Section 3: Risks And Benefits; Risks - Dexcom G5 Getting Started Manual

Section 3: Risks and Benefits

3.1 Risks

There are some risks with using real-time CGM.
Not Receiving Alarm/Alerts
If you aren't getting your CGM Alarm/Alerts, you run the risk of not knowing you are
having a severe low or high glucose event.
Some hardware issues preventing Alarm/Alerts:
• Alert function is turned off.
• Transmitter and display device are out of range.
• Receiver or smart device isn't showing readings. For example, when there are
data gaps due to being out of range or a system error.
• Receiver or smart device battery is dead.
• Unable to hear Alarm/Alerts or feel vibration.
• App not running in the background.
• On Apple devices, Signal Loss Alert won't be heard if device is silenced or in
Do Not Disturb.
Using CGM for Treatment Decisions
If you are taking acetaminophen, your sensor glucose readings may be falsely high,
causing you to potentially miss a low glucose event or treat a high glucose event with
insulin. Do not make any treatment decision based on your CGM when acetaminophen
is active in your body.
In order to use CGM for your treatment decisions, you must calibrate a minimum of
once every 12 hours to help keep your CGM system accurate. If you do not calibrate at
this minimum frequency and make treatment decisions based on your CGM, you may
not be getting the most accurate information and could miss a high or low glucose
event.
In order to use CGM for your treatment decisions, you must have:
1. Sensor glucose reading
2. Trend arrow
For more information on how to make treatment decisions using your Dexcom G5
Mobile, see Section 10.
If you have symptoms of low or high glucose, but your CGM is not showing high or low
glucose sensor readings, take a fingerstick blood glucose (BG) measurement with your
blood glucose meter (meter). If you are a caregiver of someone using the Dexcom G5
Mobile, watch how they act. If their symptoms don't match the CGM, take a fingerstick
BG measurement.
13 • Dexcom G5 Mobile CGM System Getting Started Guide