Dexcom Inc. (NASDAQ: DXCM) makes Dexcom continuous glucose monitors. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Dexcom is a publicly traded US medical device company founded in 1999 and focused exclusively on CGM and related diabetes technology. Current flagship products are Dexcom G7 (prescription) and Dexcom Stelo (over-the-counter, launched 2024). Manufacturing is done at Dexcom’s own US and Malaysia facilities. Main competitor is Abbott, which makes FreeStyle Libre. Dexcom partners with insulin pump makers (Insulet, Tandem, Beta Bionics) for automated insulin delivery integration.
Company Snapshot
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company name | Dexcom, Inc. |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California, US |
| Stock ticker | NASDAQ: DXCM |
| CEO (2026) | Kevin Sayer (chairman/CEO as of publication) |
| Employees | Over 10,000 globally |
| Manufacturing sites | US (Mesa, Arizona); Malaysia (Batu Kawan) |
| Market capitalization | Fluctuating; historically $30–$60 billion range |
| Core focus | Continuous glucose monitoring technology |
Product History
Early Generation (2006–2012)
- STS (2006): first approved Dexcom CGM; 3-day wear; required finger-stick calibration
- SEVEN (2007): 7-day wear; improved accuracy
- SEVEN Plus (2009): enhancements to connectivity
G4 and G5 Era (2012–2018)
- G4 Platinum (2012): significant accuracy improvement; 7-day wear
- G5 Mobile (2015): direct-to-phone connectivity; no separate receiver required
- Partnership with Tandem t:slim X2 (2016): first integrated AID pump-CGM in US market
G6 Era (2018–2023)
- G6 (2018): 10-day wear; no finger-stick calibration required (factory calibrated)
- Primary CGM for Tandem, Omnipod, Beta Bionics integrations
- Largely discontinued as of late 2024 as G7 replaced it
G7 Era (2022 EU, 2023 US)
- G7 (US 2023): smaller sensor; 10-day wear plus 12-hour grace period; faster 27-minute warm-up; unified sensor and transmitter into one disposable pod
- G7 Pediatric: approved for children ages 2 and older
- Eleven G7 integration partners as of publication (Omnipod 5, Tandem Control-IQ, Beta Bionics iLet, others)
Stelo OTC (2024)
- Stelo (August 2024): first OTC CGM in US history
- Designed for non-insulin users — people with type 2 diabetes on oral meds, prediabetes, or curious wellness users
- 15-day wear; $89 self-pay per sensor
- Smartphone app only (no receiver)
- Does not display actual mg/dL low/high alarms (shows “target range” and notifications only) for non-medical positioning
Key Technology Innovations
- Factory calibration (eliminated daily finger-stick calibration)
- 10- to 15-day wear with consistent accuracy
- Direct Bluetooth streaming to smartphone
- Dexcom Clarity (clinician-facing data platform)
- Dexcom Share (family/caregiver remote monitoring)
- Integration with Apple Health, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal, and most major diabetes apps
- Automated insulin delivery partnerships with major pump makers
- OTC sensor (Stelo) — first in US
Partnerships and Integrations
| Partner | Product | Integration |
|---|---|---|
| Insulet | Omnipod 5 | Tubeless pump with G6/G7 AID |
| Tandem | t:slim X2 | Tubed pump with Control-IQ + G7 |
| Beta Bionics | iLet bionic pancreas | Pump with fully automated dosing + G7 |
| Apple, Google | Apple Watch, Android Wear | Display CGM data on wearables |
| Fitness and nutrition apps | MyFitnessPal, Strava, etc. | Data sharing for lifestyle tracking |
Market Position vs Competitors
| Company | Main CGM Product | US Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| Dexcom | G7, Stelo | Dominant in type 1, strong in type 2 insulin; expanding to non-insulin via Stelo |
| Abbott | FreeStyle Libre 3, Libre 3 Plus, Lingo | Large share, especially with Medicare and cost-sensitive users |
| Medtronic | Guardian 4, Simplera | Primarily for its own MiniMed 780G pump users |
| Senseonics | Eversense E3 (implanted) | Niche; long-wear alternative |
| Ypsomed, EoFlow, others | International | Growing in non-US markets |
Where Dexcom Sensors Are Made
- Mesa, Arizona: primary US manufacturing facility
- Batu Kawan, Malaysia: major international manufacturing site
- Edinburgh, UK: research and development
- Vancouver, WA; Acton, MA: additional US R&D and operations
- Assembly is largely automated with clean-room environments for sensor production
Recent Corporate Developments
- Stelo OTC launch (August 2024) opened a new non-prescription market
- Dexcom ONE+ expansion in Europe and other international markets
- FDA approval of G7 15-day wear extension (pending or newly granted at publication)
- Expansion of AID partnership network
- Continued R&D investment in non-invasive and longer-wear technologies
Financial and Operational Scale
- Annual revenue: approximately $3.5 to $4 billion (recent fiscal year)
- Growth rate historically 15 to 25 percent per year
- Over 2 million users globally
- US Medicare covers Dexcom for eligible insulin-requiring users
- Commercial insurance coverage in most US plans
- International presence in 35+ countries
Why This Matters for Users
- Single-company ownership means consistent quality control and supply
- Direct relationship between Dexcom and the user for support and warranty
- Ongoing product improvement is a strategic priority
- Financial stability of a large public company reduces concern about supply interruption
- Regulatory track record — 25+ years of FDA-approved glucose monitoring devices
- Customer service is direct from manufacturer, not a distributor
Related Reading
See our guides on how Dexcom G7 works, Dexcom 7 sensor overview, and detection of prediabetes.
The Bottom Line
Dexcom Inc. makes Dexcom CGMs — a publicly traded US medical device company (NASDAQ: DXCM) founded in 1999, headquartered in San Diego, and focused exclusively on continuous glucose monitoring. Flagship products include Dexcom G7 (prescription) and Dexcom Stelo (OTC, launched 2024). Manufacturing is done at Dexcom’s US (Mesa, Arizona) and Malaysia (Batu Kawan) facilities. Main competitor is Abbott, which makes FreeStyle Libre. Dexcom partners with insulin pump makers for AID integration. As an independent publicly traded company, Dexcom is committed to ongoing product development with over 2 million users globally.
