You can buy a continuous glucose monitor either over the counter or with a prescription, depending on the type you need. If you don’t use insulin, two OTC options are now available directly from retailers without a doctor’s visit. If you manage diabetes with insulin, you’ll need a prescription, but insurance typically covers a significant portion of the cost.
Over-the-Counter Options
The FDA cleared the first OTC continuous glucose monitor in 2024, and there are now two main choices available without a prescription: the Dexcom Stelo and the Abbott Lingo. Both are designed for adults 18 and older who don’t use insulin. That includes people with type 2 diabetes managed through oral medications and people without diabetes who simply want to see how food and exercise affect their blood sugar.
The Dexcom Stelo uses a small sensor worn on the back of your upper arm for up to 15 days before you swap it for a new one. It reads your glucose every 5 minutes and sends updated data to your phone app every 15 minutes. The Abbott Lingo has a 14-day sensor life but updates in real time, reading glucose every minute and pushing it straight to the app. Both pair with a smartphone, and neither is designed to alert you to dangerous low blood sugar, so they aren’t appropriate for anyone with a history of problematic hypoglycemia.
You can purchase these through each company’s website or at major retailers. Expect to pay roughly the same as a month of prescription sensors, though pricing varies by retailer and by whether you subscribe for auto-shipments.
Getting a Prescription CGM
If you use insulin or have a history of hypoglycemia, you’ll want a medical-grade CGM like the Dexcom G7 or FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus. These require a prescription from your doctor, and the process is straightforward: your provider evaluates whether you meet the criteria, documents the medical need (often on a single-page form), and sends the prescription to either a pharmacy or a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier.
Without insurance, a 30-day supply of Dexcom G7 sensors runs several hundred dollars at retail, though Dexcom offers a pharmacy savings program that knocks $210 off each monthly supply, cutting the cash price by more than half. A 28-day supply of FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors (two sensors) averages about $232 to $235 at retail pharmacies without insurance.
Pharmacy vs. DME Supplier
Once you have a prescription, you choose where to fill it: a local pharmacy or a DME supplier that ships directly to your home. Each route has trade-offs worth knowing about.
Pharmacies are faster to get started with. Your doctor fills out a short form, and you can often pick up sensors the same day or within a few days. The experience feels like filling any other prescription. However, pharmacies are primarily set up to dispense medications, not to coach you through using a medical device.
DME suppliers tend to build a longer-term relationship. They handle reorders on a schedule, check in about device use, and provide ongoing support. Research published in the American Journal of Managed Care found that patients using DME channels had significantly higher adherence rates: 78% for Medicare beneficiaries after 12 months compared with 64% through pharmacies, and 60% versus 48% for commercially insured patients. DME users also had 35% lower total costs over a 12-month period, saving an average of $3,875 per patient. The trade-off is that initial setup with a DME supplier can involve more paperwork and a longer wait for your first shipment.
Insurance and Medicare Coverage
Most commercial insurance plans cover prescription CGMs for people with diabetes, though your copay and prior authorization requirements will vary by plan. Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask specifically about CGM coverage, including whether your plan requires you to use a particular brand or supplier.
Medicare covers continuous glucose monitors and related supplies if you meet two conditions: you take insulin or have a history of hypoglycemia, and you or your caregiver have completed enough training to use the device correctly. Your provider must evaluate you and confirm eligibility before ordering, and both your doctor and your DME supplier need to be enrolled in Medicare for the claim to go through. Confirm enrollment before your first order to avoid surprise bills.
Manufacturer Savings Programs
Both major manufacturers offer copay assistance that can dramatically reduce your out-of-pocket cost. Abbott provides a copay savings card for the FreeStyle Libre system that you present at the pharmacy each time you fill your prescription. It’s available to commercially insured and uninsured patients but not to anyone on Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal or state programs. You can call Abbott at 1-855-632-8658 for questions about eligibility or activation. Dexcom runs a similar pharmacy savings program with $210 off each 30-day sensor supply for cash-paying patients.
These cards work at the point of sale. You don’t apply and wait for reimbursement. Your pharmacist processes the discount when you pick up your sensors.
Wellness Subscription Services
A third route exists for people who want more than just the hardware. Companies like Levels, Nutrisense, and Signos bundle a CGM (typically a Dexcom G7 or FreeStyle Libre) with a proprietary app, data analysis tools, and sometimes access to dietitians or health coaches. These subscriptions ship sensors directly to you on a recurring basis.
Pricing varies widely. Levels runs $116 to $139 per month, Nutrisense ranges from $250 to $399 per month, and Signos falls between $159 and $449 per month depending on the plan length and features. You’re paying a premium over buying the sensor alone, but the value proposition is the software layer and coaching that helps you interpret the data. These services are generally aimed at metabolic health optimization rather than diabetes management, and they aren’t covered by insurance.
Buying From International Sources
CGM sensors are often cheaper in other countries, which leads some people to look at international online pharmacies. The FDA does allow personal importation of up to a 90-day supply of a medical device for your own use, not for resale. However, the product must still meet FDA regulatory requirements, and the agency does not recognize clearances from other countries. Shipments that don’t comply can be detained at customs. Beyond the legal risk, sensors purchased internationally may not be compatible with the US version of the companion app, and you won’t have access to the manufacturer’s US-based customer support or warranty if a sensor fails.