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Libre 2: wrap to shower, or nah?

jrose444

jrose444

Member
Messages
12
Location
Georgia, USA
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I’ve had so many issues with libre 2 sensors that I wrap it with Saran Wrap & medical tape to shower, even though I’ve read it isn’t necessary. Just don’t want to take any chances here, lol.
Do u wrap ur sensor? If so, with what?
 
I wear a Libre 2 plus and swim regularly (and of course shower!) I use a purpose made self adhesive cover with a fabric centre so it doesn’t pull on the sensor off when I change the patch. I get these from Amazon UK, I see you’re in USA I’m sure there’ll be something similar on Amazon US
 
Rachox said:
I wear a Libre 2 plus and swim regularly (and of course shower!) I use a purpose made self adhesive cover with a fabric centre so it doesn’t pull on the sensor off when I change the patch. I get these from Amazon UK, I see you’re in USA I’m sure there’ll be something similar on Amazon US
Click to expand...

Ditto! They last me about a week and I then change. If I’m not swimming regularly I tend not to cover the first week, but find they do need to be protected the second week as they tend to start lifting off.
 
I use a ~6" long piece of micropore tape (which usually lasts the ~2 weeks) across the sensor (I now cut a small hole for centre of the sensor since learning it should not be covered, I never used to) and my upper arm to avoid the edges peeling off.

If this peeling can prevented or slowed they last the distance (including showers and sweat), otherwise I used to find they'd eventually peel up enough that they started to move around and fail.

P.S. If you do similar, don't make the tape tight across the sensor, make sure it follows both the shape of the sensor and your arm as otherwise it's quite uncomfortable.
 
I use Not Just a Patch skin tone and it easily stays put for the 14 days. Don’t need to put a hole in it
 
For those who do use patches (and leave them on rather than only for swimming), do you find they get manky underneath if you're exercising and sweating? If I were swimming then I'd probably be looking for something along the lines of the waterproof ones, but for cycling, I'm not keen on something which claims to be waterproof or even water resistant.

The Not Just a Patch ones which @Jmaclaren suggests above (thanks) look like they come in two flavours - the originals which are like fabric plasters (though claiming water resistance), and the new ones which appear to be like large patches of micropore tape. I assume they would both dry out eventually, but the former look like they'd stay damp for longer than the latter?

My micropore tape works, but just wondering what other options are out there.
 
I use waterproof adhesive patches, they are supposed to be breathable, hypoallergenic and latex free, I have noticed that I’m reacting to the tape. My skin is slightly swollen and blotchy and painful. The reaction to the patch seems to have affected my CGM readings as the sensor was reading around 1-2 mmol/ls lower than a fingerprick. Also they become mangy around the edges which is not a good look. I might try that micropore tape. I can get it on Amazon.ca.
 
SimonP78 said:
For those who do use patches (and leave them on rather than only for swimming), do you find they get manky underneath if you're exercising and sweating?
Click to expand...
I don’t work up a sweat as I don’t do vigorous exercise just gentle swimming and walking! So no they don’t go manky. I replace them when they start lifting at the edges, each one lasts around 5 days.
 
jrose444 said:
I’ve had so many issues with libre 2 sensors that I wrap it with Saran Wrap & medical tape to shower, even though I’ve read it isn’t necessary. Just don’t want to take any chances here, lol.
Do u wrap ur sensor? If so, with what?
Click to expand...
I cover mine with the Libre Skins, adhesive cover. I swim and never had a problem...
 
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