Hello all! I am fairly new to the dexcom and love it like everyone here but I was wondering where you all place your Dexcom sensor? When I got on it my trainer told me to put it only on my stomach but I see that some people put it other places? Where is your favorite spot to place it and where are all the places that you can place it?
Thanks!!
The reason why your trainer told you stomach/abdomin only is because those are the only places that have FDA approval. My favorite place? On my outer hip. Its got enough flesh that it doesn't hurt at all, and yet doesn't get snagged/smooshed as it does on my abdomin/sides/upper buttocks/upper arms. I can get typically between 10-15 days on one sensor there without the tape losing its stickiness. And even have gotten as much as 21 days - that was awesome! The only problem with my 'favorite site' is that I have to be careful not to sleep on it! The reciever has a hard time sending its signal when the sensor gets smooshed that good.
back, stomach, upper butt/hip
Hi Alicia,
It is my understanding that Dex will only advise you to put the sensor on your stomach, b/c it has been approved by the FDA. Many people on this site use the back of their arm, thigh and probably other places. I personally have not tried other spots, as my endo believes that the abdomen has the best sensitivity. I find this to be a real pain, in that I run out of "fresh" spots to use. I will most likely try the back of my upper arm although in the summer time, I may not want it exposed (with short sleeve shirts).
Bottom line: you need to do what feels comfortable for you and what provides the most accurate results...
Hope this helps.
Upper arm. Back side. You'll need help getting it there. My wife does it for me. Every once in a while, one will hurt there, but usually I completely forget that it's there.
LOL. It's hard enough for me to get the boogers into my stomach! Not sure how others put it on their arm. Possibly if I had some assistance. I live alone. Be sure and get some Tegaderm from the pharmacy. After 7 days you can restart the sensor but usually need to put the Tegaderm over to hold it on. I'm on my 3rd week w/this one. Had to even re-Tegaderm! Best of luck. Keep us posted. :)
Thank yall! I will have to try my back side and arms....I run out of "fresh" spots on my stomach (like metheniac said) where I keep putting it and if I resuse near an old spot it seems to hurt worse so I'm trying to find somewhere else to place it!
I actually read from the Omnipod group that everyone uses Tegederm for their itchness from it...I just ordered some because I tend to have the same problem with the dexcom when I put both of them on my stomach...I cant wait to see if it works!
Just to add another spot I like to put it on my thigh (inside or outside from about 1" above the knee all the way up to the top of the thigh). It's fairly out of the way and sometimes it's just nice to have a clear stomach area!
A note about Tegaderm -- it's not the only adhesive you can use. I turned out to be allergic to it, so I switched to IV3000, which has been OK so far. But there are other dressings out there, so just in case Tegaderm doesn't work for you, just know there are other choices.
Due to what I was initially told by Dexcom, I put in on my tummy above or below the waist.
The readings were so wacked that I wanted to throw Dexie through the window. Then some one told me to try the thigh area. Now my readings are MUCH better.
Suzan
Yes, I have tried so many different adhesives and nothing seems to work so I am going to try this one out because so many people say it has worked. If Tegederm doesn't work I will have to try out the IV3000, I am willing to try anything!
It is not so much what is my favourite place/spot; but where the dang thing works best. I too tried my stomach till I caught the mess reading 238 on finger tips and 168 on gut.
Scientifically why anyone would approve the gut escapes me totally and science inspection of body blood system also throws the book at this one.
I went out on web and found all sorts of folks using elsewhere - not gut and fed up with bad readings on gut. I use upper arm but many alternate non-gut sites work well
Thighs and back of arm. I don't use my stomach for anything. Pod and Dex senors are everywhere else though!!!!!
I highly recommend Opsite Flexifix. I switched to it from Tagaderm and will never go back. I haven't tried IV3000 however.
+1 on the Opsite Flexifix. The stuff sticks forever and doesn't itch (for me at least).