I’ve been using a CGM for almost two weeks now and it’s a love/hate relationship. Love knowing where I’m at all the time, hate the fact that if I wear it in the abdominal area I can’t hold my 8 month old daughter in my arms (her legs keep kicking it) and if I wear it on my leg I can’t sleep on that side anymore because it feels like I am getting stabbed by a dull needle (or maybe even a ball point pen).
Anyway, my pump educator told me they last for three days but I can wear them for up to six (which is what I have been doing). After reading through some discussions here I’ve noticed that some people are using theirs considerably longer than that. The educator told me the problem is the possibility of an infection if I keep it in longer than six days (but then again she said the same thing for the pump after 2-3 days).
How long do you keep yours in? If longer than six days, aren’t you worried about infection?
I use the Dexcom 7, good for seven days per use. I use each sensor for 14 days. On the third use, the readings are widely erratic. i was told it has to do with deterioration of the chemicals used in the sensor probe. Whatever. No infection problems here.
When I used the original Dexcom, rated for 3 days, i never got more than three uses (9 days) out of them.
That’s interesting because I was thinking about the stabbing pain I just mentioned and I forgot to say that after 4 days almost all pain goes away. Granted I’m only on my second sensor and it’s the first time in my leg so I don’t know if that will always be true or not.
After 6 days my readings are still nearly identical to my meter. Maybe I should try to keep it in longer and see how it goes, but the thought of an infection still bothers me.
I use the MM CGM, and consistently get 6-7 days out of each sensor (given the initial insertion isn’t too bloody). I don’t like to extend them beyond that since you’d have to disconnect/reconnect the Minilink transmitter from the sensor on the 7th day (since the internal timer will time it out).
I’m on my 9th day of this particular Medtronic CGMS sensor. I can’t usually get past 7 or 8 days so I’m setting a new record apparently. I don’t worry about infection because I keep the IV3000 tape over it at all times and I’m not infusing anything into the site as with insulin pump sets.
I think I have answered my own question tonight. It’s nearly 4 am and I am up because 20 minutes ago my pump woke me with a high BG alert. I’ve bolused and I’m waiting to see if it’s working or not. I’m on my 8th day of the sensor and I will change it the morning because my numbers have been way off starting on the 7th day. Tonight they are off too (meter said 334, CGM said 275) but not as bad as they were yesterday (meter said 188, CGM 94 with a down arrow). As far as infection I’m still OK but with these wild numbers it doesn’t matter anyway.
Lesson learned I guess is that it’s different for everyone but the average seems to be 7-9 days for most.
Today I discovered that my max may be 4 days. I was going to try for 6, but this morning, my meter read 183, and the cgms read 94 with arrow down, then dropped to 79 (165 on meter). Then I got a calibration error (???), and then a bad sensor alert. I took it off after that.
I was mostly happy with it for the first 3 days, though (except for some off #'s here and there).
I wear mine as long as I can that is around 5 days max. The reason you may start seeing lower reading on your CGM is over time the CGM can work it’s way out a bit and even a tiny bit will cause false low’s on the CGM.
I have noticed the more bloody my insertion is the least time I get from my sensor. If my insertion is good I get really good CGM reading to meter right away and that almost always means I am going to get longer use of it.
Sorry Pavlos I can’t really add to the discussion on this but when I read the title I did crack up thanks for making me laugh (inappropriately) this morning bud!
Irritation / infection comes from not securing the area and water/dirt etc gets in. Try Tegaderm 3M adhesive…sticks like glue and nothing gets in under the transmitter or into the site. I keep mine in for 6 days…then if the ISIG numbers are still high I disconnect the transmitter, charge it and leave it in for another 6 days. After that its time to change. If, you see a lot of “flat lining” and inconsistencies in the BG/sensor readings…its time to change.
Also, for the reservoir for the pump. You will find after 3 days the insulin becomes “less effective”…its time to change reservoirs, definitely after three days.
Sheila
If you get the cycle cal error and then bad sensor. You can actually turn the sensor feature off on your pump…and let it sit for a good few hours. Its almost like you have to let the pump settle down Don’t take the sensor out. leave the transmitter attached. and after a few hours turn the sensor feature back on and it will start again. Its such a waste to insert new sensor and have it not work. Also check the numbers on the ISIG. If the ISIG says “–” it means that the sensor is not “communicating” with the pump. Shut everything off again, wait a few hours, and allow the pump to “re-set”. Then turn the sensor feature back on and start again. I have found with trial and error, but it works…I have been on the CGM for over a year. (MM)
Sheila
I usually wear my sensors 10-15 days or until I get crazy numbers. After day 7 one must charge the transmitter so that the week signal warning does not appear.
