Podcast Summary: Dexcom G7 Sensor, The 15-Day Sensor, and What to Expect from G8 with CEO Jake Leach

Taking Control Of Your Diabetes® – The Podcast!
Hosts: Dr. Steve Edelman & Dr. Jeremy Pettus
Guest: Jake Leach, CEO of Dexcom
Release Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode brings together Dr. Steve Edelman, Dr. Jeremy Pettus (both endocrinologists and long-time type 1 diabetes patients), and Jake Leach, CEO of Dexcom. The conversation traces the history and rapid evolution of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, focusing on Dexcom’s major milestones, current challenges with the G7, the imminent launch of a 15-day sensor, and what’s on the horizon with the G8 platform—including multi-analyte sensing capabilities. The dialogue is candid, insightful, and peppered with humorous moments and personal anecdotes, offering listeners an authentic view of diabetes tech innovation from both provider and user perspectives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Early Days: From Experimental Implants to Subcutaneous Sensors

• Dexcom’s Origin Story: Jake Leach recounts Dexcom’s beginnings (01:41), their early focus on implantable sensors, and the pivotal shift to disposable subcutaneous sensors for quicker innovation cycles and improved reliability.
  • "We started to see the tremendous impact that CGM can have, starting with type 1 diabetes, but through the whole spectrum, through prediabetes and beyond." – Jake Leach [01:41]
• First FDA-Approved Sensor: The STS 3-day sensor (approved 2006) marked Dexcom’s first product entry—primitive accuracy, requiring finger-stick confirmations, but life-changing for users accustomed to constant finger-pricking (07:19–08:18).
  • The original receivers were “repurposed” Motorola pagers and later the “Tylenol” (oval-shaped) receiver—an example of start-up resourcefulness (05:19–07:30).
  • "It may not have been as accurate as I would have wanted... but you have to remember where I was coming from. Pricking your finger 10 to 12 times a day." – Dr. Jeremy Pettus [07:32]

Barriers to Adoption: Insurance, Awareness, and "Too Much Information"

• Early Access Hurdles: The prescription process was convoluted—limited to those with documented severe hypoglycemia, insurance burdens, and skeptical physicians (09:18–10:51).
• Medical Culture Resistance: Providers and payers feared giving patients real-time access would cause more harm than good—debates raged over "blinded" (patient-hidden) data vs. “unblinded” (real-time) access (10:36–14:36).
  • Notable anecdote: A patient died wearing a blinded CGM—highlighting the critical nature of real-time transparency (13:27–14:00).
  • "Blinding was unethical... why not show people this information?" – Dr. Steve Edelman [13:10]

Progression of CGM: From G4 to G7

• Technical Breakthroughs: G4 marked a leap in sensor accuracy, manufacturability, and (most crucially) broader insurance coverage (16:30–17:58).
  • Smartphone integration was a major user demand, first met via the “Share Cradle” and later directly with the G5 (17:58–20:20).
  • "It was the first time that a Class 3 medical device... had ever been connected to a smartphone." – Jake Leach [18:41]
• G6 and Beyond: Eliminated calibration requirement and introduced the “auto-inserter”—removing barriers for needle-wary or pediatric patients (25:27–26:08).

The G7 Era: Successes and Hiccups

• User Experience Feedback: The launch of G7 saw mixed reviews—remarkable improvement for some, but connectivity and reliability issues for others (27:04–29:31).
  • "There's no limit, there's no cap on [sensor replacements]... If you need a sensor overnight, we're going to ship it overnight." – Jake Leach [29:17]
• Manufacturing and Support Adjustments: The team acknowledged and addressed supply and quality control issues, promising ongoing improvement and responsive support (29:31–31:27).

What’s Next: 15-Day Sensor, Smart Basal, and the G8 Platform

15-Day Sensor & Smart Basal

• Extended Wear, Increased Performance: Imminent launch of the 15.5-day G7 sensor with enhanced algorithmic accuracy (31:40–32:21).
• Smart Basal Feature: For type 2 diabetes patients on basal insulin, an in-app titration tool will prompt dose adjustments, reminders, and communication with physicians.
  • "The CGM can help show the impact of taking insulin versus not. Every day gives you a recommendation and gets you the dose needed." – Jake Leach [33:50]
  • This feature targets improved glycemic control between infrequent clinic visits (34:44–35:31).

G8 and the Future of Sensing

• Smaller, Smarter, Multi-Analyte Monitoring: G8 will be Dexcom’s smallest platform, aiming for substantial accuracy gains and the ability to detect additional biomarkers (ketones, lactate, potassium, and more) (35:42–36:49).
  • "There's a whole host of analytes... why not amplify the value by adding some other markers in there?" – Jake Leach [36:35]
• G8 is projected to launch within 2-4 years; multi-analyte sensing may unlock new use cases beyond diabetes (37:24).

Software & AI: Food Logging, Data-Driven Care

• Smart Photo Meal Logging: G7 and over-the-counter Stelo app feature AI-powered photo meal logs; photos are paired with CGM excursions to inform users and physicians (39:08–40:39).
  • "It uses AI technology to analyze the meal and... pre-populate it into your history log... and then pairs up your glucose excursion." – Jake Leach [39:08]
• Future Vision: Wide global adoption, affordable access, integrated AI for actionable feedback, and expansion into broader metabolic and chronic disease applications (41:18–43:56).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We knew that this was going to work... when they got the real-time feedback, having data they'd never had before—this real-time glucose data."
  – Jake Leach, on early unblinded CGM studies [11:23]

• "Having type 1 myself, I think I really could realize the importance of it probably more than someone that doesn't have diabetes."
  – Dr. Steve Edelman [16:05]

• "It's motivating... If you show them with the CGM and the titration algorithm just how much better their glucose control is... that's a real motivator."
  – Jake Leach, on basal insulin titration [35:11]

• "CGM saves the health system money in the first year because... you eliminate extra utilization in healthcare, like emergency rooms and extra doctor visits."
  – Jake Leach [45:26]

• [Humorous]
  "You stealing from something from Motorola, never telling them... all the way to BlackBerry and forward."
  – Dr. Jeremy Pettus, on Dexcom's inventive roots [47:22]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Brief History of Dexcom & First Sensors: 01:41–07:30
• Early User Experience and Medical Skepticism: 08:18–15:17
• Breakthrough to Broad Adoption (G4, G5, Insurance): 16:30–22:00
• Smartphone Integration & Engineering Challenges: 22:27–24:29
• G6 Impact (Calibration-free, Auto-inserter): 25:27–26:20
• G7 User Experience & Support Policies: 27:04–31:27
• 15-Day Sensor & Smart Basal Feature: 31:40–34:44
• G8 & Multi-Analyte Future: 35:42–38:12
• AI Photo Meal Logging Feature: 39:08–40:39
• Global Access, The Future of Data-Driven Diabetes Care: 41:18–43:56
• Reflections on the Evolution of Care: 46:08–47:40

Final Thoughts

The episode is a rich combination of tech-history, medical philosophy, and practical insight into both the triumphs and ongoing challenges in diabetes care technology. The guests emphasize how sustained innovation and advocacy are making CGM both standard of care and a vehicle for deeper, data-driven health management. The conversation leaves listeners with optimism for both near- and long-term advancements, as well as a deeper appreciation for the sometimes-messy, always-patient-centered evolution of diabetes technology.