How to insert a Dexcom 7 Day Sensor

[andy651224]

ur hot

[D15TURB3D]

Just got mine on Wednesday, it's cool but I wish it could go on my arm or something. Mines where yours is and it bugs me when I'm trying to sleep.

[thatdudetyler]

That's really cool I'm getting one too were do you get iv prep pads tho I can find them anywere and what do u think about the sensor.

[zmanatvs]

I'm new to this unit. Thanks for the tips. One question. Where have you found the best place to carry the reciever? In your pocket or do you use the case and clip?

[1HappyDiabetic]

Thanks for the comment. I still use the Case it gave me. I found it to work the best.  I usually clip it on my side. I use a smartphone cell case before, but the case it gives you, you can see the screen. My case just started to expose some metal after a year of using it. They are sending a replacement one at no cost. I find it too big to be put in my pocket. However when I wear hooded sweatshirts I put in the front pockets sometimes. I nice change.

[1HappyDiabetic]

That's a good question. I have gotten it before too. I haven't come up with the best place. I have used the pocket with no case. I have used the standard case they give you. And I have also used a cell phone case for a smartphone.

They all have worked. I switch between my pocket and the standard case on my side. I use an insulin pump too, so I hate having both my pockets filled.

How about you, how do you wear it?

[smilncynic]

This device is fantastic! I have worn it for about 18 months and have been able to lower my 1CA (3-month glucose average) from about 7.3 (finger sticking about 12 times a day) to 6.1. It is like a GPS for controlling your sugar and keeping it on track .

[1HappyDiabetic]

well said!

[xludaflubx]

it hurts :S

[dimitmant]

Do NOT buy it. It is so inaccurate

[broadwayybabyy73]

I have never heard of this? The sensor gives you blood sugar results without pricking your finger?  How cool...

[Jawa843]

Could you do a video showing you removing the sensor? I can't seem to find any and am curious (;

[1HappyDiabetic]

Jawa83, I would do a video on that, but I'm not wearing a sensor right now. But to give you an idea it would be like taking off a large band-aid. No biggie. However underneath the site where the senor was, the skin might be a little red and you can see a small tiny hole where it was inserted. Nothing major. Has never bled for me, the insertion is tiny, much smaller then what is used for pumping insulin.

[lsisto1]

Caleb says, "that's cool!" Haven't taken the CGM leap yet....always under consideration though. Thanks for the vid. Lo

[meltingmamamelted]

Can the sensor be placed elsewhere on the body, say on the back?

[TheRedSoxGuy]

I only use my tummy. The Dexcom is not directed to be used on the back.

[miniheli]

Ya I guess I could handle one more itchy spot. I hate when my infusion site itchy, but it only happens when I think about being itchy now that were talking about being itchy, I feel very itchy right now thanks alot lol! kidding.

[1HappyDiabetic]

OMG... I HAVE AN ITCH NOW!!!

It's on my leg, nothing I can't handle ithing for a few more seconds. Ahhhhhh Yes, I ithed it.... Much much better

[MidnightButterfly222]

i figure the itch would be the thing to drive anybody nuts!!! blechhh!!! i hate when my infusion site gets even the slightest itch, and i cant get to it, but i keep trying to scratch around it anyway, trying to confuse my skin, but in the end its me that goes crazy and i just end up having to take out the site if it gets too itchy. i'd hate to have to do that with those expensive sensors!!! arrgh! theres nuthin more irritating than an itch you can't scratch! lol!

[1HappyDiabetic]

Yeah how many times have you gone to itch then you end up stratching off your site. I hate that too. Ha Ha

[miniheli]

Ya, see I bumped into a guy at a radio control car,heli,plane show and he was wearing the medtronic 722 pump like me. I asked him does he use the cgm from medtronic he says he has it but he doesn't wear it because he says its too painful. Hmm do you know of an area where on the body whear I could put it on and it wont be as itchy?

[MidnightButterfly222]

>"hairlike metal wire"... hmm.. this brings flashbacks of when i would take a shot and afterwards, would get that itch that lets you know that there's a little fragment of needle tip metal still stuck under your skin! ... so does that sensor metalic enzyme wire thingy make people itch alot?

[1HappyDiabetic]

It's funny. The 2 Reasons I take my sensor off. #1 Not working anymore. #2 It's itching me like crazy. That's only after wearing for a long time. Not sugested. :-) Not painful, way less painful than infusion sets for me.

[BunnyHelper713]

look painful

[1HappyDiabetic]

Shots look painful too. After years of 8+ more shots a day.... this is a pea shooter.

[BunnyHelper713]

My dad has to take 5 of them a day

[the12dedra]

@BunnyHelper713 it does not hurt that bad it is only a slight pinch

[DiabeticDr]

Hi again Bill (I just posted to your first video). I'm an after hours tech support representative for Dexcom and love the video (I'll definitely tell callers having difficulty inserting it to check it out)! I use the system myself and am wondering how many days you can get out of your sensors (I get 14 usually)? Do you find the adhesive breakdown is the prohibitive factor for the life of the sensor? Are you aware the Dexcom recently paired with both Animas and Insulet for future developments?!

[1HappyDiabetic]

To answer your question, I can get about the same, on average (14) as you. Have gone into the 20+ days a few rare times. My advice, "adhesive breakdown" is going to happen somewhere @ day 7 or even sooner without secondary protection. I like using the "shower cap" plastic dexcom coverings at about day 3 and leave it one till day 7 or so, based on my skin needing some air. Then I even have used duct tape. I know... bad.. bad... but hey! It gave me 3 more days!

[DiabeticDr]

I love the shower patch and recommend it to everyone too. I'm glad to hear someone else uses them! Interestingly, I've found that most men have better luck getting longer life out of the sensors than women. The interstitial space where the sensor is inserted has never really been studied and my personal belief that different hormones influence the composition significantly. I still marvel at how far diabetes care has come since we were diagnosed!

[1HappyDiabetic]

I heard too that if your glocuse levels while on the Dexcom are more stable, and less up and down dramitically that the enzyme lasts longer. I have found that to be true with me as well.

Yeah I either take if off because its falling of, or... it itches soooo bad I just take it off because of lack of comfort.

3-10-2008 Abbott Frestyle Navigator was aapproved for the US!!! I can't wait!

[MidnightButterfly222]

another question.. is the sensor and transmitter water submergeable?

[1HappyDiabetic]

yes it's shower proof as I call it. I'm not much of a swimmer. I like placing it on the belly, I have tried the butt area didn't work as well for me. I'll try to shot a video with it up close. The insertion as you can see has a few steps. It can be diffucult at times for me to get it just right.

[MidnightButterfly222]

wow.. cool.. do you think you could make a video show to give more closeup detail of the parts and pieces of the gadget for us to see?

[MidnightButterfly222]

wow this is the first time i'm seeing the actual Dexcom sensor.. pretty cool! say, how does the thing compare with an infusion set? i mean the infusion set uses a cannula.. is that the same for the sensor? what does that part that goes under the skin look like? also how come after 3days with infusion sets is more likely to get infections for me even though tottally clean and all that, but with this thing under skin, you can leave it in that long and ??!no problems??

[1HappyDiabetic]

Great Question, The insertion is a somewhat standard feel to an infusion set. However what sticks in you skin with the Dexcom looks more like a butterflies tongue, its not tubular, its a metalic enzyme like a piece of hairlike metal wire.

[lantusappreciation]

Cool. Does it hurt compared to a shot or to a pump site insertion?

[brownie134]

dude, taking a shot on ur side and sticking the pump site are two TOTALLY different things. i use the Cleo90 site injector, and it hurts 10 times worse than a shot, but since ive had the pump so long, i lost feeling in my side....that might not be a good thing :D put i insert my pump straight in, and bill does it sideways... not tryin to scare you away from a pump, but its hard to get use to.

[1HappyDiabetic]

Brownie you are right. None of this is easy. It is all learned. The Cleo sets you use have the smallest gauge cannula (needle) so do they hurt less? Maybe. compare how all the shoots you would have to do in the time you change your cleo. 20+ Shots or one Cleo? 20 Shots in your side or one cannula?

The scar tissue I got from doing so many shots has almost disappeared.

[1HappyDiabetic]

Good Question. The quick answer is No. It all feels the same. Some days different then others but I have gotten away with wearing one the sensors for at least 14 days. Making sure the adhesive sticks.

I can't use an infusion set that long. No matter what I have used to treat my diabetes, its all the same to me. Whether shots (they don't hurt me) infusions sets (they don't hurt me) or the continuous sensors (they don't hurt me)

[brownie134]

does the sensor it continously sensor your sugar? im gonna see if my insurance will cover that bad boy. but i heard it just got aprroved for kids under 17 like last year, and insurance considers it a luxury and wont cover it. but thats just wat i heard. and ur right, id much rather do 1 cleo than 20 shots. i never had scar tissue from shots cause i switched sites. maybe im just overreacting to the site injector, but it sucks either way :D

[1HappyDiabetic]

Ha, yea funny right. The cleo is the easiest inserter trust me! Insurance is a pain getting these thru. Dexcom has not been approved for under 18 yrs of age as far as I know. However the Dexcom 7 day sensor has been studied to have the best accuracy in studies. BUT CHECK OUT THE ONE APPROVED IN EUROPE!!! "The Navigator Freestyle" by Abbott. Hopefully it will be here in the US in a few months. I'll Put a video up on that I promise! It will change the way I do my Diabetes.

[1HappyDiabetic]

Hi, thanks for posting your responses. To answer your question, inserting this as you can see is more like "injecting a shot" than anything else. To see you glocuse numbers every 5 minutes is worth the time and outch. Sometimes that is, once you wear this for awhile you understand you Blood Sugar trends more. It really doesn't hurt more then any of the other insertions. The hard part is finding a place to have this stick to for 7+ days.

[1HappyDiabetic]

Feels the same as an infusion set as far as any pain. You just have to give room for the transmeter.

[habb0]

i dont ever use this and im diabetic but i just enjoy watching how other people cope with it and what they use. Another great vid!

[1HappyDiabetic]

The value of the Dexcom to me are the following.

The ability to see the directions my Blood sugars are going, this helps me wait the FULL 4 hours for my sugars to go down instead of stacking my insulin up.

I like the fact I can see how my emotions actually change my blood sugars. That helps.

Thanks for you post