Dexcom G4 or G5 mobile

Have a word with @TorqPenderloin. It's my understanding he has used both G4/G5 systems and will explain the variants between the two, with regards to sensor life/transmitter life.

Grant

@HighlandMike it's basically a cost/functionality trade off.

With the G4, you can get the parts cheaper through Animas and if you want to use your phone, build the xDrip wireless bridge and use the NightScout infrastructure which you will have to build yourself.

With the G5, you can use your phone, but it won't work with your Vibe, and the transmitters die every 3 months, so it costs quite a bit more. You will be able to buy the sensors through Animas (which will be cheaper), but not the transmitters, which you will have to buy direct from Dexcom.

The choice, as they say, is yours!

I am a G5 user, I love it. Dexcom have now started selling direct to the UK and sensor/ transmitter prices are a lot lower than AT offered. You also don't need to buy a starter pack if you buy from Dexcom, making initial startup cost cheaper with a G5 as you don't need a receiver (its nice to have though).

Transmitter life sucks (3 months as @tim2000s mentioned) and can't be extended like the G4. But aside from that - amazing!

Hi @HighlandMike , I use the G4, with an animas vibe and also have the receiver which I used before getting the pump. I haven't used the G5, but personally would not have gone for it, because of the transmitter life.
The graph is a little less readable on the vibe, and slightly slower to scroll through the screens. I also much prefer the dexcom software for reviewing the CGM data, but this can only upload data from the receiver, and not from the vibe. The diasend software has its own benefits, in that you can share the data online with your DSN (assuming they are set up) but the upload is a little bit slower then dexcom software.
All that said, I have in the last week stopped carrying my dexcom receiver, and am using only the vibe, and am quite happy with the setup. HtH, Paul

HighlandMike said:

I am currently have an animas vibe pump and want to start using a CGM system. Any recommendation on if I should go for the G4 which uses the pump as the receiver or go for the G5 mobile and using my iPhone/watch as the receiver? Many thanks. Mike
Sent from my iPhone using DCUK Forum

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Also, are you aware that Animas will setup a private account for Vibe users and sell you the Dexcom kit directly?

do the sensors last the same length of time with the g4 vs the g5? I uderstand there is difference in the transmitter life but the sensors appear to be the same

edan said:

do the sensors last the same length of time with the g4 vs the g5? I uderstand there is difference in the transmitter life but the sensors appear to be the same

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Yes, there is no difference in the sensors. Using the g4 and I have found that if you secure them to restrict movement using flexifix and skin tac (or similar products) i can get mine to last between 25 and 30 days each time

edan said:

do the sensors last the same length of time with the g4 vs the g5? I uderstand there is difference in the transmitter life but the sensors appear to be the same

Click to expand...

Yes, there is no difference in the sensors. Using the g4 and I have found that if you secure them to restrict movement using flexifix and skin tac (or similar products) i can get mine to last between 25 and 30 days each time

paulliljeros said:

Yes, there is no difference in the sensors. Using the g4 and I have found that if you secure them to restrict movement using flexifix and skin tac (or similar products) i can get mine to last between 25 and 30 days each time

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Thankyou, i'm currently using the libre and debating switching to either G4+xdrip or G5. I have quite a few questions about both but will look if there are older threads that answer them.

I have seen some users reporting issues with maintaining pairing between the G5 and iPhones, I would take a look into this if I was moving just to see if its phone age related as I've seen others reporting they are very happy.

Chas C said:

I have seen some users reporting issues with maintaining pairing between the G5 and iPhones, I would take a look into this if I was moving just to see if its phone age related as I've seen others reporting they are very happy.

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Thankyou, i will look for reports of this. I'm trying to compare G4 with xdrip to G5. The G4 is a bit cheaper than G5 if transmitter lasts a year, but the G5 means not carrying the two extra devices and is fairly similar cost as the G4 over one year, if only considering G4 transmitter to last the 6 months stated and G5 to last the 3.5 months. Accuracy and reliability is obviously a big part though. Does either system backfill missed data? Eg if you went swimming for an hour, left devices out of range in locker, then afterwards would there be a gap in readings or would it fill in the data?

edan said:

Thankyou, i will look for reports of this. I'm trying to compare G4 with xdrip to G5. The G4 is a bit cheaper than G5 if transmitter lasts a year, but the G5 means not carrying the two extra devices and is fairly similar cost as the G4 over one year, if only considering G4 transmitter to last the 6 months stated and G5 to last the 3.5 months. Accuracy and reliability is obviously a big part though. Does either system backfill missed data? Eg if you went swimming for an hour, left devices out of range in locker, then afterwards would there be a gap in readings or would it fill in the data?

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The transmitter has no memory, its just a transmitter that ships the data once every 5 mins, if the receiver is not in range then its lost. Why would this be an issue, today you have no readings at all ?.

The accuracy is the same for G4 and G5, the operation is the same its just the G4 transmits HF or RF radio waves and the G5 transmits in bluetooth.

The range for the G4 is good, mine will travel across the house and through walls, from upstairs in bedroom to downstairs into kitchen. You'd need to ask someone with the G5 to comment on its range.

Would be interested in your decision as I've not been convinced to move yet.

Chas C said:

The transmitter has no memory, its just a transmitter that ships the data once every 5 mins, if the receiver is not in range then its lost. Why would this be an issue, today you have no readings at all ?.

The accuracy is the same for G4 and G5, the operation is the same its just the G4 transmits HF or RF radio waves and the G5 transmits in bluetooth.

The range for the G4 is good, mine will travel across the house and through walls, from upstairs in bedroom to downstairs into kitchen. You'd need to ask someone with the G5 to comment on its range.

Would be interested in your decision as I've not been convinced to move yet.

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I currently use the freestyle libre, so i get all the readings, without gaps, so long as i scan once every 8 hours. To have gaps would seem like a backwards step on that aspect though there are forwards steps in other areas eg the alarms. Are there gaps with both the G4 as well as the G5 then, it just sends the data straight out and if something picks it up then its kept on the receiving device, if nothing picks it up then its lost?

With the G4 i'd be looking at xdrip, as otherwise buying a receiver makes it similar price to the G5, but then i have to carry an xdrip box and an extra android phone around in my pocket since my main phone is an iphone. I was thinking i could just keep the spare phone in my bag and use nightscout to have the readings on my iphone. However it seems nightscout only actually alarms whilst the phone is unlocked with app open, (if i've understood that right) which isnt practical. So i'm trying to research mre into how the xdrip setup works with getting the alarms. Before i move onto researching my hundreds of other questions!

As I stated before, the transmitter has no memory, its just a transmitter that ships the data once every 5 mins, if the receiver is not in range then its lost. The G4 and G5 transmitters are the same regarding memory, they both have no memory.

The good thing is you do not need to swipe every 5 mins as you do with the Libre - this is the main benefit.

Chas C said:

As I stated before, the transmitter has no memory, its just a transmitter that ships the data once every 5 mins, if the receiver is not in range then its lost. The G4 and G5 transmitters are the same regarding memory, they both have no memory.

The good thing is you do not need to swipe every 5 mins as you do with the Libre - this is the main benefit.

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Thanks, i just wanted to check it wasnt just like that in the G5 - the dexcom site seems not to answer many of my questions. At this point i'm leaning more towards the G4 - whilst the main draws of the G5 are not carrying an extra device, being able to completely silence the alarms, and slightly increased accuracy, relying on my phone having battery all the time is an issue occasionally. I also find my phone alarms don't wake me up for basal testing so i'm not sure if dexcom alarms would wake me, and theres the accidentally closing app possibility. All small niggles that i've found so far, other than cost.

Whilst the costs are pretty much the same in the first year, due to not needing a receiver for G5, if the G4 is still available in a year or so then the longer term costs are cheaper for the G4. The areas G4 is better are battery life - with a G5 i'd have to carry something extra to ensure my phone battery didnt run out on long days, and the connection to transmitter seems more reliable from what i've read. I havent decided yet and am still looking into it, and hoping to try the G4 for a week or two to see if i get on with it first also.

My ideal CGM doesnt seem to exist but it would be
- good price and accurate!!!
- fairly small, easy to carry in pocket with all the other junk, but big enough screen to see data
- adaptable screen - zoom in/out on the part of day you want to see
- able to show the bg numbers for individual data points on the graph
- adjustable scale on the graph, not the highest point fixed at over 20 like libre
- alarms when you want them - variety of sound profiles from silent through vibrate through soft to loud noises
- customizable alarm levels for different days and times - or alarm profiles you can just switch through whenever needed eg work / bedtime / sports
- easy to log carbs and insulin and have display show them on the graph (libre does attempt this but isn't user friendly for me)
- long battery life
- memory of the last hour or so readings so no gap if you are out of range for a while
- simple analysis options available on the receiving device, to get an overview of improvement over time.
- IOB and bolus calculator on the screen with bgs
- at least a 30 day memory, good clear software that stores all the previous bg data whenever you upload it.