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Alcoholic skin wipes

Meady

Meady

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
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He/Him
Do people who have cgm's have a particular preference or recommendation for alcoholic skin wipes for cleaning the area before nailing the cgm to yourself? I have no particular preference myself, was just looking for them on Amazon and like everything else, there's a whole ton of them to choose from. Or is it a case that it really doesn't matter? I dont think it does but like everything, recommendations from experience is always a good thing 🙂

Thanks.
 
Yeah. My preference is no single use wipes. The landfill is full enough already and they are a waste of money.
If I need to dry my arm, I use a tissue and surgical spirit.
But most of the time, I don’t need anything. I wash in non-oily shower gel.
The most important thing to keep my sensors in place is choosing a flat part of my arm.
 
Meady said:
Do people who have cgm's have a particular preference or recommendation for alcoholic skin wipes for cleaning the area before nailing the cgm to yourself?
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I use soap and water, and make sure the skin is dry afterwards (usually with kitchen paper because that seems to work most easily).
 
Wash area with soap & water and dry with a rough-ish towel. After application press sensor to skin for a count of 10. The only ones I’ve lost have been pulled off on a doorframe or by my bra strap!
 
If you are going to buy isopropyl alcohol wipes, I would make sure that they are big enough for you to use sensibly - some of them seem to be not much larger than a postage stamp...
 
Meady said:
Do people who have cgm's have a particular preference or recommendation for alcoholic skin wipes for cleaning the area before nailing the cgm to yourself? I have no particular preference myself, was just looking for them on Amazon and like everything else, there's a whole ton of them to choose from. Or is it a case that it really doesn't matter? I dont think it does but like everything, recommendations from experience is always a good thing 🙂

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I don’t bother. Just have a wash on the day I change sensor so nothing special
 
I'm another who just washes with soap or shower gel. I dry really thoroughly with a towel and then give it a short blast with a hair drier to make absolutely sure the site is totally dry. After application I use an arm strap to support and protect it at least for the first few days but certainly the first 24 hours whilst the adhesive bonds with my skin and that works a treat for me.
 
Lucyr said:
I don’t bother. Just have a wash on the day I change sensor so nothing special
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Yes same, basic natural soap. Dry it well in advance.
 
PhoebeC said:
Yes same, basic natural soap. Dry it well in advance.
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I think most people dry off straight after their shower anyway (agree not everyone, sometimes I’m unable to dry straight away due to ME but those days I lie down in my towelling dressing gown and wouldn’t have the energy to put a sensor on straight away anyway), then put the sensor on after I’ve got dressed. No special requirements just normal washing routine, other than don’t moisturise that arm. But who moisturises their whole body every day anyway.
 
Like a lot of others, soap and water for me.
 
My DSN specifically advised against using alcohol wipes (I was reading a US-based diabetes book which suggested them). She said they weren’t good for the condition of the skin, and long-term use can cause hardening/thickening in some cases.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
She said they weren’t good for the condition of the skin, and long-term use can cause hardening/thickening in some cases.
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Once every couple of weeks is probably not terrible, but I remember we used to be advised to use it before injecting which (by current standards) is a bit crazy. Regardless, there seems no need in either case.
 
My problem is not getting the cgm to stick (I just apply after a bath/shower), but my problem is getting it to come off afterwards! Really sticks tight, and takes ages to peel all around the edges. Tried Olive Oil, helps a bit.
Any more tips?
 
tesser raggy said:
My problem is not getting the cgm to stick (I just apply after a bath/shower), but my problem is getting it to come off afterwards! Really sticks tight, and takes ages to peel all around the edges. Tried Olive Oil, helps a bit.
Any more tips?
Click to expand...
Fingernails under one edge, grimace and lever it off... works for me. Can't do it without grimacing though as it does smart but it's only once a fortnight so can cope with that.
 
tesser raggy said:
My problem is not getting the cgm to stick (I just apply after a bath/shower), but my problem is getting it to come off afterwards! Really sticks tight, and takes ages to peel all around the edges. Tried Olive Oil, helps a bit.
Any more tips?
Click to expand...
In a long relaxing shower.
Start to peel a tiny edge and then let the water get in as I slowly peel.

The advice I was given was to never “rip it off” as you may also rip off some skin.
 
Last edited:
tesser raggy said:
My problem is not getting the cgm to stick (I just apply after a bath/shower), but my problem is getting it to come off afterwards! Really sticks tight, and takes ages to peel all around the edges. Tried Olive Oil, helps a bit.
Any more tips?
Click to expand...
Have a shower then just rip it off, likely won’t take your skin off whilst it’s all wet
 
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