Dexcom’s G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring system will soon be integrated with Livongo’s platform, thanks to a new partnership between the two diabetes-focused companies. 

G6 users who are also Livongo members will be able to sync their device to the Livongo platform, which will be able to give users insights and health nudges about their behavior based on the CGM reading. The system will also be able to cross reference data from the CGM to give members more insights about their personal health. 

WHY IT MATTERS 

Diabetes rates are soaring in the US. In fact, the percentage of adults with diabetes in the US jumped from 3.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2017, according to the CDC. 

Increasingly, diabetes related technologies are making deals to integrate different tools angling to decrease the amount of patient burden. For example, Dexcom inked a deal with Eli Lilly and Company connecting the G6 and other products to the formers connected and disposable insulin pens. 

Now Livongo and Dexcom are pitching this integration as a way to help patients connect their care. 

“Through a careful combination of clinical expertise, data science, and human coaching, the combined solution offers our users an even greater ability to understand themselves, their conditions, and what they need to get and stay healthy,” Kevin Sayer, chairman, president and CEO of Dexcom, said in a statement. 

THE LARGER TREND 

In 2018 the FDA cleared the Dexcom G6, making it the first interoperable CGM to get the designation. Then in October Dexcom’s G6 Pro Continuous Glucose Monitoring System got the greenlight from the FDA. The technology can gather real-time glucose data over a period of 10 days, and has the ability to be switched to blinded mode or unblinded mode. 

Since Livongo went public over the summer it has been making a number of partnerships in the digital health space. In the fall it made a deal with telemedicine giants MDLive and Doctor on Demand. As part of the deal, Livongo members will be able to tap into telemedicine services through the platform. And just last week Livongo announced a deal with health kiosk startup Higi to bring a Livongo-branded on-stage program to roughly 500 retail pharmacies in Michigan. 

The chronic care management tool has also been looking to expand its deals with payers and employers. In October it made a big deal with the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program.