Did the app say “replace sensor”? If not how did they fail?
I’ve not experienced that many sensor failures but have had a few and in general these failures are obvious in that the glucose jumps around for no apparent reason (no compression, no Acetaminophen, no major unexpected sugar intake or unplanned exercise) and I’ve seen this occur on day two or day nine or any other day.
I submit the failure to Dexcom and they send me a replacement with no complaints. This has helped me to build up a bit of a backup supply.
On the other hand, I have often been able to pop out the transmitters and get a second ten-day use from sensors. So I am ahead in that regard as well.
All of which helps me for the eventuality of losing coverage, or taking a trip where supply would be difficult or multiple failures in a short stretch of time that otherwise would leave me with no Dexcom at all.
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How do you manage to pop the transmitter out of the sensor’s bracket without damaging the bracket???
@TJKoko There are some links on how to reuse a sensor elsewhere on this forum and utube video somewhere but I never find it as straightforward as it’s described.
You need to free the little clips on either side of the transmitter and it will pop out.
For me, the hard part is freeing both the clips at the same time and always takes me a few minutes of fiddling. I use a thin but stiff piece of plastic, a medium guitar pick will do it. It’s just a bit closer to the round end of the transmitter, where the sensor has two very small tabs that hold it I place.
It then needs at least 15 minutes of disconnection or it will give the massage “no reuse of sensors allowed” and you’re back to square one.
Remember to “stop sensor” if you are doing this before the sensor expires on its own.
And keep your old code, you’ll need it or you’ll be recalibrating multiple times over the secondaries day period.
@TJKoko I had 3 fail in a row last March. They were wildly inaccurate but wouldn’t take calibrations. But 3 sensors in just a few days. The first I purposely called Dexcom because it wouldn’t keep the calibration, it just kept reverting to a way too low number. Then when the second one acted up I called and asked if it could be the transmitter as I had replaced the transmitter with that first sensor. In both cases I was told, no it’s the sensor. 3rd sensor failed again, that time I changed out the transmitter and sensor and it worked. After nine days I called them and told them changing out the transmitter and sensor worked. I was then told good you changed out the transmitter as we have been having a few people with the same issue and you have to change the transmitter… sigh. It had been a very frustrating few days. They replaced all 3 sensors and the transmitter with no problem.
Here is videos on how you restart and pop out a transmitter. It’s a great way to build a back up supply. Plus the G7’s look like you can’t restart, but if you build a backup of G6’s you can carry that forward to build a back up of G7’s.
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To pstud123 Confused on your statement of pulling the sensor out and reinserting it, How are you doing that.
Now on to Sensor Failure. In previous statements from Dexcom they referred to the fact we were the cause because of compressing the sensor too tight against the skin. I call BS on that. I wear a Sciatic Back brace and it has the sensor highly compressed. But I have kept track of the Sensor Failures that I have had and documented them.
In the last 15 Sensors I’ve worn since starting this tracking it has ALWAYS been on day 9 and 10 that I get the failures. Yes they go way and usually happen 3-4 times in the 24 hr period. I change sites every 10 days and have never been able to restart a sensor (early on I tried). In my mind set this has all started when the release of the G7 was first announced. But what I don’t understand is why the people using the G7’s on their arms are having this same issue.
It’s almost like the sensor knows it’s time is ending and is going into a shutdown practice mode.
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I know this is an older thread, and I never paid much attention to the sensor failure messages as I only over the years had them occasionally. Dexcom’s train of thought has always been that it is caused by compression of the sensor and Tx. I shouted BULL to this long ago sense I wear a back support belt.
But as of late my last three sensors out of the same box have worked well for me for 7 days then all three started with the sensor loss at night. Again there is no compression going on. Don’t wear my back brace to bed. And all three will do it several times a night. What I have noticed is that my glucose will be tracking along between 140- 150. The the next 5 min reading is 80 causing me to react to a low reading . Then no reading for 5-10 minutes before it finally give the sensor failure message.
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This is a common failure sequence for Dexcom. It’s not compression or signal failure but appears to be an issue with the actual sensor lead in the body.
I’m sure Dexcom is aware but not acknowledging the problem because it doesn’t affect the majority of users.
If you get these, please do a finger stick to confirm before hitting the carbs.
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WOO HOO just completed my second sensor session out of five and had NO SENSOR FAILURE ISSUES. interesting part is SUPPOSEDLY these failures are our fault according to Dexcom.
Now when the only change I’ve made in these five sensors is to move the from one side of my stomach to the other. And no change in my sleep patter as they only happened at night. Interesting though the first thee with this issue came out of the same box.
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