I am a type one and was considering using Dexcom CGM and was wondering if anyone can tell me how long the insertion needle is. I spoke with a Dexcom representative who advised she didn’t know, which I found odd considering she’s a sales representative. Is anyone able to advise?
I’m not sure because it’s not something you ever see, but next time I insert a sensor maybe I can try and break it out of the plastic inserter it retracts into and take a look. It just feels like a bit of a pinch for a second, and it’s inserted on an angle. I’m pretty lean myself, so if that’s what you’re worried about you should be fine.
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It’s about 3/4 of an inch. But as said it inserts at an angle. You can have a slim body type and use without concern.
Thanks for the info. Do you use it on your arm? That’s what I was planning to do but the Dexcom representative advised that it was only approved for use on the abdomen. From what I have read it appears a lot of people use it on their arm. Was wondering if perhaps the readings may not be as accurate if used on the arm rather than abdomen.
I always wear mine on my arm. It is a little difficult to insert at first, but I love it on my arm. There are several videos about how to do it. I suggest Diabetic Danica as a good choice about how to do it.
Just to be a bit contrarian albeit with kudos to Diabetic Danica, I have never been able to successfully use the back of my arm. I did give up after three tries early on in my Dex life. It’s been all abdomen, all the time for me.
YDMV
I love wearing it on my arm. I have not had any problems with accuracy. It is consistently in tune with my meter.
I just started using my arm an my first has been spot on. Also I’m on day 12 of my sensor and it is still going strong and sticky well to my arm. On my stomach my Max was usually 10 days.
Haven’t tried my arm in a long time. Did one there, but it was too much to the side and kept bumping into doorposts!
These days, my arms have become favorite pump sites, so the Dexcom sensors have been on the sides of my chest, more or less. Work well there too.
What was the problem? Did you find it difficult to insert there, or was it uncomfortable, or did you get unreliable readings?
It was hard to get to, plus I only got sensor failed - aka, no readings.
I always use the back of my arm. Very accurate for me.
Being a naturally curious individual and always figiting, I’ve gotten the needle out before and it appears to be about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. If you do it in your abdomen, pinching like a lot of us have been taught is your saviour. For me, i rarely feel pain. I go slow and if I feel it, adjust my pinching and use more force on the pinch and in it goes. Wish Dexcom would charge less for it so more diabetics would use them.
Sorry Jim, missed your reply.
Thanks everyone for all the information. I’m a little concerned about the needle causing pain, but plan to give Dexcom a try.
I just changed my season tonight, and I purposefully didn’t lock the needle guard up after so that I could measure the amount of needle that goes into the skin. it goes in on an angle, and only 2mm of the needle actually enters your skin. It is a bt thicker than an insulin syringe but it only pinches a tiny bit and I find that inserting my infusion set hurts more than my dexcom sensor does.
I took some pictures of my applicator. The first shows the needle as far out as it goes, the second shows the needle as far out as it goes, with a post-it note acting as “skin” so you can see just how little of that needle actually penetrate your skin
Thanks for the experiment. I’m genuinely curious - wouldn’t the needle need to penetrate as deep as the filament is long? If it only goes in 2mm how does it push the filament under the skin to its full length? I wonder if there’s something about the introducer that won’t allow you to extend the needle back out fully once it’s been retracted?