Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sue59 on June 11, 2011 at 5:50am

Mike, I think you meant that you put the sensor on your abdomen, on either side of the belly button? That's what I do. Not on your sides? I never sleep on my stomach. I also use the Flexifix when it starts to come loose.

Permalink Reply by Mike on June 11, 2011 at 7:16am

Closer to the side than the belly button but not completely on the side.

Permalink Reply by Don on June 11, 2011 at 7:41am

Have only tried 2 sensors. The first was too far to the side and I was putting pressure on it and driving false lows. The other I put too close to my rib cage and too close the midline of my belly and this caused 40 point variances as well as false lows at night (may have hit muscle). Hopefully I find a spot that is close enough to my belly button that a sensor isn't smothered when I lay on my side.

Permalink Reply by LiL MaMa on June 12, 2011 at 9:37am

Have you ever had an infection from leaving it in that long?? I'm worried about leaving it in for more than 10 days at a time just due to sanitary reasons.

Permalink Reply by Mike on July 6, 2011 at 7:35pm

I've never noticed any infection. For me the sensor site always looks the same whether it's removed at one week or three weeks. It always looks like a small red pimple that clears up after a few days. I've seen people complain about itching but fortunately I've never had that. I'd be more inclined to remove a sensor if it was uncomfortable but I now usually forget which side it's on until I feel for it.

Permalink Reply by Jay on July 4, 2011 at 8:26am

Hello Mike,
I have been having a hard time with my insurance paying for the dexcom machine and sensors. I will be receiving my kit in about a week. Can you tell me how to extend the life of the sensors? What is the procedure and how do the results vary as the days go beyond 7 ? How are the results on the 14th day (as an example) as compared to the accuracy of the fist week? Would you recommend going into the 4th week or just go an extra week or two past the recommended 7 days? $300 a month is beyond my normal means, this extention would give me the ability to use my dex machine on a full time basis. Thanks...

Permalink Reply by Mike on July 6, 2011 at 7:32pm

For me the most common reason a sensor ever fails is the tape coming loose and the sensor wire getting pulled out completely or partially. Therefore my primary way to extend the life is to add extra tape (I use Flexifix) once the edges start peeling off. The Dexcom tape usually makes it to the two week mark before I need to add something to hold down the top edge. I realize that results will vary for different people but I just keep restarting the sensor as long as possible but replace it as soon as the results become wacky. The 28 day sensor that I posted above actually failed on day 29 and that's the longest I've ever gone. Three weeks is most typical for me.

Permalink Reply by jrtpup on July 6, 2011 at 8:15pm

Wow Mike, my dexcom tape starts to peel at the edges in a few days, on goes the flexfix which seems to last forever!

Just started my 3rd week on this sensor yesteday AM - longest I've been able to go so far. I really like this sort-of-inner thigh site.

Permalink Reply by Renea on June 11, 2011 at 2:16am

Does where your insulin pump is affect the accuracy of the dexcom?

Permalink Reply by Sue59 on June 11, 2011 at 10:37am

In the Seven Plus Quick Start Guide, it says if you wear an insulin pump, make sure the Sensor is placed at least 3 inches away from your pump infusion set.

Permalink Reply by Anna Banana on June 12, 2011 at 1:52am

i used the decom but then gave up on it cuz it would be way up. and it seemed that if i put all my readings in it it would make a huge diffrence and be like 100 points then of my actual blood sugar

Permalink Reply by LiL MaMa on June 12, 2011 at 9:36am

I enter in my bg every single time I test with my meter and it does seem to make it more accurate for me.

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