We all know that the first 24 hours or so on a new sensor is problematic at best. But my current sensor doesn’t seem to be getting any better! I’m 3 days in and it’s still wildly inaccurate, going from 40 to 280 back to 100 down to 60 all within a few hours. You should see my overnight graph - if I went up and down that much in one night I’d be in the hospital. Every time I check my BG with my meter, I’m right about where I should be, but Dexcom is crazy wrong. I’m getting sick of it wildly beeping at me for going low when I’m really at 120.
So… what to do? Give up on this sensor? I haven’t done anything different with it than any other sensor.
I think you should call Dexcom. Based on the daytime problems it sounds like the sensor is malfunctioning. I have had crazy variations at night because I kept rolling on the sensor, but not during the day. The only time I am all over the place during the day is when I am at the end of a sensor’s useful life.
Since you said that your protocol, successful with other sensors, did not vary from previous sensors, I would swap this one out right now. It’s time to cut your losses. It could just be a bad site or the sensor may have failed.
I’m sure Dexcom will send you a free replacement if you call.
This sounds very familiar…did you take any Tylenol recently? Anything with acetaminaohen (active ingrediant in Tylenol…and countless outher analgesics/cold medicines, etc.) will send the dex into mayhem. Cannot take anything with that ingrediant in it, or you need to forfeit the dex for at least 12 hours!
Nope, nothing like that, I thought of that too, but we don’t even have Tylenol in the house!
hen I agree with Terry, I would trash it and call Dexcom, they will ask for some iformtion that you can only get inf you have downloaded the software on your own computer, but they have replaced wildly inaccurte sensors for me in the past. (Not a usual occurance, I have to say)
I have been using my Dexcom for 7 months. During that time I have had at least three sensors that started giving me bad numbers, from the start, and it never stopped. They all failed in less than one week and I had to replace them. Since that time I have learned so much more here on Tu. Where to place them on my body, when to calibrate, how to interpret data, etc. I have not had a crazy behaving sensor since. The first two days are rather wild, but things get much better for me by the third day. The second week is even better than the first, for me.
Sounds like you are in the same boat as I am. I jut put a new sensor in on Sunday and it is pretty much worthless. This morning, it has me in the 40s when I was in the 80s. I did the 3 calibrations 15 minutes apart and it still kept giving me odd readings. I was away all day so couldn’t call but am going to call Dexcom now. The one time, it had 2 straight up arrows with me in the 120s then 5 minutes later, I had 2 straight up arrows in the 70s.
Most likely problem? If your Transmitter clips are BOTH in proper position, then it’s probably “blood poisoning”.
First check that BOTH Transmitter clips are down; and remove the Transmitter carefully. If water got in, it might be recoverable by drying out. (With a hair dryer on air at a gentle distance-- not heat.) Otherwise (i.e., no water/wetness screwing up the resistance and voltage readings), rip it out immediately. IMO, you should have given up after only 4 hours of “wild” readings. Start up a new one. (Of course, you’ve probably already done that – our replies are unanimous in recommending this.)
While it warms up, get your Sensor ID (from the package, or from the injector; I keep the injectors). Support will want that. Download the data into a file on the PC, and then call them up for credit on a replacement. If you don’t have enough spares, order early- insurance will accept the early order, because they’re not getting charged by Dexcom for the replacement Sensor.)
Don’t let it go this long. The entire first day can have moderate accuracy problems, especially at bG readings for which the Receiver hasn’t been given “near-by” calibration values against the new Sensor. But crazy leaps are either from (a) water infiltration; (b) blood on Sensor wire; © wire damage during the insertion; or (d) a just plain bad Sensor from the factory. The only one which is fixable, and your fault, is water getting under the Transmitter (due to clipping only one of the two arms). Dexcom Customer Service handles the other situations via free replacement; it’s part of the deal.
Thanks for all the replies - I did talk to Dexcom earlier today, and they advised me to do the 3 calibrations, 10-15 minutes apart, so I’m going to do that. Of course, AFTER calling, suddenly everything is working again, so I’m not going to rip it out quite yet. If it’s still wonky tomorrow, I’ll give 'em another call and probably put in a new sensor.
Good luck! They are going to replace mine.
challenge it: eat some glucose tabs to push your sugar up to 160 or so, and make sure that it follows a smooth line into (approximately) that zone. Make an “upper-end” calibration about 15 minutes after your bG stops moving up… 45 minutes or so. (THAT’S why you use glucose tabs for this-- they’re quick, and when it’s over, you know that it’s definitely over.) The correct down into normal range, 90-100 mg/dL. Again, the graph should be smooth and steady after the correction begins to take effect. Calibrate again after you reach a “level” arrow indicator. (For me, with no meals, snacks, or other “issues” in the way, that would be roughly +3.5 hours from the correction.)
You are showing tremendous pateince! I would have ripped it offf after the first bad reading! Bless you, and keep it going! good luck and PEACE!
Not all sensors take and settle in. If the sensor is generating nonsense 24 hours after insertion, enter three fingerstick calibrations, 15 minutes apart. If the sensor still generates false readings call DexCom support to get a replacement. There is a feature in the DexCom software that is able to upload your most recent data from the receiver over the internet to a DexCom computer so the support people can see exactly what you see. I have had multiple instances of sensors not taking. The DexCom support people have always replaced these sensors graciously. After three sensors in a row gave problems the next one has been right as rain with accurate readings and is now on day 17. There is no need to tolerate false readings for days on end. I can assure you all the sensors were inserted with great care in locations that have worked well in the past. The fact that some sensors just do not take is a mystery.