Graham’s morning looked like this — woke up at 238, went for a run, hit 240, took two units, dropped to 69, had a fig bar, bounced back to 239. Meanwhile I woke up to a CGM reading of 267 when my finger stick said 160. A hundred milligrams per deciliter off. On day nine of a ten-day sensor.

In this episode Graham and I get honest about something that’s been frustrating both of us — CGM accuracy. Specifically the Dexcom G7. And not just the first 24 to 48 hour window that everyone already knows about. We’re talking about sensors that are off by 60, 70, even 100 points on day five, day eight, day nine — with no warning and no rhyme or reason.

We get into why Graham made the decision to go back to finger sticks and why for him it was less about the data and more about his mental health and stress levels. We dig into the business incentives — or lack thereof — that might be behind declining sensor quality. We talk about the class action lawsuits that have been filed against major CGM companies. And we get into one of the scariest implications of CGM inaccuracy that most people haven’t thought through — what happens when a closed loop insulin pump is making dosing decisions based on a number that’s off by 100 points.

This one is real, a little heated, and exactly the kind of conversation that needed to happen.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why Ken has been experiencing CGM inaccuracies of 60 to 100 milligrams per deciliter on the Dexcom G7
• Why these inaccuracies are happening throughout the full 10-day sensor cycle — not just the first 24 to 48 hours
• Why Graham went back to finger sticks — and why for him it came down to mental health, not data
• The business incentives behind declining CGM quality and why there’s little financial motivation to fix it
• The class action lawsuits filed against major CGM companies for faulty sensors
• Why CGM inaccuracy becomes a dangerous problem when a closed loop insulin pump is making automated dosing decisions
• Why a backup glucose meter is non-negotiable regardless of how good your CGM is
• Why Ken is getting close to switching to the Libre 3 Plus or EverSense 365

Your CGM is a powerful tool. But it’s not infallible. And when it’s off by 60, 70, or 100 milligrams per deciliter, it’s not just an inconvenience — it’s a risk. Always have a backup. Always confirm when something doesn’t feel right. The meter takes ten seconds and it could save your life.

Additional Resources

• 🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
• 📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
• 💪 Work with me: More Than A1C — 1on1 Coaching
• 📞 Simplify Your Diabetes — Free Call: Book Now
• 🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

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