How much packaging?

[helli]

For rather boring and irrelevant reasons, I attached a Libre sensor this morning.
The sensor is a similar size to the Medtrum CGM I usually use.
I knew Libre applicator was bigger but I was shocked to see them side by side.
On the right is the Medtrum sensor applicator and packaging. On the Left is Libre.
I wonder why Libre is so much bigger.

 

[HayleyR]

wow that's quite a difference!

 

[PhoebeC]

The Dexcom 6 applicator is huge too. I’ll share a photo later.
I hate all the waste. Must be a better way.

 

[Robin]

When I trialled the Dexcom One, I thought the plastic waste was even bigger than the Libre, and I couldn’t prise it apart, either, to remove the sharp inserter. At least with the Libre, I can do that, and remove the metal spring as well, then the plastic can go to the tip (sorry, 'recycling centre' ) where they collect hard plastics to recycle into garden furniture.

 

[Tdm]

The Dexcom 6 applicator is huge too. I’ll share a photo later.
I hate all the waste. Must be a better way.

You are not wrong there! I think dex 3 is more compact

 

[PhoebeC]

Here we go, Dexcom 6 plus the applicator, this is a faulty one (it’s been on the side a few days) I had and the replacement arriving as I took the photo for this post.
With key for scale. The transmitter goes into the plastic bit on the sticky shell shown here. Clicks in, and you reuse the transmitter and these are the consumables each time.
It’s huge.

 

[PhoebeC]

Here we go, Dexcom 6 plus the applicator, this is a faulty one (it’s been on the side a few days) I had and the replacement arriving as I took the photo for this post.
With key for scale. The transmitter goes into the plastic bit on the sticky shell shown here. Clicks in, and you reuse the transmitter and these are the consumables each time.
It’s huge.

I think Dexcom feels bigger. The boxes / packs are. I carry a spare on match days just in case. I would take the libre out the box and have the plastic bits in a pocket, this is huge out the box and not as protected so I have to keep it in the outer plastic shell. Urgh. Not handy to carry about

 

[nonethewiser]

I think Dexcom feels bigger. The boxes / packs are. I carry a spare on match days just in case. I would take the libre out the box and have the plastic bits in a pocket, this is huge out the box and not as protected so I have to keep it in the outer plastic shell. Urgh. Not handy to carry about

Applicator is massive in comparison to libre, wonder why it needs to be so big, as you say not easiest thing to carry around.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I thought the plastic waste was even bigger than the Libre, and I couldn’t prise it apart, either, to remove the sharp inserter.

It can be done (i dismantled all mine with a trusty flat-bladed screwdriver) but the sharp inner spring-loaded contraption was a bit fiddly to pull apart until I worked out the knack of peeling away and outer section to release the inner bit.

I think I’d need a sharps bin every few months if I was lobbing those in every time. 😱

 

[Sally71]

The biggest problem is that everything seems to come pre-loaded into single-use applicators which then immediately have to be thrown away. When we had Roche pumps, although the cannulas came individually blister packed, they were relatively small as you had a separate insertion device which you kept and used for all cannulas. The cannula had a cap on it which enabled it to be loaded securely into the inserter, then once you’d fired the inserter and the cannula was in the skin, you removed the cap (tiny) and the inserter needle (also very small) and then connected the pump tubing in its place. Which meant that the needle could go straight into your sharps bin without anything having to be taken apart, and the amount of plastic actually going into the bin was one blister pack and one tiny cap.
Why can’t the other companies follow this example? I’m sure sensor insertion could be done this way too, if only somebody would think about it a bit!