I just had 3 in a row “sensor is expired” alerts after getting blood in the 3 different sites on my abdomen. The third one, I even iced the area ahead of time before insertion. What’s going on? I’m new to the Medtronic/Minimed sensors and this is my second box. I only had one bleeder with the first box. Is there something else I can try to limit the bleeding?
I must note that I have a tremor and am not able to put the sensor in my upper arm. I struggle with all that tape enough as it is!
I started getting a monthly disability benefit that would cover the sensors on Medtronic’s CGM access program so I thought I would switch from the Libré 2 plus. I’m definitely having second thoughts. I have yet to go the full 7 days with a sensor. I do like the auto-correction, but it’s unable to keep up with the steep “feet on the floor” blood sugar rise even when I enter phantom carbs. Sorry for the rant, but I’m very frustrated. Any advice is appreciated.
I also see frequent bleeders but with Dexcom sensors. I also use the Omnipod and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a bleeder with a pod so I think it’s a design defect in the sensor. I don’t know if Medtronic use the Dexcom design; it’s entirely possible.
That’s particularly true because you switched from Abbott tech. I’m assuming you didn’t have bleeders and my own experience is limited to one Abbott sensor we bought for my wife, certainly no bleeder there.
Dexcoms do not fail on bleeders. They maybe give bogus results but they always give bogus results in the first few hours so it is difficult to tell (sometimes bogus results are true!) They don’t fail and they recover.
Since you sensor variant doesn’t recover you must report every failed sensor and, of course, get a replacement. In the US you can report the failure to the supplier or to the feds. Better to get the replacement from the supplier; the feds are in hock to the government and are probably currently binning every complaint.
Certainly better; we can’t get replacements from the feds, we have to go to the corporations and mostly they do it. They make it difficult (that saves them money so is understandable) but we have to do it; if we don’t we die.
We just have to keep on complaining. Freedom of speech; that’s all we are allowed to do.
Oh, ok; that’s the other answer. I think that’s better than anything I can, or did, suggest.
I used to bleed a lot with Medtronic sensors but that was years ago, so not sure if it’s relevant. I used to take apart the injection mechanism and insert them manually that way I could avoid veins.
The skin above a vein is much more sensitive than skin not under a vein.
I learned this when I used to do 6-7 injections per day with a syringe. So I would touch the skin with the needle and I would not push in if I could feel it.
I’m not sure you can do that with Medtronic sensors or not anymore, I know that I can’t do it with dexcom but if you poke around with a syringe needle you can find a spot with no vein.
Also pinching up skin before you put in the needle is supposed to help avoid veins.
But really, the reason you get bleeders is because you are hitting veins so that’s your root cause right there
Thanks for that. I’ll take a look at the injection mechanism when I get my next box.
I don’t know if pinching up the skin will work with that huge applicator, but I’ll definitely try it, especially if I can isolate the needle.
I also bled a little with my 4th sensor. However, I just put the one piece of tape on and let it be for a few hours. This time when I put on the transmitter, everything went smoothly. If I do this, plus the warm up time, it’s gonna take half the day to get a new sensor going!
Any second now you should be able to get the Minimed version of the Libre 3 which will eliminate the need for a pet monkey or spouse to help apply the Guardian 4.
When I search for the fda approval docs all I get are device problem reports so someone’s getting the new sensors.
Since you said this is your second box I’ll offer my usual a new CGM means starting over on the “where does this work best” search. My G6 works better in different places than the Libre I had been wearing, I expect to have to do it again when I move to the G7.
I look forward to that new sensor. Unfortunately, clearance in Canada usually takes longer than in the US. I have an appointment with my endo in November when I’m going to ask about the Libre 3 plus.
