Dexcom Sensor

Diabetes Technology Glucose Monitoring
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I am in the process of getting a Dexcom sensor and have a couple questions.

I started on the Omnipod pump last week (LOVE IT). When I was at my Endo’s office she told me that the Pod and sensor need to be 2-3inchs apart. Is this true? And if it is, how does that work when I need to replace my pod every 3 days but a sensor is good for longer?

Also, in regards to the sensor… I keep reading about people leaving them in for longer than the 7 days my Endo says they are good for? Is it really “safe” to keep them in for longer?

HELP, I feel like a noob!

P.S… I’ve been a diabetic for 9 years and this is my second pump. I had a Medtronic one before but not a CGM.

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Hi @AMeehan

In response to your questions:

-Endo was completely incorrect. My sensor and OmniPod have never been 2-3 inches apart. Boggles my mind that your Endo would say this.

-I regularly get 20+ days out of every sensor with zero issues. The only reason I take it out is because after a while it can get a bit wonky. When the sensor expires just restart as new. Use until the numbers are all over the place or just make zero sense.

Any other questions fire away!!! I could never be without my Dex CGM.

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I usually leave my sensor in for 12-15 days. Some people are able to get much more out of them, and some a little less. I assume what your Endo is saying is that they shouldn’t be any closer than 2-3 inches from each other. I use different parts of the body. Usually one are for one and one arm for the other. Sometimes I will attach the pods to my abdomen.

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I was trying to fathom having two things that close and how “bulky” that would feel. It was almsot making me not want to get it.

Makes sense to keep reusing it, escpecialky since they are NOT cheap. Do you find that you get scar tissue build up from leaving it in place so long?

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Yes, the point is that they can’t be closer than 2-3 in apart—more distance is fine. If you have a pump or inject insulin too close to the sensor it can screw with CGM readings.

I do get little red marks from the sensors that linger but eventually fade and sometimes have a temporary bump on my skin from the site if it’s been there a while (that goes away within a week), but my skin also scars particularly easily, so you’ll have to see how it works for you. All of that is completely superficial/just on the skin though—it’s not the same issue as insulin delivery with the potential to build up scar tissue in the fat, since it’s the injected insulin that does that, whereas the sensor is just the teeny filament sitting there.

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Most of us make it last longer than that. Ours typically last 12-15 days, but my son swims all the time, so the adhesive has a hard time (we have to reinforce it every few days). When the performance degrades and you get sensor drops, you know it’s time to switch.

I am sure she means at least 2-3" apart. You are not supposed to keep them close because you don’t want the insulin from the pump site to influence the sensor.

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Thanks so much for the feedback! It eased my concerns a lot :slight_smile:

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Actually not at all. I use on back of arms, upper thighs, back of calves etc. so there is plenty of real estate to rotate around.

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I am surprised that nobody has mentioned it, but the key to extending sensor life to 2 or more weeks is to stick it down well. Most people use tape (e.g. Opsite Flexfix) to help hold it down and many use a glue called Skin Tac. The topic has come up so many times I won’t repear the procedure for doing this, but you should be able to search for it in the archives (use Opsite or Skin Tac as search terms). Stick down sensor when you first insert a new one. At the end of 7 days after you get the session expired message, just leave the sensor in place and go through the Sensor Start procedure as if it were a new one.

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Interestingly enough I’ve never used any of that and always get 20+ days out of mine. Good point nonetheless.

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I guess it depends on how well the tape sticks to your skin. Some people have terrible trouble. Since I am self-funding I went the whole 9 yards with tape and skin tac from the start. Can’t do any harm.

I used to get 18 or more days (exceptionally over 3 weeks) pretty reliably. However over the past year they seem to die consistently around 16 days with little or no warning (e.g. day 15 = spot on; day 16 = continuous ??? warnings lasting two or three hours interspersed with 2 or 3 hours of readings but with drop outs and very inaccurate). I suspect that this is sensor batch-related.

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I love the camo tape. Did you do it yourself?

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I thought that was just your tattoo! It took me a little bit to realize your Dex sensor/transmitter was hiding in there. Well done!

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How cool! :+1: When it starts lifting, can you remove it without disturbing the sensor or does it lift the CGM sticky patch too? I use opsite & if it starts to lift, i trim the lifted parts & put on a new one. Guess that would look weird with your camo design lol

Thanks!