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Sensor change tips & tricks?

Quill

Quill

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Any tips on changing sensors?
Due to change mine for the first time soon (Dexcom One+) and I'm just wondering how you guys go about doing yours.

Do you whip it right off like a plaster or is it best to gently pull away til it's unstuck?

Any do's and don'ts?

Cheers my sweets! <3
 
Just whip it off. If you get a really stuck on one a bit of baby oil helps it come off
 
I pull it off gently sometimes its easy and other times not so, I have the Libre 2 plus, when I had a free trail with the Dexcom One it was really hard to get off, I always put mine on 2 days before the old one ends to settle down so that's maybe why it comes off better as its been on longer
 
I was advised to never whip off anything stuck to my skin as it can take off a top layer.
A physio advised me to always remove anything stuck to me in the shower. Peel a little bit off and let the water get behind it to loosen the glue and then pull it slowly.
You may have some glue residue left which can be removed with oil.

It case it was not clear, I will repeat
NEVER WHIP OFF ANYTHING STUCK TO YOU.
 
I alternate arms with the libre. Put a new one on after a shower. Then when I start a new one a couple of hours later, rip the old one off. Most the time the sensor & tape is body temperature under a sleeve? I just reach in from the neckline & remove. A lot of adhesive tapes are more pliable when warm.
 
if you have any sticky residue best thing as already advised is a gentle rub with baby oil to remove the residue, I always like to shower before applying the next sensor
I’ve now got alcohol wipes at someone’s recommendation to fully clean the site prior to new sensor application (if I wasn’t going to shower) like if I’m replacing due to a failure/drop off etc

I remember the first few made me anxious applying / removing etc but a short while later after using these things it just became routine
 
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I wiggle until the glue at the edge starts to give, and then rip it off!
I do use a patch though, made the mistake of ripping that off once and ripped off a bit of skin
 
goodybags said:
if you have any sticky residue best thing as already advised is a gentle rub with baby oil to remove the residue, I always like to shower before applying the next sensor
I’ve now got alcohol wipes at someone’s recommendation to fully clean the site prior to new sensor application (if I wasn’t going to shower) like if I’m replacing due to a failure/drop off etc

I remember the first few made me anxious applying / removing etc but a short while it just became routine
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With the early Libres there was an alcohol wipe in the box.then they stopped. I get my own. 🙂
 
Pam123 said:
I pull it off gently sometimes its easy and other times not so, I have the Libre 2 plus, when I had a free trail with the Dexcom One it was really hard to get off, I always put mine on 2 days before the old one ends to settle down so that's maybe why it comes off better as its been on longer
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good advice @Pam123 yes if it’s well adhered remove in the shower @Quill especially if it’s well stuck, which with the DexcomOne+ having not only the sensor stuck, but its overlay ring also
(I’ve only worn one DexcomOne+ once and thought it was well stuck)

However with the Dexcom (or so I’m told) it’s not a good idea to apply the day before, as it’s 10 day life can start counting down as soon as it is applied
unlike the Libra2Plus that you use and they don't actually start its life until scanned with the phone

the alcohol wipes I got off amazon https://amzn.eu/d/8cYk4YV
 
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I’ve just started using the Dexcom ONE and have found they stick really well, a much larger area of adhesive, I agree with don’t just rip it off, the Libre is much easier to remove.
 
I pull my sensors away gradually, to try to reduce the ‘ouch’ that my body is feeling, hoping that it won’t get grumpy with my adhesive things.

I think it was @trophywench who used to say that Vaseline / petroleum jelly was good at dissolving sensor glue (or was it removing the grubby marks??)
 
I get my finger nail under the edge of my Libre in one place and slowly lever it off whilst grimacing! I am not sure if the grimacing helps but it seems to be an integral part of the process! 🙄
 
Thanks lovelies, you're all brilliant as usual.

Also had Mayonnaise suggested by a friend which made me laugh, imagine it'll work the same way baby oil would?
Mine is already peeling a touch at the corner so might just budge it along when it comes to it.
My skin is soft and really sensitive thanks to hEDS and I bruise like a peach so fingers are crossed for a trauma free removal 🙂
 
Leadinglights said:
Just like my OH insists that groaning is part of the process of getting up off the sofa.
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I hadn't noticed that but thinking about it now, he could be right. I don't sit on one very often to be aware of it. Will pay more attention next time.
 
Satan’s little helper said:
Do a “Theresa May” wear that tide mark with pride. :rofl:
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Nooooooo! Had my mama still been alive she'd have been highly derogatory, seeing such a thing on a person of Mrs May's status. Clearly she wasn't brought up right because the world knows that when any child is seen with the mark of a removed plaster upon their skin, their mother doesn't look after them properly, so No Way should her children be seen out with any such thing and a clean hanky every morning because snotty noses are similar. Not allowed to sniff, either - if you need to sniff you obviously don't own a hanky and it's disgusting. So that was us, told, and it lasts! :rofl:
 
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