Dexcom

Dexcom G6

As of August 2026 we track 8 continuous glucose monitors available here, and the cheapest one you can buy without a prescription is the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus at about £103.98 a month.

Specifications

Specifications
Wear time10 days
Warm-up120 minutes
Accuracy (MARD)10% (independent study)
Readingsevery 5 min
AlarmsYes
PrescriptionRequired

Sources: Wadwa RP, Laffel LM, Shah VN, Garg SK (2018). Accuracy of a Factory-Calibrated, Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System During 10 Days of Use in Youth and Adults with Diabetes. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.

What does the accuracy figure mean?

MARD is the average gap between what the sensor says and what a laboratory blood test says, as a percentage. A 10% MARD means readings are off by about 10% on average — so a true 7.0 mmol/L might show as anywhere around 6.3 to 7.7. Lower is better. Most current sensors sit under 10%; twenty years ago they were over 20%. No sensor is exact, which is why treatment decisions still get confirmed with a fingerstick when a reading does not match how you feel.

Sources: Almurashi AM, Rodriguez E, Garg SK (2023). Emerging Diabetes Technologies: Continuous Glucose Monitors/Artificial Pancreases. Journal of the Indian Institute of Science.

Pricing

Not published

to try

Not published

per year

per sensor · 10 days
Not published
per month
Not published

Prices last checked: 2026-08-05

What works well

  • Long track record and broad compatibility with insulin pumps
  • Predictive low-glucose alert rather than only a threshold alarm

What to watch out for

  • Two-hour warm-up, four times longer than the G7
  • 10.0% MARD, the least accurate figure among the sensors here that have published one
  • Being phased out in favour of the G7 in most markets

Our verdict

Superseded. Choose it only if a pump or clinic you depend on still requires it — otherwise the G7 is more accurate and warms up far faster.

Common questions

Is the Dexcom G6 still available?
It is being phased out in favour of the G7, though it remains supported where pumps and clinics still depend on it.
Compare continuous glucose monitors