Nutrisense App vs. Dexcom G6 Suite of Apps: A Comparison Guide

In the past, there was just one way to test your blood sugar outside a doctor's office, and it involved a blood glucose monitor you bought at the pharmacy, a drop of blood from your fingertip, and a test strip. Fortunately, these days we have many more options.

One of the most popular and useful ones is the continuous glucose monitor (CGM). These devices use interstitial fluid instead of blood to estimate your blood glucose level. But why is it that CGMs are growing more popular than other testing methods?

One of the reasons is that you can avoid relying on uncomfortable finger-pricks and the need to have a constant stock of disposable test strips. You can also pair most CGMs with a mobile app for added convenience.

Two options we think may be worth your time are our own Nutrisense mobile app and the Dexcom G6 suite of apps. In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of using  the Nutrisense vs. Dexcom apps and what features the different apps developed by Dexcom have to offer.

What are the Dexcom Apps?

Dexcom offers a suite of blood sugar tracking apps that allow you to monitor your glucose levels in different ways. Let's have a look at some of the features of these apps and how the Nutrisense and Dexcom apps compare.

1) Dexcom G6 

This basic Dexcom mobile app pairs with your Dexcom CGM and displays your blood glucose level on your mobile device, handheld receiver, compatible smartwatch, or computer. It can also display this data on the home screen or as a widget.

2) Dexcom G6 Glucose Program

Per Dexcom’s description in the Apple app store: 

“The Dexcom Glucose Program System is intended to replace fingerstick blood glucose testing for diabetes treatment decisions for persons with diabetes who are not at significant risk of severe hypoglycemia."

There is also functionality where you can chat with Dexcom's basic support team about your blood glucose levels. 

3) Dexcom Clarity

A more feature-rich version of the basic glucose monitoring apps, this one gives you the option to share data directly with your treating clinic and primary care provider.

4) Dexcom Follow

This is the “social” version of the basic G6 app with the ability to add up to ten people, like friends and family, to be able to view your blood glucose levels.

Nutrisense CGM App vs. Dexcom G6 Suite of Apps

Hardware Compatibility

As mentioned above, Nutrisense works with more than one type of hardware, so if you decide to switch, you can take your Nutrisense app data and a dedicated dietitian with you. 

Since CGM sensors typically last seven to 14 days, this can make even temporary switches easier, depending on your circumstances. The advantage of using the Dexcom G6 suite of apps is that they will be updated specifically for the Dexcom family of products, so they make future updates with those specific devices in mind.

User Interface

We’re biased towards the color scheme in our app. We think the high contrast and adjustable settings are helpful, and those with less-than-perfect vision can see it without our reading glasses or contact lenses. 

Additionally, the interface is customizable to display the data you find most useful to see first on your dashboard. The Nutrisense app, which you can download in the App Store or on Google Play or also provides higher-level data breakdowns from any logged meals. 

The Dexcom G6 mobile and wearable apps are also customizable, but there are fewer types of data to display. The Dexcom Clarity app, which you can use on a mobile device or computer, has more data than the G6 and can also be synced with your treating clinic with a code they generate for you. 

Links Between Data

With the Nutrisense app, you can dig deep into your data and see what might be unexpected links between the types of data you can track. 

Some events, like sleep start and end and instances of high stress, can be added manually within the Nutrisense app. You can also log exercise, ketones, blood pressure, weight, and extensive meal details with our comprehensive food database.

The Dexcom Clarity app will show you features like time in range, meaning the overall amount of time in which your blood glucose levels were within healthy levels in 24 hours, as well as other analytics. 

If you have a compatible insulin pump, the G6 CGM will automatically send glucose data to your pump to adjust your insulin delivery in real time, aiding in keeping your blood sugars within a healthy range. That being said, The Dexcom only allows you to log grams of carbs, generic exercise, and generic health events.

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Sharing

One of the core features of Nutrisense is that you can access complimentary check-ins from a credentialed nutritionist or dietitian to help you interpret your glucose levels as you start your journey. They can help you read and understand blood sugar charts and offer actionable advice on the best lifestyle and nutrition changes for optimal wellness. 

With the Clarity app, Dexcom support and treating healthcare professionals can see your blood glucose levels and advise you on how best to manage them. With the Follow app, you can add up to ten people who can see your data and choose whether or not to receive notifications if your blood glucose levels are too high. 

Now that we've gone into detail about the features of the Nutrisense and Dexcom apps, here's a handy side-by-side comparison you can refer to:  

So, what's the consensus? Overall, we think that Nutrisense is a better choice because it has most of the same features under one app you can take with you even if you change CGM devices! 

To learn more about the Nutrisense program, pricing, and how to sign up, start here: how much does a CGM cost?