Patient tutorials support Dexcom’s success.
Medical Minds developed the patient self-training tutorial that supported designation of the Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems as Class II instead of Class III medical devices, with self-training included in the product labeling—a category differentiator that greatly enhanced the ease and cost-effectiveness of training and therefore the commercial success of the company. This was the first-ever online interactive tutorial that guides people with diabetes through the basic steps needed to set up and use their CGM system.
Dexcom is a forward-thinking leader with a history of firsts in CGM in diabetes. In contrast to fingersticks, CGM devices provide real-time glucose readings throughout the day and night, so people with diabetes can see their glucose levels and track how quickly they are rising or falling.
Global expansion was greatly simplified by eliminating the cost and time of one-on-one training. Critical steps implemented by our Medical Minds team that have supported—and continue to support—Dexcom’s commercial success include working with certified diabetes educators (CDEs) in the field to understand training needs; designing tutorials based on current principles of learning development related to digital devices; as well as understanding the requirements for Human Factors testing and FDA submission; as well as developing the presentation of pivotal Diamond study data that supported the first approval of CGM for use in treatment decisions without fingersticks.
In 2008, when we first met our Dexcom clients, the company had just introduced Dexcom Seven, the first CGM system approved for up to 7 days of continuous use. At the time, this innovative device represented the “wave of the future in diabetes.” Dexcom employed highly qualified CDEs, who met with patients one-on-one throughout the US to teach each individual how to insert the sensor and track glucose levels on a handheld receiver. We started patient training with a slide presentation for doctors’ offices. Now, in more than 40 countries throughout the world, people with diabetes insert the sensor and set up their CGMs using the self-learning tutorial.