Dexcom-taking the plunge

Type 1 and LADA
41

And remove transmitter, then start timing.

42

Thank you. Waiting for sensor to expire on Sunday so I can try your suggestions. Will wait at least 30 minutes. Sounds like that is the trick to confuse the transmitter. Will let everyone know if it works.

43

Itā€™s really not. 15 minutes works. I hate being without data, so have a hard time understanding why anyone would voluntarily extend the wait longer than necessary. Just set a timer for fifteen minutes after the transmitter is removed.

44

I did try that after watching on YouTube. But it did not work?? So confused. Will try the 30 min and see what happens. Thanks for your input.

45

I would guess there was a different mistake in there, or the timer wasnā€™t set after the transmitter was already removed, or you just estimated and shorted yourself a minute.

  1. Stop your sensor session, or wait until itā€™s expired and stops on itā€™s own.
  2. Remove transmitter using a test strips, guitar pick, or hair clip.
  3. Go ahead and wipe the electrodes (metal dots) in both the exposed sensor and the transmitter with alcohol and let it dry while waiting.
  4. Set timer for 15 minutes.
  5. After timer elapsed, reinsert the transmitter.
  6. Start new sensor session. If you happen to know your sensor code, enter it. (Those of us who restart sensors save the code. I take a picture of the lot number on the box and the paper sensor code every time I insert a new sensor.) If you donā€™t have the code anymore, thatā€™s okay. Donā€™t assume itā€™s the same as any other in your box. Just tap the ā€œno codeā€ option during the startup. Without the code, youā€™ll be prompted to calibrate twice immediately at sensor start, and then twice a day thereafter, just like with the G5 system, but itā€™s better than not having CGM data.
  7. If you were able to start it using the sensor code, it will probably reas really high at first. Go ahead and calibrate right away. Because it reads high, itā€™s best to aim to have your sugar around 100mg/dl when the sensor warmup expires, because theyā€™re prone to errors if you try to make too big of a calibration or try to calibrate while out of range.
46

That is so exactly specific!! Thanks

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47

Regarding G6 sensor adhesion: another good aid is IV Prep pads. For me the solution provides just the right amount of extra adhesion to make my sensor last 10 days, but is not that hard to peel off. I donā€™t apply the solution in the tiny spot where the sensor itself goes in: just around the rest of the pad area. I use IV Prep for my infusion sets, too. Nothing ever comes off now. You do have to be careful to let it dry a few tens of seconds until itā€™s tacky: if itā€™s too wet, it wonā€™t work.

48

Wow thank you. I will follow to the letter. I think I removed transmitter first. Maybe. Donā€™t remember. I do save the tab with the number. Canā€™t wait to try.

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49

THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Successful restart. I followed your instructions and voila it worked. Was even able to remove transmitter on my own using a test strip. Cannot tell your how much I appreciate your taking the time to respond in such detail.

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50

No problem. I actually typed all that to someone in a Facebook chat, and just copy/paste from the message whenever someone else is having trouble. Iā€™m lazier than I look. :sweat_smile:

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51

I was having this problem with G6 too. Yesterday I presoaked the new sensor and I indeed get a huge improvement in BG accuracy on the first day. Thanks for this tip.

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52

@Robyn_H how many days do you get when you restart a sensor? Iā€™ve yet to try restarting mainly because it is challenging just to get a sensor to last 10 days. Iā€™m hoping the presoaking will improve duration though and if so, Iā€™d like to try restart. Thank you.

53

I usually run mine got 30 days total. I can get longer, but find itā€™s usually not worth it. They occasionally fail earlier, but rarely. I really think flattening your line is the key to extending sensor life. The big BG swings seem to eat up more reagent than a steady line. But I suppose thereā€™s a body chemistry element to it, too.

Keeping it on for 30 days is something altogether different. That requires much skintac and tape!

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54

Wow, thanks, that is amazing! I am hoping to try this if I get one to be stable at 10 days! I already use opsite tape to keep my Omnipod on, so should be prepared for taping the sensors :slight_smile:

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