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Dexcom G7 Bluetooth Issues

R

rabdcd

Active Member
Messages
25
Hi
I have a Tandem T2 and until recently I used the Dexcom G6 together they worked quite well with the only problems if you can call them problems being the G6 has a large form factor it takes 2 hours to warm up and the 1st 24 hours it can be erratic with inaccurate readings but overall it’s a pretty good combination. After reading about the new slik Dexcom G7 I changed over However I now find the Bluetooth signal is not (nowhere as good) as the G6. If the sensor is on the back of my arm and the pump is in my pocket it loses the signal… if the sensors in my abdomen and I turn over in my sleep I lose my signal which as you might imagine drives the pump mad it comes of of control IQ maybe only for a little while but it’s constantly loosing the signal. The other major issue with the G7 is the 1st 24 of a new sensor are so unpredictable and unreliable I only use finger prick test strips because the G7 can drop from 6.5 mmol to 2.5mmol and back up to 6 mmol within 10 minutes again pump is going mental and insulin is suspended. Wondering if anyone else has questioned the change to the G7 or if they found a solution ?
 
I'm same as you G7 with t:slim. I mount my G7's on the front of my arms and I've turned off the loss of signal alarms. The loss of signal does not cause issues as it catches back up once it reconnects. I too have found the BT is weaker. I'm pretty new to G7 and have found one sensor who's reading were well out and used calibration to reset it, but don't do this in the evening otherwise you can be up most of the night correcting. I've not found anything on the BT other than keeping pump nearish the sensor.

Although having BG's on my watch whilst swimming or no phone close by is brilliant.
 
Chas C said:
Although having BG's on my watch whilst swimming or no phone close by is brilliant.
Click to expand...
Are you using an iphone? I have bgs on my watch but need my phone and an internet signale to make it work

As to @rabdcd I changed to the G7 before moving to the tslim but had to revert to the G6 for the first month of G7 (My team wanted me on basal IQ first and that doesn't work with g7).

I agree with signal loss issues (particularly annoying on walks) but find the G7 is better than the G6.

My top tip is to insert the new G7 during the grace period of the old G7 and only activate it near the end of the grace period. That eliminates warm up time completely, and demonstrates whether the new sensor has settled down to a similar level as the old. This usually works.

Dexcom really don't like you to calibrate for the first 24 hours, so I do sometimes have to turn off control IQ if the new sensor is obviously misbehaving
 
I moved from g6-g7 about 6 months ago and also had teething problems and now wouldn't swap back. Advice I had from a lovely dexcom rep was 'as already mentioned' to try and not calibrate for 24hrs, try and insert new sensor when sugars are stable and also was advised that the thigh is very accurate site and ive found it is! This helps me with rarely losing signal, most days my pump is in jeans pocket to close to thigh and at night its strapped to my thigh so some nights phone at side of bed loses signal but alarm is off and im asleep whilst tslim is doing its job!
I also get really erratic readings for first 12 or so hrs, to combat this I insert my sensor again as already mentioned during the 12 hrs grace period, I connect it to just my phone and leave the pump on the old grace period g7 and then connect before the grace period ends. I find after about 10 hrs they are reading similar. I insert new sensors before bed as overnight are when my sugars are the most stable.
Really happy as I now have a small sensor, mostly out of sight and comfortable that reads accurately and never have any warm up period to boot, for now what more can we ask for!
 
sninge said:
I moved from g6-g7 about 6 months ago and also had teething problems and now wouldn't swap back. Advice I had from a lovely dexcom rep was 'as already mentioned' to try and not calibrate for 24hrs, try and insert new sensor when sugars are stable and also was advised that the thigh is very accurate site and ive found it is! This helps me with rarely losing signal, most days my pump is in jeans pocket to close to thigh and at night its strapped to my thigh so some nights phone at side of bed loses signal but alarm is off and im asleep whilst tslim is doing its job!
I also get really erratic readings for first 12 or so hrs, to combat this I insert my sensor again as already mentioned during the 12 hrs grace period, I connect it to just my phone and leave the pump on the old grace period g7 and then connect before the grace period ends. I find after about 10 hrs they are reading similar. I insert new sensors before bed as overnight are when my sugars are the most stable.
Really happy as I now have a small sensor, mostly out of sight and comfortable that reads accurately and never have any warm up period to boot, for now what more can we ask for!
Click to expand...
Never tried on my thigh but will have a go as I have a higher failure rate on my arms and would really like to keep stomach free for pump. Whereabouts on your thigh do you put it?
 
That is why I decided to try them after it was suggested, I keep my belly for pump now!
I put them on the outer front, in the area that I used in the ' olden days ' to inject! I cover them with a patch to avoid catching if I need the toilet in a rush and pull my jeans down quickly and never had a problem. The other place I use is the upper buttock which was also suggested by the dexcom lady, no problems there either I just prefer the thigh at the moment!
 
Last edited:
sninge said:
I also get really erratic readings for first 12 or so hrs, to combat this I insert my sensor again as already mentioned during the 12 hrs grace period, I connect it to just my phone and leave the pump on the old grace period g7 and then connect before the grace period ends. I find after about 10 hrs they are reading similar. I insert new sensors before bed as overnight are when my sugars are the most stable.
Really happy as I now have a small sensor, mostly out of sight and comfortable that reads accurately and never have any warm up period to boot, for now what more can we ask for!
Click to expand...

Can I ask how you do this, so do you stop old sensor on your phone (but not your pump - leaving it on the old sensor). Insert new sensor then pair it only to your phone. Do you pair your watch to the new sensor too as your phone would be sending data to your watch ?.

When your at the end of your old sensor either stop it on pump or let it finish, then pair to the new sensor.

Is it as easy as this ?, if so I'm going to start doing the same to avoid the first few hours of odd readings.
 
Hi Chas
Exactly that, end old sensor on phone and insert new sensor and pair with just the phone leaving the old sensor connected to pump for grace period hence having correct readings on IQ and erratic on phone that I can ignore overnight then in the morning when readings look similar end old sensor on the pump and pair the new ( now more accurate) sensor! I was told once to connect pump within 12 hrs, on the fence for that as ive had 2 people from Dex tell me different, yes I have to and one say no but once my pump did fail to pair after 12 hrs so now try and play safe!
 
sninge said:
Hi Chas
Exactly that, end old sensor on phone and insert new sensor and pair with just the phone leaving the old sensor connected to pump for grace period hence having correct readings on IQ and erratic on phone that I can ignore overnight then in the morning when readings look similar end old sensor on the pump and pair the new ( now more accurate) sensor! I was told once to connect pump within 12 hrs, on the fence for that as ive had 2 people from Dex tell me different, yes I have to and one say no but once my pump did fail to pair after 12 hrs so now try and play safe!
Click to expand...
Ah ok many thanks, will try the same but pair before it expires.
 
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