Until recently, I got 7 days out of my sensor by telling it to “Start New Sensor” when it beeped after 36 hours. On day 7 there would be a “weak signal” display. This time on the 7th day I very carefully pulled the sensor mechanism out and placed it in the battery compartment overnight. The next day I carefully replaced it and “Started New Sensor.” I’m now on Day 11 and it shows “9 hours” and is working well. At $35 for each complete insertion, I’m excited!!
(sorry, a quick nitpick, mostly because things become very confusing otherwise: the piece that goes under the skin (purple piece for minimed) is the sensor, the piece that clips on to that is the transmitter (white clamshell looking piece), the reciever is the piece that displays numbers, for some people the reciever is the same as the pumo, and CGMS refers to the whole system)
why are you starting a new sensor after only 36 hours? your pump/CGM should display readouts for for 72 hours (3 days) before asking you to replace the sensor. I’ve found that you can tell it to start new sensor without unclipping it, and it will tell you to wait 2 hours, but it beeps and asks for the first BG within 2 minutes or so. I’ve been able to go 12 days without charging my transmitter, with only minimal range issues.
I also have a hard time getting my sensors to stay in for more than 6 days, and even if i do, i get cal errors on day 6
I’m new to this. I just got my Dexcom 7+ yesterday. They state that the sensor should last for 7 days. I’m hoping to stretch that to 10 to 12 days. I would love to have a 3 month supply of theses to last closer to 5 months.
The above posters use a Minimed CGMS which have a 3 day life with a 2 hour initialization (kinda like our start up process with Dexcom).
I also have a Dexcom Seven Plus and I’m currently on day 11 with my sensor (just 3 days away from a full 2 week period). I’ve read some Dexcom users getting 21 days on one sensor! (that kinda blows my mind!) Good luck getting your sensor to last longer. Oh! Another thing, my Dexcom trainer warned me to make sure I use the sensors before the expiration due date as the stuff inside the needle or something (? can’t remember her exact words) breaks down over time. You might want to call your Dexcom trainer who can explain it better.
That’s my problem, too. I get cal errors on Day 6. My Minimed rep just gives me the line that “they’re only FDA approved for 3 days, so if you get 6 out of it you’re lucky.”
when i trialed the Dexcom 7 (right after it came out) it lasted nearly 2 weeks for me before failing
That’s amazing! The minimed people on the help line were telling me not to go longer than 3 days, but I don’t listen to that (they have to cover their butts to avoid having problems with the FDA). Plus, I have so many problems with inserting and my sensor is a lot more accurate on the 5th and 6th day than the first day. I am going to try and stretch this sensor out and see if I can go for 9 days 
Thanks for the tip!
my minilink does not last more than 6 days it just says lost sensor.Any tips on extending sensor life?
I use the Minimed CGMS and wear them for seven days with good accuracy. (7 days so I can always change on the same day since I can’t remember if I changed or lied to my sensor). By leaving the sensors in so long, does anyone have problems with scar tissue? I have been using CGMS for about 1 1/2 years now and always use the same area becuase I am thin and it is hard to find enough fat. For the last few months I have been having trouble with accuracy so finally tried a new area and it is working so much better. What do you all think? Has anyone tried the back of the arm. It’s a little risky but if my husband helps me with it I am thinking it may work.
You can restart your MM CGMS after 6 days, but only after the MANDATORY recharge. Both transmitter and sensor have built in timers that end each cycle. The transmitter must be recharged at the end of day 6. Once it recharges, just do a reconnect and Start as a new sensor, but it will take about 2 hours, vs the 5-10 minutes on the restart at the end of day 3.
I generally get about 3 - 4 cycles (or more!) out of my sensors).
Kiwi
They aren’t allowed to tell you how to extend the life after 3 days.
I must have been lucky the first time because now after I reach Day 7, I get the Weak Signal then Lost Sensor report. I recharge it a couple of days then put a new one on for the next seven days, Starting “New Sensor” after it times out on the third day. I can’t get but one box of 10 sensors at a time so I try to space them out.
Goeffrey, thanks for the clarification on the terms and addition!!
To recharge, it should only take about 20 minutes. Watch for the green light to stop blinking and you are ready to go.
I use the MM CGM and regularly get 9 to 15 days out of a sensor. The most I’ve gotten is 17 days. Unfortunately I accidently pulled the sensor out taking off my shirt. I’ve been weqaring mine on my arms for three months now. I find my values are more accurate than any other site I’ve tried.
Hi, Mick. You may already have your answer, but if not, I’d suggest that the problem may be the transmitter battery, not the sensor. I’ve had a MM paradigm sensor in for 6 days now, got “weak signal” followed by “lost sensor”, so I took the transmitter off the sensor (carefully, so as not to disturb the sensor), tested the transmitter to confirm it wasn’t sending a signal, and recharged it (took about 20 min). I then reattached it to the sensor. So now I’m off and running with the same sensor and a recharged transmitter. This seems similar to what others have experienced. From those other posts I get the impression that repeated “Cal Error” alarms may signal the end of sensor life (but before you pull it, make sure the cause of that alarm isn’t that you tried to calibrate when your blood glucose was changing rapidly, or tried to enter an old or incorrect meter reading, or you have a new sensor that’s still getting used to you).
I am amazed at the length of time everyone can get out of their sensors! I always get better accuracy through day 4-6 but never have tried to go any further. I’m afraid of infection but it doesn’t seem like anybody is experiencing that. I’m going to have to give this a try!
You should be able to get the sensor life you hope for with the Dexcom. I started using the 7+ on September 4. I got 8 days on the first sensor, 16 days on the second, and I’m on day 6 of the third sensor.
I bought a product called Skin-Tac that I apply to my skin before I stick on the sensor. I’m thinking that I should be able to get at least two weeks on each sensor.
Good luck with your new 7+. It’s really great when it can wake you up at night to treat a low.
It’s good to see that everyone is having good results. I have the MM722+CGMS and things have been just great for me. 8 days of sensor life is the best I’ve gotten so far. Leading up to the end of day 8, my results where just getting too bad. I have learned that proper calibration is the KEY to effective CGMS results. I have hypo unawareness and the “trend” feature has really been a life saver for me. My bg readings these past 30 days have never been better. I’m type 1 going past 25 years now and I am most thankful to have this technology at this time in my life.
I wish you all much success in this journey we all are travelling on.
Ron
Minimed told me that I needed to recharge the battery for 7 hours for best results after I had some problems with weak signals. Is this anyone’s experience?
Well ya’ll, I must have been smoking something when I fired off that message that my sensor had lasted 14 days! I can only get 7 days before it alarms with weak signal, then lost sensor. But by the 7th day, the insertion site is itchy and irritated anyway.