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Continuous monitor sensors and their adhesives

tim2000s

tim2000s

Expert
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8,936
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Other
Following my first use of a Dexcom over the past couple of weeks, I've been massively impressed with the adhesion of the pad that is holding it in place. More than two weeks in, in my arm, and it hasn't budged an iota. More importantly, it isn't itchy and hasn't showed any signs of coming off. Unlike the Libre sensor that was on the other arm and was practically falling off after two weeks, in spite of the use of an alcohol wipe to clear oils away.

It't not like it's been a quiet period either, with plenty of sweaty gym visits and showers.

This leads to the assessment that the two adhesives used must be different (in my view) and that for me the Dexcom one is better than that of the Libre. How have you found the adhesives across the different sensors?
 
Not as strong as you have I can say that! Dexcom edges start curling after a few days, then cover with a tegaderm patch. Alcohol wipe and skin tac is used prior to insertion. I am on my second week with this sensor.

I have never had a Libre so I can not comment on them.
 
ElkBond said:
Not as strong as you have I can say that! Dexcom edges start curling after a few days, then cover with a tegaderm patch. Alcohol wipe and skin tac is used prior to insertion. I am on my second week with this sensor.

I have never had a Libre so I can not comment on them.
Click to expand...
What made you choose Dexcom over Libre?
 
I find the adhesive on the Medtronic Enlite sensor is good, with no red itchy skin. However, the overtape they send with it has caused me endless problems. I have many red, dry, sometimes itchy, rectangular patches all over my front. Each one had a white patch in the middle where the sensor and transmitter sat. Why couldn't they have used the same adhesive on the overtape as on the sensor tape?
 
pinewood said:
What made you choose Dexcom over Libre?
Click to expand...

I looked into both, and while both were amazing I chose Dexcom for convenience. The alarms for the lows were a god send when a week later my honeymoon period started. Seemed like I was in red all day everyday for a bit! It also connects to my phone (and therefore notifications appeared on my apple watch which is much more subtle, especially in work.).

It also helped me when I took my readings to my consultant and backed up that Lantus wasn't agreeing with me.
Literally two days after the switched insulin on the same dose I had gone from 2-4 low alarms while I slept (checked via finger stick during the night) to 0 and no running higher from the afternoon onwards. The only warning I get now is usually when I wake up and turns out to be false, covered this on another thread (possibly due to slight dehydration when you wake up). But I suppose the Libre would have done the same (save for the automatic alarms).

Seeing Libre now and hearing reviews on this forum I would be happy with either but Dexcom just had the edge for me.
 
I've only used the Libre so can only comment on that. I've never had one 'fall off' or start losing its grip so far. At the end of 14 days I've still got to tug at it to remove it. I have managed to knock 3 clean off, one with a towel after a shower that caught under the lip, another when I bumped heavily into the edge of a door frame (no I'd not been drinking...) and the third when somehow it caught the strap of my rucksack- from under 3 layers of clothing. All 3 were in various locations on my arm
When I've removed them normally I've sometimes seen slightly red skin but nothing else so I count myself lucky so far.
I've been using the Libre system for 10 months now and it's going pretty well, though my bank balance might think otherwise. I just need to be less clumsy, can't see Abbott replacing a sensor because the door knocked it off.....
 
Ive been getting really good results with the G4 and G5 in my arm. The arms have it for sure and the fact that the Dexcom sensors insert at a 30 degree angle helps I think. I do a @CarbsRok approach but gently smear cosmetic body glue for tattoos under the sensor before placing it on the skin and that keeps the adhesive firmly stuck. To remove it all I just spray with some LiftPlus or another adhesive remover. I tend to use Tegaderm film now as its better quality over the top and get size 1624W which is just right and folded in half, its easy to cut out the rectangle to go over the transmitter. Partner does the honours of placing the Tegaderm over the sensor using his wallpaper hanging skills.

Hopefully the price will lower with any luck
 
I have taken to placing a whole piece of tegaderm over the sensor. I find that water from the shower was the main reason the adhesive failed to the point where the sensor could move more freely and fail.

I initially placed a whole piece straight on the transmitter and while it felt firmly pressed against me, the movement of my body caused the whole transmitter and sensor to be pulled around with me. This caused it to fail. For my next attempt I placed a piece of square cling film over the transmitter and then I over laid the tegaderm. This allows the transmitter to slide around under the tegaderm during movement while keeping it 100 percent dry. I change the tegaderm 2x a week and let the area breathe properly for a bit before replacing. Entering my third week now and the adhesive is still strong.
 
I got 27 days out of my last sensor, applying opsite over the Dex plaster after about 18 days. On the last day, I was seeing constant lows in spite of frequent calibration. I was happy with that.
 
My dexcom sensor has fallen off after only 2 days, whilst I was out jogging (slowly!). I had used an alcohol wipe and then a skin-tac wipe adhesive prior to application on my tummy. I find that the more exercise / activities I do, the shorter the sensors last, and the more stuff I do the more I need a CGM. Any suggestions?
 
rlskellern said:
My dexcom sensor has fallen off after only 2 days, whilst I was out jogging (slowly!). I had used an alcohol wipe and then a skin-tac wipe adhesive prior to application on my tummy. I find that the more exercise / activities I do, the shorter the sensors last, and the more stuff I do the more I need a CGM. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

I'm willing to bet that you didn't let the skin-tac dry before applying the dexcom sensor.

With proper application that should NEVER happen. I workout 1.5-2hrs every single day and sweat to a point where literally my entire shirt is soaked and I can get at least 5 days out of a sensor before it shows any sign of the edges peeling.

The only times its happened sooner than that were when I didn't apply the sensor properly and there were creases in the adhesive cloth, or when I applied skin-tac adhesive (liquid version) and didn't let it fully dry.
 
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