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Sensitive skin and CGM

A

Amos1947

Active Member
Messages
28
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I had been prediabetic for years until Sep 2025. I had a fall on holiday after a lunch of raisin toast. I broke my wrist and 2 bone in my right arm and registered 14.5 blood sugar.
Straight on to Metformin 1000 once per day and finger prick blood sugar testing. Low carb food.
I am T2, 58kg, fasting blood sugar was 8% in January, HbA1c 6.3, and 46. Tri 1.8.
My problem and question is around the fact that I have really sensitive skin. Band aids and elastoplast really irritate my skin. Last week I had to wear a heart monitor for 24 hrs and ended up with blisters, a rash, weals on my skin from the 3 electrodes, and only just lasted the 24hrs, but my heart is great. Am I right in thinking that a CGM won’t be a good option for me.
I successfully do finger prick tests and currently register daily fasting results in the sixes and sevens. I always drop down after meals but I would do better if I cut back on my fruit intake. My question is there anything between a CGM and finger prick testing which would provide more information and stop me from becoming a human pincushion. Can you prick arms?
 
Hi @Amos1947 you are right that many people have skin issues with cgms, but there are also a number of work arounds that people use to avoid allergic reactions. eg I use dexcom and a layer of cavilon cream is enough to keep me from reacting. (I have had past reactions to dexcom and libre).

In your position I'd probably read up on the various barrier creams etc that you can use and then trial a monitor or two.

I'm not aware of a half way house between cgm and glucometer unfortunately, though technoclogy is improving.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, I could just do a short term free trial and see if it works. Do people do the CGM permanently or do they do it for a while then revisit every few months.
 
Amos1947 said:
Thanks for the suggestion, I could just do a short term free trial and see if it works. Do people do the CGM permanently or do they do it for a while then revisit every few months.
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Depends on the person and the medication.

eg as a T1 on an insulin pump I wear one 24/7.

A diet controlled T2 might well just use it occasionally to check on their reactions to food. Generally (I'm sure there are exceptions) you need to be on insulin to get if funded by the state, and even some T2s on insulin don't qualify.
 
Thanks Ellie, I find that I never qualify for anything, I expect to pay which is why I was trying to avoid an expensive mistake. I’m researching barrier creams now. I glue cotton fabric to the back of my watch so I can wear one but save my skin.
 
Amos1947 said:
I glue cotton fabric to the back of my watch so I can wear one but save my skin.
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I still remember the denim watch strap on a birthday gift as a teen - its glue gave my skin a violent reaction.

But pump users are pretty experienced on all the methods for avoiding skin reactions, as they need cgms 24/7 and yes plenty of people have reactions. There are plenty of reddit and facebook threads about solutions : from barrier creams to cutting minute holes in hypoallergenic plasters.

As a dexcom user I appreciate that dexcom at least recognise the issue, and send links to various possible solutions.
 
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