Year: 2015-16

Company: Dexcom

Liaison(s): Nate Heintzman Apurv Kamath

Dexcom is a medical device company that designs
continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices for
use in diabetes management by providing information
for more educated treatment decisions and improved
glucose control. Founded in 1999, the company is
headquartered in San Diego, California. The first
Dexcom product received FDA approval in 2006, and
4 device evolutions later, the Dexcom G4 Platinum®
with Share capabilities was approved in January
2015. The G5 Mobile CGM system®, FDA-approved
later in 2015, is the first completely mobile CGM
system, including Bluetooth® technology built into
the transmitter – glucose data is sent wirelessly from
the Dexcom G5 Mobile transmitter to the compatible
smart device.
Dexcom is interested in evaluating the digital ecosystem
of diabetes data, which has grown vastly over the last
several years. The growth of this ecosystem has been
facilitated by the release of Dexcom’s CGM device with
Share and Follow, the applications that enable real-
time remote monitoring of a patient’s glucose data by
patients, parents, and healthcare providers. Dexcom is
looking to identify the functions that drive ‘stickiness’
with users, through an evaluation of diabetes and
health management applications on the ‘App’ store.
Additionally, Dexcom is investigating the impact of
the ecosystem of third party applications on Dexcom’s
device and sensor sales.
The Dexcom TMP created a Health Application
Grading Rubric in order to assess the current landscape
of available health and diabetes management.
This rubric was also used to evaluate the Dexcom
applications, including Clarity, Share, Share2, and
Follow, and to create criteria for an ideal application.
The team also compiled interview data via phone
conversations and online surveys completed by
patients, parents, and healthcare providers. This
process allowed the team to understand the needs and
desires, as well as frustrations each of these groups
have with applications used to manage general health
care and diabetes