What's the record for the days a sensor has lasted?

I have used Medrtonic Cgm for over four years. For the last year I have been experimenting with keeping the sensor in as long as possible. I use the top of my thighs to insert the sensor. Twice I have made it to 21 days. Currently, I have a sensor inserted that has lasted 25 days and is still going with good accuracy and no infection. What's the longest anyone has been able to keep a sensor going?

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Permalink Reply by KimK on November 11, 2011 at 9:05am

Thanks to this discussion, I am now trying to make my sensors last longer than 3 days. how do you keep the thing charged? I kept the sensor end in place and recharged the battery for 15 minutes yesterday. I then put new tape over the whole thing. I use a minimed CGM.

Permalink Reply by Scott E on November 13, 2011 at 4:19pm

I've kept mine in for longer than 3 days, but loss of battery power isn't what indicates that it's dead. The sensor just stops coming up with anything close to accurate results. Either it reports the BG as 'flatlining' or plummeting towards zero.

Permalink Reply by TrueTheory on April 13, 2012 at 2:31pm

I think it really comes down to variations in body chemistry.

Permalink Reply by Franco on November 25, 2011 at 2:57pm

Best I got with my Navigator sensors was 75 days, no infection, irritation. It got more accurate the longer it was in. I only stopped it because I bumped it and knocked it off.

Best I've done with Dex is 20 days.

Permalink Reply by JRod on December 3, 2011 at 11:19am

I start to itch under the skin after about 3 days,, same with the infusion set. I wish I could make the sensor last longer but the itching is so uncomfortable. I've had to change it out after 2 days because of this problem too. :(

Permalink Reply by Natalie ._c- on December 3, 2011 at 3:32pm

I wonder if you're allergic to the tape? Maybe you could put down some sort of barrier before inserting?

Permalink Reply by Joan on January 29, 2012 at 1:39pm

My sensors usually last 2 - 3 days. The last couple lasted for 6 days. Is there a trick to calibrating the sensor in order to make it last longer. I try to calibrate 3 times over a 24 hour period.

Permalink Reply by Scott E on January 29, 2012 at 2:26pm

Since I started using IV3000, I've had better length and performance out of the sensor. I think the "trick" might be to cover up the "front" of the sensor (where the wire goes in the skin) sufficiently so that it doesn't move and water (from showers, etc) doesn't seep in the area too much. I really believe the placement of the IV3000 makes a difference.

Permalink Reply by Kelly Collins on February 3, 2012 at 4:02pm

Yes, this is what I think is best too. I use two pieces of 3000. First one covers the transmitter and the second covers the sensor. It's hard to get the tape off my skin after being on a week.

Permalink Reply by Timothy on February 29, 2012 at 3:29pm

I change my sensors after 2 runs- 6 days. I just don't want it in for longer than that. It just seems like longer is too long to have anything in. My sensors are actually working well when I take them out. I use a iv3000 to cover mine and it never gets wet. It never gets irritated either. I think keeping it dry is the best way to make the sensors last.

Tape always gets irritated and itchy.

In Australia they are studying a sensor that stays in one year, But participants are saying they are still getting good results after year two. The entire sensor is transdermal. I would love to have one of those. Maybe in 30 years it will pass the FDA over here in the US.
The only trouble is that it has to be placed by a doctor and removed by a second procedure. Still they can just switch them out I would think, and only once every year or 2. I'm in,

Permalink Reply by Mike on May 2, 2012 at 4:43pm