I’m a 670G wearer who utilizes the Guardian Sensor. Sensors are to last 7 days. On a weekly basis, my sensor starts to ‘act up’ the morning of the 6th day. I fight with it all day/night long b/c I fear that if I change it on the 6th day each time, I’ll run out of sensors before I receive my next Medtronic supply (causes insurance dilemma). By ‘fight with’ I mean responding to repeated requests for BG levels and repeated alarms not to calibrate.
The Medtronic rep told me to stop inserting the sensor horizontally on my stomach and begin to insert the sensor vertically. Questions:
Do others wear sensors that quit operating on Day 6 rather than Day 7?
And, if so, did Medtronic folks give you this same solution?
I use Dexcom G5 sensor. Supposed to last for 7 days but mine last 3-4 weeks. My last sensor reached six weeks and then I changed it. I always insert horizontally. I am also on Medicare and have accumulated a nice supply of sensor but not transmitters.
I wore the Enlites (yes, I know it isn’t the Guardian) for about a year. NOTHING that Medtronic did solved my problem of the sensors usually being a random number generator. The few that worked well, thanks to my luck, fell off within a few days because of excessive sweating. Talk about being upset. I would go months without a decent sensor, then in the summer, I’d get a couple of them that actually were fairly accurate, only to lose them to coming loose. I wore then horizontally, same as how I wear the dexcom G5 which is a whole different thing–I’m closing in on 2 years and hardly ever have an inaccurate sensor, at any time other than on day 1. I solve that by “soaking” a sensor for 1 day.
I use Guardian sensors and most always I am able to recharge the transmitter after seven days and get an additional seven days out of the sensor.
Make sure it is securely taped down, I use OpSite Flexi tape to resecure it if it becomes a little loose. But this is only once in a while.
I used IV3000’s and that wasn’t sufficient in hot weather to prevent a SUDDEN loosening of the Enlite. And Skin Prep.
I’ve never had that issue with the G5 in the same conditions–I haven’t had a sensor get loose in the nearly two years I’ve worn the G5.
I always use the arm with it taped on vertically. I usually get the full 7 days.
Note: I am a Medtronic ambassador. My opinions are my own. They did not pay me to say nice things about Medtronic devices or the company. OK, they sent me a shirt and a cup but even I am more expensive than that.
Same as @Rphil2 I wear on my arms and normally get a full 7 days. I’ve only had two sensors fail this year, both were at 5 days.
I use Guardian on my stomach and thighs. Sensors from my most recent 90 day supply (expiration Oct 2019) are working really well. Earlier batches (2-3 batches for 90 days each) had a few sensors behaving as you describe. Also: readings that continually drop the first 6-18 hours, won’t calibrate to BG reading, low bias on SG, a very ragged curve, 7 finger sticks/day average, and possibly more that I have forgotten. So I hypothesize that Medtronics had some type of problem in the manufacture or quality control that has been fixed.
Regardless, I’m giving Dexcom G6 a try. Received the sensors last Friday and should have a transmitter in 1-2 weeks.
Are you using the newer transmitter ? I think medtronic was replacing them at no charge.
@Rphil2 is this still true?
Yes to my knowledge it is still true.
. Repeated Blood Glucose (BG) Requests With MiniMed™ 670G System
Note: I am a Medtronic ambassador. My opinions are my own. They did not pay me to say nice things. OK, they sent me a shirt and a cup but even I am more expensive than that.
Yes they are. Received my new transmitter two weeks ago. Took nearly a month to ship after the order was placed.
Follow the link @Rphil2 posted