Problems with CGM

[Clase]

Good morning all. Sorry this is a bit long but I'm feeling a bit sorry for my self. I decided at the end of last year to give myself 6 months with a CGM to help me get back on track to get blood sugar down. (I'd got a bit complacent.) All was fine with the first ones, then I had to remove one because it was causing pain. I was told it could have been touching a nerve. A replacement came and I was waiting until that site had calmed before inserting the new one when I became aware of a hard lump at the site of the previous one on the other arm. This has grown, got redder and more sore in spite of a hydrocortisone cream until I now have an infected cyst or an abscess and am on antibiotics. Of course my blood sugar is now higher than usual! Do you ever feel that sometimes you can't win no matter what you do?

 

[Angela64]

I have the propensity to be allergic to stick on stuff! I clean my arm with an antiseptic wipe, the sort for injections and so far been ok I have very careful how I site the monitor, some on a Libre group have had this problem and seems to be how you site it.
At the moment lot of people are having problems with the Libre 2+ in monitoring from phone app, some seem to be lucky and aren’t! I did, the monitor stopped linking at all, they sent me a replacement FOC and I ended up getting them to send me a Libre hand monitor. It seems the Iphone 26 update is not compatible with the app
I self fund my Libre as ‘only a T2D’ GP will not give me it You can get it tax free which is a blessing.
I wear one a month, thats the plan. Going overseas and don’t know if the monitors will survive the scanners so sadly I won’t be wearing one, when wearing one would be really useful

PS the wipes also help me NOT be allergic to the protective cover I’ve used too!

 

[Bill_St]

The scanners will certainly survive the travel monitors.
Libre have been medically tested even with MRI and CT scanners which are considerably higher dose than any airport scanner. No problem at all after a short recovery time for MRI.

Safety Information | The FreeStyle Libre System

Read safety information regarding your FreeStyle Libre 14 day system, including MRI contraindications, insulin contraindications, and sensor removal advisories.

www.freestyle.abbott

 

[DJC3]

I’ve had problems with Libre. At first it was just intense itching but then, like you @Clase I found I was getting a hard little lump where the skin was pierced. I’ve actually had 2 which my arm has pushed out of my skin by reacting so strongly to them.
I’ve found Dexcom doesn’t give such a violent reaction but I do have to calibrate the maximum of 3 times to get reasonably accurate readings - I think my skin is gradually start to object to these too which will be a shame as I find them very useful to keep me on track.

 

[EllieM]

I think my skin is gradually start to object to these too which will be a shame as I find them very useful to keep me on track.

It might be worth putting on a barrier cream or film to stop this becoming a problem.

How can I avoid irritated or sensitive skin caused by the Dexcom sensor adhesive? | Dexcom

If you have irritated or sensitive skin please work with your healthcare professional (HCP). Provided is a summary of two clinical articles published by clinicians independent from Dexcom based on their knowledge and experience.1,2

www.dexcom.com

Personally I use cavillon cream (because that was what they had at my local chemist) and it has stopped the issue. I was an early adopter of the libre (before libre 2) and had to stop using it because of increasing skin reactions which also made the sensors hopelessly inaccurate.

Unlike Abbott at the time I had the issue, dexcom have always recognised that many people develop allergies to sensors, so are quite helpful in suggesting workarounds.

Good luck

 

[Clase]

I have the propensity to be allergic to stick on stuff! I clean my arm with an antiseptic wipe, the sort for injections and so far been ok I have very careful how I site the monitor, some on a Libre group have had this problem and seems to be how you site it.
At the moment lot of people are having problems with the Libre 2+ in monitoring from phone app, some seem to be lucky and aren’t! I did, the monitor stopped linking at all, they sent me a replacement FOC and I ended up getting them to send me a Libre hand monitor. It seems the Iphone 26 update is not compatible with the app
I self fund my Libre as ‘only a T2D’ GP will not give me it You can get it tax free which is a blessing.
I wear one a month, thats the plan. Going overseas and don’t know if the monitors will survive the scanners so sadly I won’t be wearing one, when wearing one would be really useful

PS the wipes also help me NOT be allergic to the protective cover I’ve used too!

I was very careful too. I buy the injection wipes for cleaning my hearing aids so I used a couple of those before inserting it so shouldn't have been a problem. It's now a full blown abscess which hasn't responded to antibiotics so now on second course and off to A&E tomorrow for it to be drained.

 

[Clase]

It's a bit sad isn't it when we try so hard to look after ourselves and take control and it all goes wrong? I shan't use them any more; back to finger pricking for me!

 

[becca59]

I had an issue some years ago and started spraying Cavillon before applying. It worked a treat.

 

[Steve Bell]

I've been using a Libre 2 Plus for around 6 months with none of the issues mentioned above. I always follow precisely Abbotts instructions when applying.

 

[Clase]

So in A and E for 4 hours only to find they don't think they need to deal with it so looks like a sore arm for some time and a scar at the end of it. Hey ho.
Thank you all for the hugs; I did feel a bit sorry for myself.

 

[Clase]

It might be worth putting on a barrier cream or film to stop this becoming a problem.

How can I avoid irritated or sensitive skin caused by the Dexcom sensor adhesive? | Dexcom

If you have irritated or sensitive skin please work with your healthcare professional (HCP). Provided is a summary of two clinical articles published by clinicians independent from Dexcom based on their knowledge and experience.1,2

www.dexcom.com

Personally I use cavillon cream (because that was what they had at my local chemist) and it has stopped the issue. I was an early adopter of the libre (before libre 2) and had to stop using it because of increasing skin reactions which also made the sensors hopelessly inaccurate.

Unlike Abbott at the time I had the issue, dexcom have always recognised that many people develop allergies to sensors, so are quite helpful in suggesting workarounds.

Good luck

Unfortunately the young man I spoke to at Dexcom seem nonplussed by what I was saying and at the end seemed a little surprised when i said, No thank you, I don't want a new one.