Over 200 reports of glucose sensors falling off in 3 years

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If most people are just reporting directly to the manufacturer then it would be, that's the number of Yellow Card reports direct to MHRA about CGM sensors falling off
 
Dexcom seem to be be taking the sensor drop off problem in hand. Its not a problem with the Dexcom One or the G6 because there is a relatively large sticky pad. The new g7 instructions are different, because the g7 is similar in diameter to the Libre, though double the size of the Libre.

After applying the sensor, they say you should press on the centre of the sensor for ten seconds. Presumably they found that it may not be in full contact without doing that. Maybe Libre users should do the same, I'm sure the drop off rate will plummet.
 
I hold the applicator in place for a good 60 seconds to give it time to adhere well before wriggling it free because it almost never lifts off cleanly, and then press the sensor firmly all the way around with my fingers and then apply my arm strap for at least the first 24 hours but usually the first few days.
I don't take any chances with mine coming adrift and aside from being spiked with a plum tree branch when I was working in the garden (the sensor didn't stand a chance and the pruned end of the branch went under the edge and levered it off) I haven't lost one in well over a year, since using the above regime.

The figure will almost certainly be a factor of 10 or probably more than 100x greater than that reported figure.
 
Amity Island said:
Doesn't everyone already do that? (press the libre sensor on for a few seconds before removing the applicator). I would be interested to find this out. Always, seemed like an obvious thing to do.
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The advice is to press the Dexcom G7 sensor after the applicator is removed. The forces applied by the applicator in both systems have no mechanism to apply force to the centre of the sticky pad however long you press the applicator. I know, because I've used both.

Incidentally, Dexcom will also supply extra sticky pads to apply round the sensor to extend the sticky pad area if you are prone to lose them. (For a full explanation of this watch the Video on the Dexcom G7 website)
 
I get what @rebrascora means. When I lift the Libre applicator off, it starts pulling the sensor with it, and sometimes the flab on my arm is pulled out of shape, until the applicator releases. If it’s going to have a tug of war, applicator v adhesive bond, I'd rather have left the sensor adhesive to warm and fix to the shape of my arm before giving it a dose of destructive testing.
 
Amity Island said:
Doesn't everyone already do that? (press the libre sensor on for a few seconds before removing the applicator). I would be interested to find this out. Always, seemed like an obvious thing to do.
Click to expand...
I also thought it was an obvious thing to do and used to be diligent like that, as well as cleaning the area with an alcohol wipe. But as my sensor "stay-on" rate became obviously good, I totally gave up on due diligence. Over 21 months (with a 50% failure rate for anything except falling off) none of my c.60 sensors have come unstuck and each challenges me to a tug of war when it's time is up!
 
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