No, I don’t put anything on under the sensor but that is a good idea. We don’t have Safeway here but I will check online. I liked something that goes over the sensor, too, to keep shower water from disrupting the readings. I’ve also stayed positioning the sensor vertically instead of horizontally on my body which someone on this forum mentioned helped to prevent shower water from entering the transmitter.
SkinTac the wipes. I also use them for my Omnipod insulin pod. I’ve not had a failure since using them along with my regular routine. i find the wipes easier to handle especially on travel. Hope that helps.
Thanks to all for the comments. I’ll be ordering SkinTac wipes this weekend to compare against the AllKare.
On Monday, had to replace another early failure sensor. From habit initially wiped my skin w/ AllKare then remembered to wipe the adhesive pad also. 4 days later the edges are starting to come loose. 1 AllKare left so next sensor will try not wiping skin but anticipate same results.
Thanks guys - SkinTac works much better than the AllKare I had been using. Using the pad packaging as a ‘handle’ keeps most of it off my fingers. Always thought that I needed to apply the adhesive to my skin like contact cement type joint but applying only to the sensor pad worked real good and kept the adhesive off the insertion site and skin that wasn’t covered by the pad. So far, 2 sensors without peeling pad edges.
SkinTac in the bottle works great and lasts forever.
So - I just ordered some SkinTac wipes.
Up till now I have just wiped with alcohol before applying the Dexcom Sensor and my Pods and I was getting 14 days with no problems using just the dexcom sensor adhesive. It has been hot recently and I am starting to get pull-up on the CGM sensor after about 11 days.
@JJM1 - are you applying the adhesive to to the sticky side of the sensor before you stick it on your body or are you sticking it on and wiping it on the exposed edge?
Has anyone “fixed” a sensor adhesive that is starting to pull up around the edges by painting over it with a SkinTac wipe after it starts to pull up?
I prefer the liquid. Even with holding the wipes using the package, I still used to end up with sticky fingers. I paint the liquid onto my skin in the area where the sensor (and the Opsite Flexfix) is to be applied. Let it dry a bit. Apply the sensor and insert it. Paint the top side of the exposed sensor pad with more Skin Tac and then stick down the Flexfix. With Flexfix, the edges of the sensor adhesive pad is never exposed. With old sensors, the Flexfix will sometimes start to peel - I just paint a bit of Skin Tac under the edge and stick it down again.
Congratulations on getting 14 days +. This year I have difficulty getting 7 days d/t ???.
I just started using SkinTac and it is sweaty temps. 1st time I applied to skin, inserted and then wiped edges - held good but sensor only lasted 4 days and was tightly adhered when I removed it. 2nd time I wiped onto sticky side of sensor, inserted and left alone - held good till removed upon failure on day 7. This 3rd I again only applied to the sticky.
AllKare did not hold as well and when edges started to lift around day 5, I would have to apply under lifted edges almost daily.
I probably will obtain SkinTac liquid when I can verify SkinTac holds well for 10 days but I like the compact portability of the wipes.
I use SkinTac in the bottle. The adhesion lasts a good 2 weeks and then I reinforce it with a cute GrifGrip.
I thought I liked the wipes until I watched @Daniele Hargenrader post a video of how she applied her Dexcom and it was revolutionary! LOL
Sarah
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I went looking for the video that Sarah referred to above. I found this Daniele Hargenrader nine minute YouTube video showing how she changes her Dexcom sensor. Is this the one, @curlysarah?
YES! That’s the one. Thank you @Terry4 I couldn’t find it.
Some great tips. Including more alcohol in prep to remove more oils.
Note that Dexcom says ‘do not apply adhesive to the sensor insertion point’. I never had problem wiping entire area and questioned a rep who indicated that contamination of the titanium sensor would cause problems/failure within the 1st 24 to 48 hours.
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Thanks for the tips.
Actually, I just checked my current sensor - 16 days - 4 hours. The top edge of is pretty much off but the body of the sensor is holding on for now…
My distributor of things diabetes does not have the bottle (only the wipes) so I just ordered the wipes. I will see how it goes.
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I get the bottle from Total Diabetes Supply.
Low price at Amazon - under $15 for bottle or wipes.
$11.86 at Total Diabetes Supply.
I just started using a pump and glucose sensor about 6 months ago. I had a lot of trouble with infusion sets and the glucose sensor not adhering. I got a roll of 3" wide griff grips tape and just cut off a rectangle and slap it over the infusion set and glucose sensor. This tape doesn’t loose adhesion much when you are active and sweating a lot.
I’m satisfied with SkinTac. Held sensor tape securely for 10 days. 2 days ago sensor tape started peeling severely. Used SkinTac on loose tape - started peeling a few hours later so SkinTac to hold some med tape overlapping the sensor tape edges. Now day 12.
Will order SkinTac liquid and some DexTape or other.
Still having issues of ??? after day 6. System gets confused with ??? quite often when above my HIGH Warning of 200 and occasionally when LOW. Usually operational after 1 or 2 hours.