Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Justin Berry on March 20, 2011 at 12:30pm

The one I'm currently using expired in October last year. This one has been as accurate as all the others I have worn. So no problems for me. Most people don't have any problems at all. But remember, everyone is different too. Just know, that if you start to have problems with the sensor, don't call MM. They won't help you if you're using an expired sensor.

Permalink Reply by daniel billings on March 20, 2011 at 2:08pm

i been using mm sensor expired july of last year. also i used dexcom sensor after the expiration date. had know problem.

Permalink Reply by Type1 on March 20, 2011 at 2:22pm

I use expired sensors all the time with no less accurate readings. Oct-Nove,2010. Many of my cohorts do as well with equal results.
Good luck..

Permalink Reply by Natalie ._c- on March 20, 2011 at 3:50pm

In October of 2010 I used MM sensors that had an expiration date of 2008. I did it because I was just re-starting using the CGM (I didn't like it the first time) and I just couldn't wait for the new shipment of sensors to come in!! And because they were expired, I checked them a lot with fingersticks, and they were as good as any MM sensors ever are. Which means they sometimes give wildly inaccurate readings, but are usually in the ballpark. And if a reading doesn't make sense, you can always check by fingerstick. So I like the CGM this time around.

Permalink Reply by John H on March 20, 2011 at 5:48pm

I was told that the expiration date has to do with sterility and not accuracy. Take it with a grain of salt, since it was an end user and not a professional who told me this.

Permalink Reply by Sarah Moulton on March 21, 2011 at 9:02am

Thanks, everyone, for your quick replies. I was encouraged to go ahead and give these sensors a try. (only thing to lose was some time. ) However, I keep getting "sensor reading invalid" alerts. Any suggestions? I've also gotten a few "lost sensor" alarms. I have no idea if this is related or not to the sensor being past the exp. date, but sounds like it's not related, from people's comments.....

Permalink Reply by Scott E on May 13, 2011 at 8:34am

I haven't yet as I just started on the sensor, but I've been concerned. MM sent me a three-month batch of sensors (based on a 3-day usage period each) which expire in precisely 3-months. Except for the rookie-mistakes in insertion, I expect to use them much longer than that.

Why do you leave them in the refrigerator? I'd think the humidity and possible condensation would shorten their lifespan. It's not like insulin. It's probably best to leave them at room temperature. (Then again, I have mine in the bathroom, probably not so good for the same humidity reasons!) This might have to do with the alerts you're getting.

Permalink Reply by Scott E on May 25, 2011 at 6:40pm

Sarah, as I went to throw out an empty box of sensors, I saw an orange paper insert that reads "Due to a printing error, the sensor pouch label shows an incorrect temperature range. Please store your sensors according to your user guide and box label." The minimum temp is +36 degrees F. I saw the pouch incorrectly said -36 degrees. You might be storing them in a too-cold environment.