Hello everyone,
I have recently started using dexcom g6 transmitter on my arm ( I 've had T1 diabetes for 10 years and I am 24) and I had to remove it after only 3 days because of intermittent sharp pain and muscle pain that focused around the transmitter and spread towards both my elbow and the tricep/shoulder/ shoulder blade area.
The pain didn’t start immediately. It started right after my regular training (I have an active lifestyle and move and perform every day professionally).
I have lean arms and use them a lot. I wondered if the pain could be due to a wrong placement (the lady who showed me how to place it put it on the back of my arm, on my tricep).
My arm’s muscles felt sore, and they were not relaxing, not even hours after the training session. After a while, the sharp pain started and continued until I removed it.
I noticed that the pain increased when I used my arm to do very basic actions like pulling, pushing or even just holding a bottle.
Is the pain normal? Is the placement wrong?
Should I wait and try a different spot ? What’s the best spot for very active people?
I cannot put it on my stomach because I slide and roll and I can only use it in a few spots on my arms because I have lots of tiny moles/freckles . (I’ve been told to be careful).
I have tried to talk about it with my doctor but she seems more focused on promoting the dexcom g6 rather than understanding my worries and giving me helpful tips.
Has anyone ever had a similar experience? Or any advice to share?
I’d appreciate it a lot.
Thanks everyone!
Wear on your arm did you place the sensor. I put them on the back side of the upper arm, not on the outer side like I see Libre users.
I also, place the applicator, sticking the adhesive to my skin, then pull away before triggering the sensor. This prevents the sensor lead hitting muscle, or that’s my thinking.
BTW in the US Dexcom is only approved to the abdomen. When you call support alway tell them it was on your abdomen, never the arm. Yes, that’s a lie, but hey.
I’ll try that way. Thanks for the suggestion!
I live in Italy and here the Dexcom is mainly put on the upper back of the arm. There are people who have it on the stomach as well, but I’ve mostly seen kids wearing it there.
@CCHIARA , your situation is normal for someone using a site not approved by Dexcom.
First if you are in the USA, here is the link to the approved locations. If you check, make sure the link is for the country of your residence.
Dexcom site location (USA): https://www.dexcom.com/faqs/where-can-i-insert-my-dexcom-g6-sensor
Second, the way the Dexcom G6 works is by generating a voltage along the wire. The physiology of the current and the wire in the arm is the wire may be near a nerve. The electrical current & the nerve are not playing nice together.
I am very active myself and I have a fire fighter friend. Both of us wear our Dexcom G6 CGMs on our bellies as instructed by Dexcom trainers. Sliding and rolling should have no impact on a properly applied G6. The free Dexcom overpatch provides superior anchoring. What type of sliding and rolling?
I have worn various Dexcom CGMs for 23 years. This is the map my endo’s nurse educator taught me. The drawing has been cleaned up.
If you are going to wear your CGM anywhere other than the places Dexcom says to wear the G6, have you doctor write Dexcom, explain your clinical reasons for not using the belly, and request a letter of variance in your name. There are multiple reasons for this letter. It is for your benefit.
Message me if you wish to discuss further. There are several factors at play.
I don’t use my arm because there’s not enough ‘meat’ there. It hurts and doesn’t work there. Look for ‘meaty’ spots on your body. Try your hips or upper butt.
I use the front of my upper upper arm. But if you have no subcutaneous tissue there, then what about the thighs? My recommendation would be between the front and inner thigh. Not inner, not front, but between where you won’t hit it when you walk or run. There are a good many capillaries in my thighs which is why I don’t use that location due mostly to aggravation. If the capillary bleeding stops fairly quickly, that means the cannula went through or nicked one and for me I would leave it there. But you do you. For those who are gonna yell at me, capillaries are tiny, about 1 ml at most.
On the drawing provided by @jay6, I use my abdomen for pump sites and I also use below my belly button and on either side of it. I have enough space (ha) that I can easily get a full inch plus between sites and it takes a long time to repeat a site area.
Yet somehow miraculously it does work for the arm in Canada!
I only used my abdomen first time and now only switch between triceps area. (Near my smallpox vaccination, and same on other side).
I use abdomen for infusion site. I don’t have a very big belly, do lack real estate for that much rotation anyway.
