost over the annualised payment period, which makes it significantly more affordable. It also works out 50% cheaper in the first year, however, over a two year period, the difference between the Libre and Dexcom works out at less than 10%. If Advanced Therapeutics offer free postage, this difference works out to be even lower.
To me, the Abbott Navigator doesn't get a look in due to the cost of the product for no additional benefit.
So, what are the costs?
Dexcom G4 (available direct from Dexcom) - No longer available:
Sensor Pack (4 sensors): £205
Replacement Transmitter: £260
Receiver Kit: £350
Lifetime of sensor: Est. 4 weeks
Lifetime of Transmitter: Est 12-14 months
First year cost assuming 1 sensor lasts for a month: £1170
Second year cost (including replacement transmitter): £875
Total Two Year cost: £2045
Dexcom G5 (available direct from Dexcom):
Sensor Pack (4 sensors): £205
Replacement Transmitter: £200
Receiver Kit: £275
Lifetime of sensor: Est. 4 weeks
Lifetime of Transmitter: 3 months
First year cost assuming 1 sensor lasts for a month: £1690
Second year cost (including replacement transmitters): £1415
Total Two Year cost: £3105
Dexcom G6 (available direct from Dexcom):
Sensors: £55
Replacement Transmitter: £200
Receiver Kit: Not required
Alternatively - monthly subscription - £159 per month
Lifetime of sensor: Est. 2 weeks
Lifetime of Transmitter: 3 months
Total annual cost using pay monthly: £1908
Total Annual cost buying individual components (20 days per sensor/6 months per transmitter): ~£1400
Abbott Freestyle Libre:
Start up kit: £138
Sensors: £48 per sensor
Replacement reader (if you lose/break the original): £48
Lifetime of Sensor: 14 days
First year cost: £1290
Second year cost: £1248
Total Two year cost: £2538
No longer available
Obviously, having a pump with the built in CGM capability vastly reduces the initial start-up costs on the Dexcom.
Both the Dexcom and the Abbott Navigator are true CGM and provide alerting for blood glucose level variation, which isn't something that can be achieved with the Freestyle Libre.
The way that Abbott charge for the Libre allows for a much easier spread of the cost over the annualised payment period, which makes it significantly more affordable. It also works out 50% cheaper in the first year, however, over a two year period, the difference between the Libre and Dexcom works out at less than 10%. If Advanced Therapeutics offer free postage, this difference works out to be even lower.
To me, the Abbott Navigator doesn't get a look in due to the cost of the product for no additional benefit.
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