13 Dexcom G7 users die after sensor failure

Hunterbrook Media published a report that mentionsthree new deaths reportedin the FDA database (MAUDE) possibly related to sensor failuresDexcom G7.
In total, since its launch, there have been registeredat least 13 deathsassociated with incidents in which the G7 model appears.

TheFDA sent warning letter to Dexcomin March 2025 for quality control issues, and the outlet states that Dexcom did not respond to its queries for this article.

Video explaining in detail the last 3 cases in the news:

Link

Learning there are new deaths tied to G7 sensor failures, on top of the ones before, and knowing the FDA already pointed out quality issues…  Hope they’ll give a clear explanation soon.

I thought it was "Halloween" news.How strong!

Technology is of great help to us but it is clear that it is not infallible.

You should always use the glucometer when it seems that the sensor reads strange things.

I think that in these cases of deaths there is a lot of negligence on the part of the doctors, for not checking with a glucometer before giving insulin or sugar.

But honestly, I think the Dexcom G7 should be retired.For cases like those or this one that I have seen right now:

Link

And because, it is known that Dexcom decided to stop buying the sensor filament reagent (which was approved by the FDA) and made one themselves, to save money.But it is not approved and produces terrible and very dangerous failures.

As they say in the Tiktok comments, Dexcom only cares about money.

Pufff....what a move...I don't understand the reason for these deaths...they always say in consultations that you check with a glucometer before deciding...it doesn't make much sense (apart from making gadgets that go so badly, of course)

The nurses who control me (Educators?) say that the free one is terrible for me and that they are going to change it and they told me that they will put me on the dexcom one plus....😬😬.Thank goodness I trust my symptoms and glucometer more than the sensor...

I think those problems and that reagent change are only for the G7, people from what I read are happy with the other Dexcom models.Until the G7 came out, Dexcom was the best in sensors, although much more expensive than the others.Maybe that's why doctors and patients trusted him too much.Or perhaps because in the US they have been using CGMs for 20 years.

The G7 is a more precise sensor than the One plus and the Freestyle.This makes it possible to connect to insulin pumps with the ability to increase/decrease the flow of insulin.Obviously, in these cases a sensor reading failure can be fatal.

I used the Freestyle and now the One Plus.The One Plus seems a little more accurate than the Freestyle, and with less processed data (the algorithm it has to show the glucose level seems less aggressive than the Freestyle), but it has problems with clearly incorrect readings (especially the first 24/48 hours) and more frequent disconnections than the Freestyle (especially in the last few days).

Although I have not tried them, what you say does not coincide with what people publish on American forums or on tiktok.

I have gotten tired of reading posts from users who complain about the G7, that it is much worse than the previous models and that they return to the G6 or the Freestyle and are much happier.Constant disconnections, sensor failures, differences of 200 points with the glucometer in the middle of the sensor's life, like in the last tiktok I posted (read the comments on both videos)

I have never seen that in a Freestyle, not even on the first day.

And another gem I found from Dexcom.It says it will only replace, at most, 3 sensors per year per person.

@ToniEC said:

The G7 is a more precise sensor than the One plus and the Freestyle.This makes it possible to connect to insulin pumps with the ability to increase/decrease the flow of insulin.Obviously, in these cases a sensor reading failure can be fatal.

I used the Freestyle and now the One Plus.The One Plus seems a little more accurate than the Freestyle, and with less processed data (the algorithm it has to show the glucose level seems less aggressive than the Freestyle), but it has problems with clearly incorrect readings (especially the first 24/48 hours) and more frequent disconnections than the Freestyle (especially in the last few days).

The first hours should be common to everyone.

They are going to change it for me, the free 2 for the one plus, to see if it goes better for me.According to my nurses, it depends a lot on the person, not just the sensors.

@Sherpa41 said:

Although I have not tried them, what you say does not coincide with what people publish on American forums or on tiktok.

I have gotten tired of reading posts from users who complain about the G7, that it is much worse than the previous models and that they return to the G6 or the Freestyle and are much happier.Constant disconnections, sensor failures, differences of 200 points with the glucometer in the middle of the sensor's life, like in the last tiktok I posted (read the comments on both videos)

I have never seen that in a Freestyle, not even on the first day.

And another gem I found from Dexcom.It says it will only replace, at most, 3 sensors per year per person.

Freestyle 2 goes that way for me, but it never gave me a 200 point difference, it's outrageous.The tiktok thing that you pass off as a child is unacceptable.

@Maguina said:

Well, at least in my hospital, if they don't change the ones that are bad, they don't give them away.And it seems normal to me.It should be the norm.3 per person...I don't think they hold up much like that...

Freestyle 2 goes that way for me, but it never gave me a 200 point difference, it's outrageous.The tiktok thing that you pass off as a child is unacceptable.

I was using Libre2 and they upgraded me to One Plus a year ago.They are very similar.I like the Libre2 application better because in Dexcom you have to use 2 and seeing the previous information is difficult, in exchange it has the advantage that you see the blood glucose in the notifications, without having to open the application.The One Plus fails more times than the Libre2, but they are disconnections or large failures, which you realize through common sense, and when it does not fail it is more precise than the Libre2.I am very thin and the libre2 punctured the muscle in my arm and it hurt.It also caused a reaction on my skin.I put the dexcom on my buttock (a little above or below the waist) and I find it more comfortable.Without the overpatch I don't get a reaction on my skin.I use Fixomull to make it hold better and I haven't dropped any (I don't loose them either2).

The replacement of defective sensors in Madrid is the same for everyone, they replace the ones you need, even if they scold you, because they don't want you to be left without a sensor.

No sensor has ever given me a difference of 200, but 50 or 60 in stable blood glucose many times.

Hello!

I have used Libre 1, Libre 2, Dexcom G5, G6 and currently the G7.So far, without a doubt, Dexcom G7 has been the best, but for a few months they have been quite inconsistent and have many, many errors.I have never had to return a G7 until 2 months ago, and since then I have returned about 5 (a lot).I also should have removed a few more, but with the calibrations I was struggling.Just with the previous sensor I discovered this news and decided to measure myself with the strips... My surprise... The sensor showed me 203 and rising, and on my finger it was at 95, so who knows how I had the levels before I realized it (I have a hard time noticing hypos and hypers).The worst thing of all is when you talk to the hospital staff and they don't think it's strange or know what's going on.Why haven't we been informed?

By the way, many people say the topic of checking themselves with a glucometer, but I would like to ask you all.Do you always measure yourself with a glucometer before making decisions?How many times do you check yourself by sensor?I ask this because I could have died peacefully like any of those people.By not noticing the hypos or hypers, I could one day be perfectly 30 and not even notice.Personally, I only check with the glucometer when I start the sensor and a couple of times after, once that same day and once the next (if everything matches), but then I forget until the next sensor.At my health center they became very strict with the strips and they barely give us any, unless it is an emergency, but they tell you that since you have a sensor you don't need strips, that it is very expensive for the system to provide both.

@NiñaBurbuja said:

Hello!

I have used Libre 1, Libre 2, Dexcom G5, G6 and currently the G7.So far, without a doubt, Dexcom G7 has been the best, but for a few months they have been quite inconsistent and have many, many errors.I have never had to return a G7 until 2 months ago, and since then I have returned about 5 (a lot).I also should have removed a few more, but with the calibrations I was struggling.Just with the previous sensor I discovered this news and decided to measure myself with the strips... My surprise... The sensor showed me 203 and rising, and on my finger it was at 95, so who knows how I had the levels before I realized it (I have a hard time noticing hypos and hypers).The worst thing of all is when you talk to the hospital staff and they don't think it's strange or know what's going on.Why haven't we been informed?

By the way, many people say the topic of checking themselves with a glucometer, but I would like to ask you all.Do you always measure yourself with a glucometer before making decisions?How many times do you check yourself by sensor?I ask this because I could have died peacefully like any of those people.By not noticing the hypos or hypers, I could one day be perfectly 30 and not even notice.Personally, I only check with the glucometer when I start the sensor and a couple of times after, once that same day and once the next (if everything matches), but then I forget until the next sensor.At my health center they became very strict with the strips and they barely give us any, unless it is an emergency, but they tell you that since you have a sensor you don't need strips, that it is very expensive for the system to provide both.

It's fascinating that they don't tell the hospital about those things... I don't know where you're from or what team is taking you because it's the first thing they tell me when I walk in the door and the last thing when I leave: check, we want to continue caring for you 🤦🏻‍♀️.And at the health center, when I go to get material, they only tell me what I have and that's it, they never tell me that it is too much.On the contrary, sometimes they tell me if I want to bring more so as not to go so many times.

@ToniEC said:

@Maguinasaid:

Well, at least in my hospital, if they don't change the ones that are bad, they don't give them away.And it seems normal to me.It should be the norm.3 per person...I don't think they hold up much like that...

Freestyle 2 goes that way for me, but it never gave me a 200 point difference, it's outrageous.The tiktok thing that you pass off as a child is unacceptable.

I believe that only the Freestyle libre 3 are authorized to connect with automated insulin pumps and only recently.The G7s have been around for a few years now.I know a girl with G7 and an insulin pump and she is doing very well.You have to continue calculating rations and telling the pump how much to put in, but if you go short or long the pump self-adjusts a little.

I was using Libre2 and they upgraded me to One Plus a year ago.They are very similar.I like the Libre2 application better because in Dexcom you have to use 2 and seeing the previous information is difficult, in exchange it has the advantage that you see the blood glucose in the notifications, without having to open the application.The One Plus fails more times than the Libre2, but they are disconnections or large failures, which you realize through common sense, and when it does not fail it is more precise than the Libre2.I am very thin and the libre2 punctured the muscle in my arm and it hurt.It also caused a reaction on my skin.I put the dexcom on my buttock (a little above or below the waist) and I find it more comfortable.Without the overpatch I don't get a reaction on my skin.I use Fixomull to make it hold better and I haven't dropped any (I don't loose them either2).

The replacement of defective sensors in Madrid is the same for everyone, they replace the ones you need, even if they scold you, because they don't want you to be left without a sensor.

No sensor has ever given me a difference of 200, but 50 or 60 in stable blood glucose many times.

I am also very skinny and they also think I have muscle pain.Besides, I have very sudden changes and the free one gets stuck and they tell me that the one plus works better in those situations...it's a matter of trying... The ones that go wrong for me (many...many) I manage directly on the abbott website and they replace them, I don't go to the health center to change them, although I think I could, but it doesn't cost me anything to manage it... And yes, differences of 50 and 60 a lot, the ones that go wrong...suddenly one gets hooked and goes likesilk, a move...well, the truth is that when I'm out of the house or I have to go play, they come great to me because there I really get into my world and I don't find out anything if they don't let me know 😅🤦🏻‍♀️

NiñaBurbuja said:
@NiñaBurbuja said:

Hello!

I have used Libre 1, Libre 2, Dexcom G5, G6 and currently the G7.So far, without a doubt, Dexcom G7 has been the best, but for a few months now they have been quite inconsistent and have many, many errors.I have never had to return a G7 until 2 months ago, and since then I have returned about 5 (a lot).I also should have removed a few more, but with the calibrations I was struggling.Just with the previous sensor I discovered this news and decided to measure myself with the strips... My surprise... The sensor showed me 203 and rising, and on my finger it was at 95, so who knows how I had the levels before I realized it (I have a hard time noticing hypos and hypers).The worst thing of all is when you talk to the hospital staff and they don't think it's strange or know what's going on.Why haven't we been informed?

By the way, many people say the topic of checking themselves with a glucometer, but I would like to ask you all.Do you always measure yourself with a glucometer before making decisions?How many times do you check yourself by sensor?I ask this because I could have died peacefully like any of those people.By not noticing the hypos or hypers, I could one day be perfectly 30 and not even notice.Personally, I only check with the glucometer when I start the sensor and a couple of times after, once that same day and once the next (if everything matches), but then I forget until the next sensor.At my health center they became very strict with the strips and they barely give us any, unless it is an emergency, but they tell you that since you have a sensor you don't need strips, that it is very expensive for the system to provide both.

It is a possible explanation for the deaths in the US.

They had changed me from the G6 to the G7 and of course it fails a lot. The problem is that when it is paired to the pump, if you are high, it releases insulin and if you are low, it cuts off the supply.For me it read 300 and it stung and in my blood since I don't recognize hypoglycemia it read 22 and so many times. The truth is that as soon as I communicated it to my endocrinologist it turned me to g6, and this one works perfectly for me. Dexcom has always replaced the defective ones, but the truth is that in my case I can't have a margin of error because with 40 sugar I don't feel anything.

According to the FDA warning letter (March 2025), Dexcom changed the formulation of the sensor's chemical coating, which is a critical part of the glucose sensing system.

That coating functions as a semipermeable barrier that regulates how glucose in the interstitial fluid comes into contact with the sensor enzyme (the “enzyme reagent”).

The company decided to manufacture that material internally—which it had previously obtained from a supplier—without first submitting the 510(k) notification required by the FDA.

That does constitute a regulatory violation, because the FDA considers that change a significant modification to the design or composition of the device.

⚠️ Consequences

Increase in reported failures: The FDA and bases such as MAUDE recorded an increase in reports of erroneous readings, sensors that disconnect, or alarms that do not sound, right after that change.

Formal warning from the FDA: The agency warned Dexcom that those sensors with the new formulation had greater variability in accuracy, which may affect insulin dosing decisions.

Users: Many patients on forums and networks have noticed more errors or instability in the G7 over the last year, although not all cases are the same

In some places you check with a glucometer......here, if they give you sensors, they remove the strips.So when a sensor fails or you have doubts......just look at what you feel in your body.

Several frees have failed me until I ran out of them, they have taken a while to send them....well, I have gone 22 days without a sensor and without strips, the time I remember most.Because in order for them to give me strips, I have to present papers and also see when they arrive, because at the health center everything is counted.If, for example, in the town there are 10 diabetic patients and we get 10 strips each, don't forget that the medical center will only have the right amount, 100. 10 for each one.If one fails, forget that you are going to have one less that month.Due to cost or whatever, the fact is that there is nothing, first you order and then it will arrive, but storing or having just enough for an emergency.Same thing at the pharmacy.Don't rush without ordering insulin, as soon as you start the last one, order now, because it may take up to 2 days to have it.And I complained to the endocrinologist, who is established like this, that if they give sensors, they don't give strips.(and it's not just now, we've been like this for a few years now).

Apart from the fact that the sensors that read badly, whatever they are, are not from now, things have gotten worse, from the reality that I am living, where I live, for some time now.

Sherpa41 said:
@Sherpa41 said:

I think that in these cases of deaths there is a lot of negligence on the part of the doctors, for not checking with a glucometer before giving insulin or sugar.

But honestly, I think the Dexcom G7 should be retired.For cases like those or this one that I have seen right now:

Link

And because, it is known that Dexcom decided to stop buying the sensor filament reagent (which was approved by the FDA) and made one themselves, to save money.But it is not approved and produces terrible and very dangerous failures.

As they say in the Tiktok comments, Dexcom only cares about money.

moñiño said:
@moñiño said:

In some places you check with a glucometer......here, if they give you sensors, they remove the strips.So when a sensor fails or you have doubts......just look at what you feel in your body.

Several frees have failed me until I ran out of them, they have taken a while to send them....well, I have gone 22 days without a sensor and without strips, the time I remember most.Because in order for them to give me strips, I have to present papers and also see when they arrive, because at the health center everything is counted.If, for example, in the town there are 10 diabetic patients and we get 10 strips each, don't forget that the medical center will only have the right amount, 100. 10 for each one.If one fails, forget that you are going to have one less that month.Due to cost or whatever, the fact is that there is nothing, first you order and then it will arrive, but storing or having just enough for an emergency.Same thing at the pharmacy.Don't rush without ordering insulin, as soon as you start the last one, order now, because it may take up to 2 days to have it.And I complained to the endocrinologist, who is established like this, that if they give sensors, they don't give strips.(and it's not just now, we've been like this for a few years now).

Apart from the fact that the sensors that read badly, whatever they are, are not from now, things have gotten worse, from the reality that I am living, where I live, for some time now.

Sherpa41 said:
Sherpa41said:
@Sherpa41said:

I think that in these cases of deaths there is a lot of negligence on the part of the doctors, for not checking with a glucometer before giving insulin or sugar.

But honestly, I think the Dexcom G7 should be retired.For cases like those or this one that I have seen right now:

Link

And because, it is known that Dexcom decided to stop buying the sensor filament reagent (which was approved by the FDA) and made one themselves, to save money.But it is not approved and produces terrible and very dangerous failures.

As they say in the Tiktok comments, Dexcom only cares about money.

It goes through communities, yes.To my sister in Basaurí-Bizkaia whatever she needs.I nothing.With abbot they sent me, when I had the bimba and something failed.Nothing with Isopump.It failed and there you stay.

Maguina said:
@Maguina said:

moñiño said:
bunsaid:
@moñiñosaid:

In some places you check with a glucometer......here, if they give you sensors, they remove the strips.So when a sensor fails or you have doubts......just look at what you feel in your body.

Several frees have failed me until I ran out of them, they have taken a while to send them....well, I have gone 22 days without a sensor and without strips, the time I remember most.Because in order for them to give me strips, I have to present papers and also see when they arrive, because at the health center everything is counted.If, for example, in the town there are 10 diabetic patients and we get 10 strips each, don't forget that the medical center will only have the right amount, 100. 10 for each one.If one fails, forget that you are going to have one less that month.Due to cost or whatever, the fact is that there is nothing, first you order and then it will arrive, but storing or having just enough for an emergency.Same thing at the pharmacy.Don't rush without ordering insulin, as soon as you start the last one, order now, because it may take up to 2 days to have it.And I complained to the endocrinologist, who is established like this, that if they give sensors, they don't give strips.(and it's not just now, we've been like this for a few years now).

Apart from the fact that the sensors that read badly, whatever they are, are not from now, things have gotten worse, from the reality that I am living, where I live, for some time now.

Sherpa41 said:
Sherpa41 said:
Sherpa41said:
Sherpa41said:
@Sherpa41said:

I think that in these cases of deaths there is a lot of negligence on the part of the doctors, for not checking with a glucometer before giving insulin or sugar.

But honestly, I think the Dexcom G7 should be retired.For cases like those or this one that I have seen right now:

Link

And because, it is known that Dexcom decided to stop buying the sensor filament reagent (which was approved by the FDA) and made one themselves, to save money.But it is not approved and produces terrible and very dangerous failures.

As they say in the Tiktok comments, Dexcom only cares about money.

Well, what a move...I'm really sorry!!I also live in a very small town and they have plenty of everything here.They put the sensors on me and they gave me strips without a problem, they told me which ones I need.In fact, before the sensors I had contour next strips.With the sensors they told me to measure myself with the reader (Abbott strips).When I went to get them I told them if they could change them for me and without a problem.And the other day I went to the nurse at the health center for other stories, he saw that my sensor was measuring incorrectly and he took it off and put another one of the ones they have there.I suppose it goes by autonomous communities... Personally, in that sense, I am very happy.