The Eversense 365 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is the first of its kind: an implantable continuous glucose monitor that works for an entire year and is approved for use in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Unlike competing CGMs, which stick to your skin for 14 days or less at a time, the Eversense sensor is surgically implanted under the skin, where it can stay for a year. Insertion only takes about 10 minutes. A transmitter, which can be removed and replaced as often as you’d like, sits on top of the skin, sending blood sugar readings to your smartphone.

Here’s a closer look at this unique diabetes technology with insights from Brian Hansen, President of CGM at Ascensia Diabetes Care, makers of the Eversense technology.

Key Features of Eversense 365

• 365 days of use: The Eversense 365 sensor is designed to be used for up to 365 days.
• The transmitter: The system requires the use of both the tiny implanted sensor and a larger removable transmitter. The transmitter sits on top of the skin, collecting glucose data via Bluetooth and sending it to the Eversense app on your smartphone. The transmitter needs to be charged every few days, because the implanted sensor has no battery power.
• Easy to remove external transmitter: The transmitter can be easily removed and reapplied over and over thanks to its silicone adhesive. You can remove it, wash the area, etc., as often as you’d like.
• Less irritation: Users may enjoy less skin irritation than they do with competing CGMs.
• Less inflammation: The sensor contains a microdose of dexamethasone acetate, an anti-inflammatory steroid, to help minimize your body’s immune response against the sensor. This anti-inflammatory component is released gradually over the sensor’s yearlong lifespan.
• Once-weekly calibration: Once a week, the app will ask you to prick your finger and enter a blood glucose reading from a glucometer to ensure the CGM is calibrated.

Ascensia Diabetes Care

How the Eversense 365 Works

The Eversense 365 measures sugar in the interstitial fluid, just like the Dexcom and FreeStyle Libre CGMs do. But there are a few important differences.

Sensor Mechanics

The implantable sensor is tiny: about 3.5 mm wide and 18.3 mm long.

The sensor is implanted just beneath the skin by a physician , where it continuously measures glucose levels. The sensor itself is not powered — it relies on the battery power from the waterproof transmitter sitting on your skin. You can charge the transmitter in 15 minutes and that charge lasts several days.

The sensor uses fluorescence to detect glucose levels. Changes in light emitted by the glucose-indicating polymer allow the sensor to measure glucose concentration accurately.

Calibration Process

Dust off that glucometer, because the Eversense does require a weekly finger prick to keep it well calibrated.

• The first few weeks: During the first few weeks of use, users must calibrate the sensor daily using a standard glucose meter and a finger prick.
• Weekly calibration: After the initial daily calibration phase, users need to calibrate the sensor weekly with a glucose meter and a finger prick.

Insertion and Maintenance

Insertion Procedure

The insertion of the Eversense 365 sensor is a minor out-patient procedure that typically takes about 10 to 12 minutes.

• Trained professionals: It’s necessary to find a healthcare provider who is trained in the insertion process. Eversense will help you find clinicians who can insert the Eversense 365.

• Minimal discomfort: The insertion process is considered quick and relatively easy. It’s a small cut in the skin, the sensor is placed, and then you’ll receive a few Steri strips placed over the cut to help it heal fully over the next week or two. Next year, the exact same area can be used for your next sensor!

Maintenance and Care

• Silicone-based adhesive: The Eversense transmitter, which attaches to the skin above the sensor, uses a silicone-based adhesive that aims to be very gentle on your skin. If, for any reason, the adhesive fails, there’s no worry — you can reattach the transmitter without skipping a beat.

• The transmitter site: You can remove and reapply the transmitter on the outside of your skin as often as you need to. This makes it very easy to clean and care for the skin under the transmitter.

Where to Get Eversense 365

Eversense CGMs are available through healthcare providers across the United States. The company is actively working on expanding its insertion network to make the device more accessible.

Finding a clinician trained to do Eversense insertions

The trickiest part of getting the Eversense 365 may be finding a clinician who is trained in the process.

“Clearly we need to improve our insertion network,” says Hansen, who acknowledges this is a work in progress and a clear obstacle for potential customers. “We’re working on that in a variety of ways, both internally and externally. We’re expanding our field to cover all 50 states.”

Doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners can all be trained to perform the quick insertion process.

“It’s a mixed bag of enthusiasm,” says Hansen on which clinicians are embracing this new technology and the training to insert the sensor. “Some physicians really enjoy the process, and others would be happy to prescribe it but they don’t want to manage the insertion process.”

Eversense knows the long-term success of its technology depends heavily on increasing the number of clinicians trained to perform the insertion process.

“This is the difference of 30 sensors on your arm in one year and one small insertion,” says Hansen, highlighting the difference this technology has on scar tissue, rashes, and site irritation. “Patients should be offered a choice.”

Insurance and Cost Considerations

The cost of the Eversense CGM will vary based on your health insurance. Hansen says if you already have approval for your current CGM, it should generally be straightforward to get approval for the Eversense 365.

“Eversense uses the same billing codes that traditional CGMs use,” explains Hansen. “We also have a very generous patient assistance program (PAP).”

For qualifying participants, the Eversense PAP covers any costs over the initial $199. At this time, Medicare provides coverage for Eversense but Medicaid does not.

Eversense says the cost of its technology is on par with other CGM technology if you’re paying out of pocket:

• Insertion fee: Typically ranges from $300 to $400, with many insurance plans covering this fee.
• Total costs: Without insurance or patient assistance, the total cost for the Eversense 365 system can range from $4,000 to $5,000, depending on individual circumstances.

Eversense 365 Pros:

1. Lifespan: 365 days without worrying about switching sensors.
2. Low irritation: The design minimizes skin irritation, rashes, and overall discomfort.
3. Fewer false alarms: Advanced technology helps reduce false alerts, like “compression lows” while you’re sleeping.
4. Seamless data sharing: You can easily share your glucose data with your family or your healthcare team through the app on your smartphone.

Eversense 365 Cons:

1. Finding a trained inserter: Not every healthcare provider may be trained or willing to insert the Eversense sensor, which means you may have to drive or travel to get the sensor inserted.
2. Calibration: In the beginning, the need for daily calibration might be kind of annoying. Even weekly calibration can feel tedious.
3. Potential issues with insertion: Eversense says the insertion failure rate is very low, but sometimes there are issues which might require you to return for reinsertion.
4. New kid on the block: Newer technology or medications are always harder to get due to the politics of insurance coverage and reluctant clinicians. Your healthcare team may be skeptical of new products or reluctant to deal with learning the insertion process.

The Takeaway

The Eversense 365 CGM seems like a great alternative to the leading continuous glucose monitors. If you’re tired of the skin damage and irritation of other CGM technology, or constantly deal with failed sensors, Eversense might be just what you’ve been waiting for.

There are definitely some drawbacks — like finding a clinician who will insert the sensor or having to prick your finger regularly.

But it’s a pretty cool product, nonetheless. People with diabetes need options! Eversense’s CGM provides exactly that.