As someone who has battled type 1 diabetes for over a decade, keeping my blood sugar tightly controlled is vital. I’ve tried every glucose monitor out there—painful fingersticks, flash Libre scans, bulky Medtronic beasts. So when I heard of the budget-friendly Veri CGM, I knew I had to get my hands on one to take it for a test drive!
Over the past few months, I’ve utilized Veri as my primary glucose monitoring system. And I gotta say, while it has some quirks and drawbacks, this little gadget packs an impressive punch for the price.
Today I’m sharing my first-hand experiences and objective analysis to help you determine if Veri’s right for your diabetes management approach. We’ll cover:
- How continuous glucose monitoring differs from traditional meters
- An overview of Veri’s core features and specs
- Accuracy and performance assessments from my testing
- Pros and cons compared to popular CGMs
- Cost breakdown and savings projections
- Lifestyle and app integrations that maximize value
- Tips for getting started and avoiding pitfalls
Let’s dive in!
Wait, What Exactly is Continuous Glucose Monitoring?
If you’re used to fingerstick glucose meters, continuous monitoring is a total gamechanger. Rather than needing to draw blood and measure it manually multiple times per day, a tiny wearable sensor embedded under your skin tracks levels automatically in real-time.
Here’s a quick rundown of how CGMs like Veri work:
A thin filament inserted into the fat layer of skin measures glucose in interstitial fluid. Studies show this closely mirrors blood levels. The sensor tests and records a reading every 5 minutes, totaling 288 per day! It transmits data to a receiver device that displays the constant stream of results and trends via a smartphone app.
The key benefit is eliminating fingerstick guess work. No more logging meals and doses then checking before and after to estimate impacts. Now you see changes unfold minute by minute. The insight is unmatched—much easier identifying triggers and fine tuning treatment.
Many patients combine CGMs with traditional meters for periodic calibration and confirmation. But with accuracy improving, some rely solely on monitoring tech, only fingersticking when concerned.
Clearly this real-time visibility leads to serious health advantages. Let’s examine Veri specifically…
Introducing Veri: Feature Highlights
Veri concentrates on making CGM accessibility more affordable to the masses via savvy budget trade offs. While slightly less polished than pricier competitors, it offers solid functionality considering savings.
Here are the core specs and capabilities:
Subscription Pricing Model
Rather than a large one-time cost, Veri utilizes a recurring subscription, bundling everything into a single reasonable monthly fee. For just $99 you get sensors, two transmitters for swapping, basic mobile app access and limited support. It slashes typical CGM costs by up to 30%!
The pay-as-you-go approach has advantages—predictable cash flow, frequent sensor changes and automatic overpatches. But some patients still prefer straight purchase.
Straightforward App
Veri bundles a pared down mobile app delivering just the CGM basics and decent analysis without overwhelming. Easy intuitive graphs track trends and highlight concerning highs/lows. You can log meals, meds and exercise to identify impacts too. It even calculates basic stats like average glucose, time in range, etc.
Not the flashiest software, but gets the job done! Those desiring personalized advice can pay ~$150 more per month for add-on coaching.
Flexibility Using Your Own Doctor
Typically you need a prescription to access CGMs. Veri navigates this via partner physicians who provide remote e-consults and write scripts. But they also allow your existing providers to handle oversight as long as you submit a confirmation letter. One less healthcare hoop!
Solid Clinical Accuracy
Across studies, Veri achieves respectable accuracy rates for detection of hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events (83-93% MARD). Slightly below top performers but still clinically useful for most patients.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s move on to my hands-on testing and experience…
My Veri Testing Protocol and Performance Results
Since accuracy is paramount when relying on CGM readings to make treatment decisions, assessing real-world precision across diverse conditions is crucial.
Over 2 months I rigorously tested Veri’s monitoring consistency and utility by:
- Wearing the sensor on my abdomen and upper arm for multi-week stretches
- Checking interstitial fluid measurements against fingerstick blood samples 4x daily
- Comparing readings from two sensors worn simultaneously
- Tracking glucose during meals, exercise, illness, stress, and medication dosage changes
- Flagging any sensor values differing over 20% from control checks for later analysis
- Logging environment factors like temperature, activity levels, and skin irritation
So what performance numbers and observations emerged from my torture test?
An Impressive ~90% Accuracy Rate
Analyzing my 400+ reference checks, Veri delivered remarkably consistent results:
- Over 85% of CGM readings fell within ±15% of control fingerstick values
- 12% differed between 15-20%
- Only 3% exceeded a 20% disparity
This suggests considerably better precision than early factory testing capturing physiological nuances. Proper calibration is key!
Sensors Last 14 Days Reliably
Via built-in reminders and my testing logs, replacing sensors every 14 days ensured reliable function. I tried prolonging but sensitivity and stickiness declined. Shelling out $3 a day for accuracy is worth it!
Minor Environmental Impacts
Unlike optical sensors in devices like Libre, I noticed fewer temperature, humidity, and compression artifacts skewing Veri’s results. Readings stayed consistent across diverse real-life scenarios.
But adhesive patches didn‘t always hold up through intense activity and sweating. Having overpatches or tape backup helps.
App Provides Solid Data Access
While Veri’s software lacks robust analytics, it conveniently surfaces trends, alerts, and stats I need to inform treatment tweaks. With CGM education, you quickly learn deducing insights yourself.
Third-party apps like Diabits and Apple Health expand possibilities too. But those desiring meal planning integration, predictive alerting, etc. may prefer all-in-one systems.
Support Replaces Defective Hardware
I encountered a couple sensor failures and one transmitter snafu. But Veri promptly troubleshooted issues and overnighted replacements free of charge. Their US-based assistance crews are wonderful!
Overall Veri delivers impressive utility that inspires confidence in its readings. But how does it compare to popular CGM options?
How Veri Stacks Up to Top Competitors
While other brands edge out Veri in some departments, it holds its own as a budget-friendly alternative that still empowers better health outcomes. Here’s a high level feature and performance comparison:
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| Veri | Dexcom G6 | Freestyle Libre 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $99/month | $350 + $80-100/month | $75-100/month |
| Accuracy | ~90% MARD | 9% MARD | 8.7-10.3% MARD |
| App Capabilities | Basic | Advanced analysis | Useful clarity reports |
| Drawbacks | Adhesive flaking | Cost | Reader required |
Dexcom and Abbott edge out Veri on accuracy and software power given years more R&D. But between pricing and core functionality, Veri holds up surprisingly well!
With time calibrating readings to your body, tips below amplifying accuracy, and supplemental apps filling gaps, Veri delivers solid 24/7 monitoring frugal users love.
Optimizing Veri’s Precision and Experience
While Veri performs respectably out-of-box, utilizing tactics polished from my testing helps it achieve max accuracy:
Find An Ideal Sensor Site
Placement impacts comfort, stickiness and data reliability. For me, lower abdomen and back of arms track best. Avoid bony protrusions causing compression.
Use Adhesive Extenders
Overpatches and tape minimize lifting, keeping readings disturbance-free. I apply Simpatch grips after insertion.they let sensors survive gym sessions!
Calibrate With Meter Checks
Cross-check interstitial fluid correlations against blood fingersticks. Reporting discrepancies helps Veri’s algorithm align with your physiology for a custom fit.
Compare Trends, Not One-Offs
Review multi-day directionality, not individual readings. Confirm questionable meals, etc. with added checks before reacting.
Log Details In Health Apps
Apps like Apple Health automatically log activities, nutrition and biometrics as additional reference layer aiding analysis.
Share Data With Your Healthcare Team
Enable physician visibility to collaborate spotting patterns and optimize treatment efficacy even faster.
With practice, Veri becomes an invaluable health insight partner. Next let’s run the numbers on whether its more affordable approach offers worthy savings…
Cost and Savings Breakdown: Is Veri Actually Cheaper Over Time?
Considering most CGMs run many hundreds per month between hardware and supplies, Veri’s $99 subscription seems like a steal. But some quick math accounting for insurance coverage paints a clearer savings picture.
Let’s compare total 5 year costs assuming typical insurance subsidies:
Veri:
- $99 monthly fee
- Total 60 months cost = $5,940
Dexcom G6:
- Transmitter: $350
- Sensors: $40 x 12 months x 5 years = $2,400
- 5 Year Total = $2,750
Freestyle Libre 2:
- 12 sensors/year:
- Cash pay = $75 x 12 x 5 = $4,500
- With insurance subsidy = $35 x 12 x 5 = $2,100
- 5 year total = $2,100 to $4,500
While Veri’s nickel and diming adds up over time, it represents meaningful 35 to 70% savings over other CGMs when insurance subsidies are accounted for.
And should you ever need to cancel or pause, you simply stop paying and skip wasted supply stockpiling. The flexibility provides peace of mind.
So if you’re paying cash or have limited coverage, Veri delivers major bang for buck!
Lifestyle and App Integrations Further Boosting Value
While Veri’s pared down app provides ample blood sugar statistics, I love connecting additional apps amplifying contextual insights:
Apple Health funnels in nutrition, activity and wellness data automatically detected from my iPhone and watch for a 360 view built right into Veri’s charts. Unexpectedly high post-meal reading? Apple Health shows the pasta entry from dinner. Mystery overnight low resolved!
Diabits delivers a 1 minute wellness check collecting subjective energy, mood and health observations. Cross-referencing with CGM trends confirms which factors influence my blood sugar so I can course correct quicker.
MyFitnessPal has the largest database for logging meals accurately if you eat lots of complex recipes. Saving carb counts and ingredients in Veri food entries guarantees perfectly synced data.
Mindbody and ClassPass log workouts and intensity without any tedious manual entry. I just scan the QR code on screens after finishing and all exercise details sync automatically. So helpful correlating fat burn HIIT spikes versus gentler yoga lows directly to glucose fluctuations for personalized activity planning and recovery fueling.
Don’t underestimate combining CGM insights with added context! The 2 minute habit aligning apps prevents forgetting important details.
Access and Affordability Tips: Securing Coverage, Discounts and Financing
While Veri keeps costs low for those paying cash, getting CGM costs subsidized by insurance unlocks dramatic additional savings as shown above.
Here are my best tips for minimizing expenditures:
Meet Medical Necessity Criteria
Most insurers cover CGMs with proper preauthorization and documentation of medical need. Having conditions like hypoglycemic unawareness or A1Cs over 7% boosts approval odds dramatically.
Provide Evidence Upfront
Submit fingerstick logs, prior sensor records, and current A1C labs rather than waiting weeks after denied claims. Constructing an argument for benefit upfront prevents delays.
Reference Approved Diagnosis Codes
Ask your doctor to include E10.9 for Type 1 on the prescription, or E11.9 for Type 2. Payers scan for these codes specifically as CGM pre-screening flags.
Appeal Denials Aggressively
Only ~40% of initial requests get approved. But ~75% of appeals ultimately get covered after additional info submitted per payer policy criteria. Persistence pays!
And should you need to finance the remaining costs after insurance discounts, companies like ZebraLoans offer 0% APR Veri loans up to 24 months so high deductibles won’t derail your CGM journey!
Bottom Line: Is Veri the Right CGM for You?
After months testing the ins and outs of Veri CGM function, I confidently recommend it for the right patient profile.
Good For
- Newly diagnosed getting started with CGMs
- Users needing extra glycemic insights before major treatment decisions
- Those with erratic glucose needing stabilization
- Anyone desiring effortless remote prescriber onboarding
- Users valuing affordability and contract freedom over fanciest features
- People willing to calibrate tech glitches in return for 24/7 feedback
Less Ideal For
- Those requiring automated analysis without DIY data deduction
- People expecting seamless adhesive and connectivity
- Anyone averse to sporadic sensor kinks requiring tech support
- Users lacking willingness to calibrate regularly
At the end of day, CGMs offer life changing visibility helping you achieve rock solid blood sugar control. And Veri makes these benefits more accessible than ever before via clever compromises balancing cost and capabilities.
I hope demystifying the tech and illuminating key nuances helps determine if Veri’s right for your personal diabetes journey! Let me know if any other questions.
