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Libre and hot weather

Caroline1967

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi I am not managing my libre and this hot weather. I am getting rather hot and sweaty and my libre is coming off. I have tried special plasters (can’t remember the proper term) and they just come off too. I have got through 4 litres this week! (Luckily I do
Have a few spares…)
Can anyone advise on what they do
In the very hot weather.
Thanks
 
I have an arm strap and I apply each new sensor on an evening when it is cooler and I prep my skin really well by washing and exfoliating. Skin can be dry and flaky with exposure to sun and heat and I already have dry skin, so I ensure I exfoliate to remove any that is loose and flaky before application as well as remove any grease and sweat. Then I dry really thoroughly both with a towel and then I blast the site with a hair drier for a minute to really make sure it is completely dry. Then I apply the sensor, then my arm strap over it straight away and go to bed, so it has all night for the adhesive to really bond with my skin before it is exposed to any knocks or pulls from clothing or muscle flexing activity. Those are my top tips. Placement on a part of the arm that is flatter and has less muscle flexion is also helpful.

The arm strap I have looks a bit like a watch strap and consists of a rigid plastic surround which fits perfectly around the circumference of the sensor and and adjustable elastic strap which holds it snugly in place. I am onto my third one in 5 years of use and would not be without my arm strap. The only time I have lost a sensor since using them is when my old one had broken and I hadn't reordered a new one and I lost the first sensor I wore without using the arm strap. Which prompted me to order a new one pretty promptly and all fine since. I don't have to wear it for the full 15 days but I do think the first 24/48 hours are really important to support the sensor whilst the adhesive is bonding. After that I make a point of wearing it when I am doing activity which is high risk where my arm muscles are repeatedly flexing.... trimming horses hooves in my case or grooming, particularly in hot weather, but I take it off if I am going out socially and it is not going to be at risk and doesn't fit in with what I am wearing although you can buy them in different colours to coordinate with your outfit!
 
I use these in the summer and they've always worked fine - bit pricey but always done the job for me

1751383942388.png
 
Thank you. I will look at the arm strap and the patches.
I have just rung Abbott to ask their advice and they said they would replace the answers but could not say what I could do to stop it happening again.
 
I have an arm strap and I apply each new sensor on an evening when it is cooler and I prep my skin really well by washing and exfoliating. Skin can be dry and flaky with exposure to sun and heat and I already have dry skin, so I ensure I exfoliate to remove any that is loose and flaky before application as well as remove any grease and sweat. Then I dry really thoroughly both with a towel and then I blast the site with a hair drier for a minute to really make sure it is completely dry. Then I apply the sensor, then my arm strap over it straight away and go to bed, so it has all night for the adhesive to really bond with my skin before it is exposed to any knocks or pulls from clothing or muscle flexing activity. Those are my top tips. Placement on a part of the arm that is flatter and has less muscle flexion is also helpful.

The arm strap I have looks a bit like a watch strap and consists of a rigid plastic surround which fits perfectly around the circumference of the sensor and and adjustable elastic strap which holds it snugly in place. I am onto my third one in 5 years of use and would not be without my arm strap. The only time I have lost a sensor since using them is when my old one had broken and I hadn't reordered a new one and I lost the first sensor I wore without using the arm strap. Which prompted me to order a new one pretty promptly and all fine since. I don't have to wear it for the full 15 days but I do think the first 24/48 hours are really important to support the sensor whilst the adhesive is bonding. After that I make a point of wearing it when I am doing activity which is high risk where my arm muscles are repeatedly flexing.... trimming horses hooves in my case or grooming, particularly in hot weather, but I take it off if I am going out socially and it is not going to be at risk and doesn't fit in with what I am wearing although you can buy them in different colours to coordinate with your outfit!
On the subject of arm straps I had to get a new strap for mine after the last one was savaged by my cat , luckily I wasn't wearing it at the time. Ordered one from a seller on eBay, just the strap and buckles for £3.95 delivered. It came today and had a free gift of a mini pack of haribo sweets labelled up as hypo treat and with the carb value printed on it too.
Martin
 
@Martin62 Sounds like the seller that I got my arm strap from. I believe he is a young man with Type 1 himself who has a 3D printer and started making the straps as a little side line. It is a nice touch sending the hypo treatment and the fact that he puts a label on it with the number of carbs clearly visible is also really good.
 
I’ve just taken delivery of the strap. Will see how it goes!
 
Hope your Libres stay put with your new gizmo @Caroline1967

I seem to have just the right skin for sensor adhesive - if i can keep them stuck for the first 24hrs, they are usually still stuck like limpets on their last day (unless they are on the ‘corner’ of my arm, or get a real tug against something)
 
I clean my arm with alcohol before applying the cgm and plaster and again if I have to replace the plaster. I just use cheap transparent ones from Amazon.
 
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