I’m on my 6th day with the Dexcom and so far I think it’s great, but I’m already thinking of where I will wear the next one. This first one is on my stomach, it seems to work fine but I also like to wear the omnipod there, so I need to find “virgin territories”.
I am thinking of trying the outside thigh, since I remember that from my shots days, that was one of the least painful sites. If I put it on my thigh, can I put it vertically, or does it need to be horizontal?
I also read that many people will use the side of the body (between the armpit and the hip), but is that also placed vertically? And what angle would arm placements have? Also for those who wear it on the stomach but above the waist line, does that site hurts more than others?
Since it needs to stay in for many days, I don’t want to risk it, and I’m trying to think of all possible spots…I know I’m asking 10 different things, but I’m trying to not get in the way of the omnipod, and hopefully find the least painful sites…I’m a wuss
Thanks!
Although alternate sites are not recommended, I have been placing mine in the hip to buttock region and it has worked well for me there. I have been cautioned not to place it where there is too much muscle. I, too, like to reserve my abdomen for my regular pump site and have had much luck with current placement. I hope to branch out and begin experimenting with alternate sites a bit more (thigh, upper arm) , but for now have been happy.
I never had any luck with the stomach. I have had great success with the back of my upper arm.
I was at a symposium last week and heard a MD from UCSF, who was taking to 50 T1Ds and parents of T1Ds about CGMs. He made some very clear points, the CGM can be put anywhere where it will remain fixed in the skin to stay in contact with interstitial fluid, everyone has a “best” spot for their sensor, and one you find the “best” spot don’t move it anywhere else.
There is no scar tissue build up like with an infusion site, just don’t use the same hole. One issue with a CGM many don’t know about is the dependency of the sensor wire to remain in a place where the is a continual exchange of glucose in the interstitial fluid. If you put pressure on a sensor, like sitting or sleeping on it, the numbers will be way off and change dramatically when the pressure is removed. It will be low the when the pressure is removed it will start to rise for what appears to be no reason. And, do the same in the opposite direction.
