CGM - Where do you wear yours ?

[cdpm]

are you using over patches ?

I was but they didn't ever stick well. Plus I'm not steady on my feet so I kept walking into doorways.

 

[Marie 2]

@cdpm I use Skin Tac when I know I'm going swimming, it gives it extra adhesion. Also I never put them directly on the side of my arm, I used to always knock them off.

 

[rhaardoerfer]

I had the same issue with being a side sleeper. I just wear it on my right arm now and after a few like the I learned to not sleep in the side anymore. It took a while as I started with switching arms but now it is second nature.

 

[Bilzer23]

I’ve had two failures from arm placements so mostly use the abdomen for the G7. Alternating left to right every 10 days.
Have had success with inner thighs and also the calf, left and right.
There’s also an overlay patch called Not Just A Patch, it’s really good for holding the sensor in place while doing exercise or swimming.

 

[Diabeticger]

I’ve had two failures from arm placements so mostly use the abdomen for the G7. Alternating left to right every 10 days.
Have had success with inner thighs and also the calf, left and right.
There’s also an overlay patch called Not Just A Patch, it’s really good for holding the sensor in place while doing exercise or swimming.

where about s on the abdomen ? , one of my 1st sensors went onto the left hand side about 3 inches from my belly button and it bled quite badly , now fair play to dexcom they sent me a new one, but have been reluctant to insert it there since !

 

[Jayno K]

I place mine on my lower abdomen, low enough to cover it with my underwear so you don't see when on holiday as it's under my bikini bottoms; I find if you wear jeans it feels snug and it kind of holds it in place better and doesn't get knocked, I go to the gym a lot and sit in a hot tub most days and it doesn't fall off under my gymwear/swimwear, accurate results too

 

[sodium69]

I've had my first full fortnight with the libre2 sensor after placing it on my chest. Im a tummy-sleeper, daily showers, 6 sweaty gym sessions, and a swim. Apart from replacing the cover patch once it remained in place and was unobtrusive throughout. The two previous sensors lasted 6 days apiece on the back of each arm. My dominant arm kept striking things and was uncomfortable after a while. The next one's going on the other side of my chest.

 

[ATB123]

I've had my first full fortnight with the libre2 sensor after placing it on my chest. Im a tummy-sleeper, daily showers, 6 sweaty gym sessions, and a swim. Apart from replacing the cover patch once it remained in place and was unobtrusive throughout. The two previous sensors lasted 6 days apiece on the back of each arm. My dominant arm kept striking things and was uncomfortable after a while. The next one's going on the other side of my chest.

Whereabouts in your chest do you put it? I really want to try other places than the back of my arm but I'm a bit wary of trying. Also my bones feel very close to my skin on my chest so a bit worried about trying it there?

 

[MrsA2]

I, too, am looking for a non-arm site. Thinking abdomen but what counts as flat? Still have tummy and spare tyre so do I assume above ie on ribs, but does it not then show through clothing?
(Just for vanity, hoping for sleeveless weather on a hot hoilday)

 

[Marie 2]

There are videos of people putting them in numerous areas, one guy actually rated how the different areas did in accuracy. I usually put Libre on my upper butt/hip, because my Dexcom is on my arm and my pump is on my stomach. When I only wore a Libre I used to wear it on my arm. I have always liked my arm placement for a CGM the best. (I wear a Libre when swimming). The upper butt/hip has worked well for me, but it doesn't for everyone. Anything I wear on my legs gets knocked off easily although everything works well that's ever placed there.

Here is one video by the Type One Talks guy.

 

[Tony337]

Hi
I use a roll on deodorant and keep the hair trimmed so i can get it as close to my armpit as possible and never had a problem in the 5 years i have worn them.

Tony

 

[macdosl]

Still new to the CGM game, been using mainly my upper arm but when sleeping I tend to sleep with on my side, and keep getting alarms (Dexcom G7 ) saying signal lost, when I move my arm the signal comes back, tried it on my abdomen once, but it bled quite a bit, so dexcom told me to remove and sent out a replacement, anyone have ideas for alternative sites ?

I use the top of my thigh...to the outside. Works perfect and don't feel it at all.

 

[Bill_St]

to insert Libre hold hand on top of head. That pre stretches skin. Medical trials show accuracy loss on abdomen. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29381253/

http://drc.bmj.com/content/bmjdrc/5/1/e000320.full.pdf?

 

[In Response]

to insert Libre hold hand on top of head. That pre stretches skin. Medical trials show accuracy loss on abdomen. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29381253/

http://drc.bmj.com/content/bmjdrc/5/1/e000320.full.pdf?

The study is interesting but very small - 17 completed all the components of the short trial of 14 days (one sensor) and all were placed on the arm except one. So difficult to draw any conclusions.

 

[Marferret]

Interesting that this came up because I was going to post the same question. After months of wearing it (Libre) on the underside of my arm if I hold my arm out straight, palm down, halfway between my elbow and my armpit, I have had two in a row fail because the filament has dislodged. Not the sensor, the filament. I can only assume that my bingo wings caused by my rapid weight loss no longer provide a “flat” surface.

Now I have placed the new one about 4” from the point of my shoulder on the top of my arm. It is more vulnerable to bumps and knocks, but doesn’t seem so liable to the pressure drop when lying on that side. Time will tell - day 5 at the moment.

This sounds really useful and I'm going to try it when I place my next sensor. By 'top of your arm" do you mean the outside or sort of round the front so it faces the same way you do ? Hope this makes sense.

 

[Metal_Mark]

You sound similar to myself. Slight build, little body fat(sorta six pack( )). Been on multiple CGM's and with Dexcom, hold your arm out and see where skin/fat hangs loose tricep area that's where I have been placing mine last few months. Was sick of stomach bleeds. Will attach picture, hope you get a preferred spots soon young dude. Underneath top of arm

 

[Marferret]

Really helpful. Many thanks. And your post made me laugh out loud - I'm a lady pensioner and I've never been called a young dude before ! All the very best to you x

 

[Bill_St]

The study is interesting but very small - 17 completed all the components of the short trial of 14 days (one sensor) and all were placed on the arm except one. So difficult to draw any conclusions.

Study involved small number of patients but sensors concurrently on different sites over the period so some hundreds of comparisons. Look at the diagrams. Each dot is a compared reading. That is Not very small and a considerable increase over individual reports. Over 660 readings from Abdomen - not 1. Over 700 from arm. Over 600 compared with blood.

Note the extensive scatter at the low end of abdo. and the horizontal line that shows a large number of False LOs at a critical reading. Many values 80mg ~4 mmol out from blood. Hence not acceptable! Remember the scatter is in two dimensions .

 

[sona chandi]

I have been using Libre sensors on the back of my arms since 2018. Experienced couple of failures over 4 years.

Then replaced these with the medtronic Guardian sensor 4 in October 2023. I used my abdomen but many sensors failed regularly. For past 3 months I have used upper thighs and with the exception of 4 sensors the rest have lasted full 7 days.

Yesterday I received my first medtronic Simplera sensors. Yet to try but excited by the availability of the latest CGM sensor.

Bless the NHS. I have the highest praise for my consultant and the diabetes staff at the hospital.