CGM - top tips?

[curlyk]

Hey everyone, decided to self fund a CGM to really analyse how my body is reacting to different foods and to bring my A1C down lower (I hope!)

I’ve already ruined one CGM as it slipped off after a day - so I must have done something wrong. I’ve bought adhesive stickers now, so have that covering it to hopefully help it last the full two weeks!

Has anyone got any advice other than not knocking my arm to help or ‘stick’?

Many thanks!

 

[Lucyr]

Has anyone got any advice other than not knocking my arm to help or ‘stick’?

I’d advise sticking to fingerpricks, a CGM is overkill if you can’t react to the readings. Fingerpricks are cheaper, more accurate, and don’t have the falling off problems / stopping working issues whilst still giving all the information you need to adjust your diet.

Depending which company you bought the cgm from there is a chance they would replace it though.

 

[curlyk]

Thank you! I still have my finger prick machine - so will certainly still use that.

I do love data - so I’m eager to try it for the next month to see how I go and if there are any unexpected results.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I have found that the adhesive on sensors seems to take about 24 hours to come up to full strength. So being mindful of them and trying hardest not to knock or jiggle them doing the first day seems important.

I think different skin types / surfaces can make a big difference too. Some sensors stick better to some skin types than others (plus things like remnants of moinsturiser etc can be important).

Some find it better to apply a sensor after a shower on a clean, but properly dried arm (not damp-out-of-shower), and with no cream/lotion/moisturiser applied.

 

[goodybags]

Hey everyone, decided to self fund a CGM to really analyse how my body is reacting to different foods and to bring my A1C down lower (I hope!)

I’ve already ruined one CGM as it slipped off after a day - so I must have done something wrong. I’ve bought adhesive stickers now, so have that covering it to hopefully help it last the full two weeks!

Has anyone got any advice other than not knocking my arm to help or ‘stick’?

Many thanks!

Hi @curlyk if you haven’t already be sure to report the dropped off sensor to Abbott, they should send you out a free replacement, this can be reported either on the phone / online at:

Sensor Support Form | United Kingdom | FreeStyle Libre | Abbott

Need help? Fill in our online sensor support form for Patients from United Kingdom for your FreeStyle Libre 2 or 3 sensor today.

www.freestyle.abbott

I still consider myself new to CGM usage but my advice having used them for almost a year and lost a few, is following showering & drying wipe the area (prior to application of the sensor) with a alcohol (pre injection medical wipe) at the recommendation of another forum member I got these off Amazon

OptiPro Pre-Injection Wipes (x100) - Individually Wrapped Disposable Medical Skin Cleaning Easy-Tear 70% Isopropyl Alcohol Sachet (100 Wipes) (Packaging May Vary) https://amzn.eu/d/hdVGWJY

 

[helli]

Single use wrapped alcohol wipes are not necessary and are just more non biodegradable items for the landfill. If your arm is greasy after washing with soapy water, you could use surgical spirit on a flannel.
Save your money on the individually wrapped wipes and be kinder to the environment.
In my experience, the main reason for sensors to come off are bad placements. They do not bend so do not place them on a part of your arm that curves or bends.

 

[HayleyR]

I always wipe the area with tissue & surgical spirit and make sure it's completely dry before applying the sensor.....

 

[CliffH]

Hey everyone, decided to self fund a CGM to really analyse how my body is reacting to different foods and to bring my A1C down lower (I hope!)

I’ve already ruined one CGM as it slipped off after a day - so I must have done something wrong. I’ve bought adhesive stickers now, so have that covering it to hopefully help it last the full two weeks!

Has anyone got any advice other than not knocking my arm to help or ‘stick’?

Many thanks!

If you really do want to go to the trouble and expense of this, it's probably worth considering doing it for several months, to get an idea of trends in terms of things such as diet, exercise, weather, sleep patterns, holidays and how stressed (work and/or home) you are. I still get surprises, having had a CGM for several years!

I stick them on the inside of my upper arm - not too close to the armpit. I alternate arms, although I find that my right arm's much better than my left one regarding signal 'drop-outs', as well as the sensor coming unstuck!

 

[CliffH]

Thank you! I still have my finger prick machine - so will certainly still use that.

I do love data - so I’m eager to try it for the next month to see how I go and if there are any unexpected results.

I think it's almost certain that you'll see "unexpected results" if you're only going to use it for a month. After all, HbA1c scores are taken over three months.

 

[curlyk]

If you really do want to go to the trouble and expense of this, it's probably worth considering doing it for several months, to get an idea of trends in terms of things such as diet, exercise, weather, sleep patterns, holidays and how stressed (work and/or home) you are. I still get surprises, having had a CGM for several years!

I stick them on the inside of my upper arm - not too close to the armpit. I alternate arms, although I find that my right arm's much better than my left one regarding signal 'drop-outs', as well as the sensor coming unstuck!

I will be doing it for more than a month - two days in and it’s been an eye opener already.

My body reacted to a no added sugar cordial last night - so I need to check that again, and double check the label!

However, some of the readings are quite ‘far out’ compared to finger prick - so I need to start to get used to the time lag for any differences.

 

[Leadinglights]

I will be doing it for more than a month - two days in and it’s been an eye opener already.

My body reacted to a no added sugar cordial last night - so I need to check that again, and double check the label!

However, some of the readings are quite ‘far out’ compared to finger prick - so I need to start to get used to the time lag for any differences.

Don't be fooled into thinking 'no added sugar' means low in carbs, or something labelled as low sugar will be low carb.
A good example is the cereal Puffed Wheat which is only 0.6g sugar per 100g but a whopping 66g carbs.

 

[CliffH]

I will be doing it for more than a month - two days in and it’s been an eye opener already.

My body reacted to a no added sugar cordial last night - so I need to check that again, and double check the label!

However, some of the readings are quite ‘far out’ compared to finger prick - so I need to start to get used to the time lag for any differences.

As someone who's Type 1, I find that the big advantage for me of CGMs over fingerpricks is that they make it easier for me to predict and prevent hypos - which presumably isn't an issue for you.

As a side-effect, CGMs enable me to fuel as efficiently as possible when cycling. Again, that's probably more of an issue for Type 1s, as I have to be careful not to take so much insulin before breakfast that my blood sugar dips too low when I start cycling, before my 'on-bike' fuelling starts to kick in.

 

[beating_my_betes]

Buy waterproof patches.

Consider how you sleep when deciding where to place. Due to my normal sleeping and iPad viewing positions I can't place them on the recommended spot (Backs of arms), but do better with them on the upper, inner arm.

Don't keep checking, as it'll drive you insane. I'd even go as far as to disable notifications for non-insulin users.

And most importantly, don't assume all readings are diet-influenced. More things than we know and/or can accurately read can and will affect BG levels. So just try to keep an eye on the overall trends.