When I trained with my DE on the CGM, she had me wait like 5-10 minutes after insertion, then start the transmitter. I don’t remember the exact error, but it was giving lost signal and the Isig?? was really low, like barely over 1…
Anyway, she had me get up and walk around and move and stretch and the signal gradually came up.
It’s been months since that, and I only used a few sensors and quit using them because of the painful insertion and couldn’t find a way to get it really secure, even Tegaderm and IV3000 started peeling around the edges after a day or so…I got some Hypafix 4" tape at the suggestion of another poster (he even included a pic, thanks!) Now I’m ready to try again…
My question is this: I’ve heard that you can insert at bed time, then in the morning set it up on the pump that I’ve started a new sensor…do I insert the sensor and NOT put in the transmitter, and connect it in the morning and then wait 2 hours to calibrate? If you don’t connect the sensor, how do you protect the prong/electrical thingy from catching on clothes, and if you tape down just the sensor to keep it from moving, how do you get the tape off (without moving wire) in order to insert the transmitter?
Or do I insert it, connect the transmitter, tape everything down, and then in the morning tell the pump I’ve put in a sensor? If I do it that way, can’t I calibrate immediately, since the 2-hour alarm would have gone off 2 hours after insertion?
I’m thinking my initial problem was because it seemed to take longer for the sensor to “wet” than the recommended 5-10 minutes…usually after a few hours it was fine, no more signal problems…
I’m a little confused and I’ve read a little about it here, but I’m thinking people do it both ways? Any personal experience as to which way you prefer?
Any input is appreciated,
Tamara
Insert the sensor, wait the typical 10 to 15 minutes to plug the transmitter in as usual. Make sure you get the blinks, tape everything down as usual, and go to bed. Or just forget it for anywhere from 2 to 4 hours if you start in the morning. Do not turn anything on with the pump. When you do go ahead and tell the pump you have a new sensor, the pump is going to show the usual screen of will take 2 hours before calibration, but if the sensor did get wet and go through all of the ISIG up’s and down’s that is normal during the initial start-up, the pump will beep and you can calibrate immediately. I will do both ways, the traditional start and the insert and forget about it start. If you have trouble with a start-up, you can turn it off and wait a while and then restart new sensor again to see if the ISIG is more consistant. Always remember though if you do unplug the transmitter because of bad readings, recharge it before re-attaching it to the sensor. I tend to have more luck and have had MM tell me to recharge it also before reattaching. Also if you are lucky and can get more than 6 days off a sensor, you will need to unplug and recharge at the end of the 6th day before starting new again.
I have found that putting in the sensor the night before works best for me. I put Mastisol on the skin (back of arm) and leave a 1/2" hole with no mastisol. I cut a hole in the IV 3000 and slap it on. Then I put in the sensor through the hole. Overnight I cover the sensor with an ipod case on my arm. I don’t connect the transmitter until then morning to get the most out of the charge. I get an easy 6 days out of my sensor. I have stretched it to 14 days with a few transmitter charges and a few IV 3000 trimming and re-applications.
I see no reason, other than battery life, that you can’t attach the transmitter the night before like Korrie described. Her reconnect an restart description is right on the mark.
I have a v1.3 transmitter and still have to put it back on the charger after 6 days of use. Breaking the connection does NOT work. Just FYI.