I am having the worse time with these sensors recently. They fall of or go wonky by 10 days. By wonky I mean they start reading false lows, very low. I’ve done the upper arm thing. With skin tac, with over patches with op site landed down first. Then I moved to the legs, thighs, upper chest and nothing works past 10 days some even less. I’ve had a few new one that were bad right from the start also. Could not be activated.
So then I do what we are supposed to and call help desk where she takes my info down and has me read through my logs to verify my problem. I’m getting excited because I feel like we are almost done. Wrong… Please hold for service/tech department. 1hour on hold. Sent me two new sensors. The problem is I’ve had nearly a 100% failure rate. I call each time and the wait time is just too much.
Does anyone know how to expedite this process? I am also aware that they only replace unit place on the upper arm. My Dexcom5 never did this. I could get those to stay on for 3 weeks.
Help. Tips tricks advice I’m losing my mind right along with the sensors.
My only experience is with the Dexcom G6. I never (knock on wood) had a sensor fall off, but I have had them fail. In fact the best results ever is from the last 2 and current on which are on the underside of the upper arm as opposed to the approved abdomen sites. The last one went a full 10 days with one data drop out a few hours before expiry hour.
The technology of CGMs is quite complex. It uses mechanical/biological/chemical/electrical processes to work. Any of those things can cause problems.
The use of SkinTac works for many to keep sensors stuck on the skin. I haven’t had to use it. In fact, I have difficulty removing the patch when the sensor has expired. I always shower with plain soap before applying a new sensor. I scrub a wide area with a paper towel soaked in rubbing alcohol to remove any skin oils. When dry I mount the sensor.
The sensor lead has reagents on it that interact with the glucose in the interstitial fluids. I am thinking that many sensor failures is in this reagent. It could cause inflammation in some people with an immune system attack.
Then there is the possibility of manufacturing defects. The Covid-19 pandemic has been more than an annoyance, but has affected industry, manufacturing and whatever around the world.
Yes thank you. I used Dexcom5 applied to the upper front area of my thigh. I went through a host of preparations to have them last.
I do know that anything that is applied to my abdomen will trigger itchy welts within hours. I know I have sensitive skin to begin with. I’m a redhead with fair skin.
I’d like to exhaust every angle or product before I give in to the multiple finger sticking once again.
Regards
Before balding and my beard has turning white I was a blond with a ginger beard, and I have the Uber fair skin. I had skin reactions to plastic tape when I would give blood. It would annoy them when I insisted on paper table, something to do with the adhesive.
Anyway, I’ve read some people after cleaning the site spray the area with FLONASE, let it dry and then apply the sensor.
As to sensors falling off, I got nothing, and I am not going to suggest superglue!
From Luis Type 2 MDI
How different we can be. I had a problem with my Dexcom G6 sensor staying on past 2 days when I first got it. I started using Skin Tac and that solved the issue. I now stay in the water for hours at a time so I added overpatches with Skin Tac on them and that has worked well.
But I also wear a Libre 14 day or Libre2 because I can scan it in the ocean when I swim. I had worn a Libre before Dexcom. I never had a problem with my Libre not staying on except when I hit it against a door frame etc. But because I knew I would be using it so much in the ocean I now apply Skin Tac to it and I have to pry it off of me at 14 days.
Just in case what I do is different and helps?
Alcohol to wipe the area of course and let dry
Apply Skin Tac to the sensor and let it get tacky before applying it
Let it set for 15 minutes before it’s secure before “jostling” it
I also apply Skin Tac to the adhesive of the overpatch, let it get tacky and then apply it.
On over patches, some of the over patches are better than others, Grif Grips makes various adhesive patches, an extreme grip, power grip etc. I have skin allergies to adhesives, even paper tape and surgical adhesives bothered me and yet skin tac nor the Libre has ever bothered me, but one of the grif grips did. I don’t remember which one it was. The Dexcom and the Dexcom overpatch don’t bother me either.
I realize the Libre doesn’t have as much of an edge around it but I believe the grif grips are cut to secure it. If you don’t use an overpatch I know with my dog I used to go around the outer edge of the Libre with more Skin Tac every 3 or 4 days to keep it on her.
If they are not secure, I’m sure that plays a part in them not properly reading for 14 days. But I also think they are having some production issues. I had 4 in a row of Libre2’s not starting and a fifth that started but failed within 20 minutes. A few others on another site were having the same issue. Also a bunch in the UK started having the same problem a few months later and they only had the 14 day Libre’s there… I’ve only had one 14 day fail in the last 6 months but numerous lIbre2’s. Libre told me that the 14 day Libre and the Libre2 were the same sensor when I said I was going to switch back to the 14 day sensors. Whether that’s true or not and it’s just the programing that makes them different I don’t really know.
After more people started having an issue that’s when I noticed I had to tell someone the issue and then got switched to tech and had to repeat everything. But this last time I called with a failure that didn’t happen so I think it’s a delaying tactic when the techs are backed up.
Well, David, I am in sunny (actually storming right now) south central Texas. I had a skin survey last month by a dermatologist. I was worried about a spot. He dismissed it and proceeded to freeze a bunch of precancers off arms and face. That’s always fun.
