Question about stickers over sensor

[freesia]

I've been thinking for a while about trying the stickers to put on over the Libre but before i part with my limited amount of cash my questions are

Do the stickers prevent the sensor from lifting off the skin (i mean the sticky bit around the sensor)? I find that usually by around day 10 one side of the sensor is coming away from the skin and is more at risk of being knocked off

Do the stickers themselves lift/curl up at the edges/fray over the time period the sensor is used?

I have got an arm band that i use if doing anything particularly strenuous but don't want to wear that all of the time. Some of the stickers you can get are really nice.

 

[Woodywoodpecker]

I've been thinking for a while about trying the stickers to put on over the Libre but before i part with my limited amount of cash my questions are

Do the stickers prevent the sensor from lifting off the skin (i mean the sticky bit around the sensor)? I find that usually by around day 10 one side of the sensor is coming away from the skin and is more at risk of being knocked off

Do the stickers themselves lift/curl up at the edges/fray over the time period the sensor is used?

I have got an arm band that i use if doing anything particularly strenuous but don't want to wear that all of the time. Some of the stickers you can get are really nice

I have been using the stickers, yes they prevent sensor from lifting. Stickers can lift especially near the end off the 2 weeks, one caught on towel and it pulled my sensor loose. I find they are a bit fiddly to put on, my right arm ok with it but left arm got sores under it. I’m trying new sensor without patch to see how I get on, I also use arm band at work

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I've been thinking for a while about trying the stickers to put on over the Libre but before i part with my limited amount of cash my questions are

I've never used the Libre-specific stickers. Sometimes I see a sensor beginning to come away at the edges and use a Tegaderm (clear plastic sticky covering): I cut a little hole in the middle and stick it over the sensor (so the hole matches up with the hole in the sensor, because that's apparently important). I've only had to do that in the last few days of each sensor. I use the 6x7cm ones, and 20 are about £8 from Amazon, so a pretty trivial cost and I don't need to use one often. It looks like there are cheaper options (100 6x7cm transparent film dressing for £11.89, for example) which I'm guessing would work similarly well.

A clear plastic film isn't going to look as nice as a custom made Libre sticker, of course.

 

[goodybags]

I think different overlay stickers can be suitable for different people

I've tried a few different ones over the last 12 months since ive been wearing CGM
and personally I think the best are the overing ones from TypeOneStyle
although compared in price to some of the others slightly more expensive.

I recently tried some off amazon the first a black coloured overpatch whi h following a shower actually stained my bed, however on contacting amazon they refunded (under their 30 say satisfaction guarantee) I tried something else again off amazon that actually gave me a rash but again when I contacted amazon they refunded the item

I've never had any problem when I used TypeOneStyle

 

[Inka]

Yes, the Type 1 style ones are very good. I also got some decent ones from Amazon that didn’t irritate my skin and were cheaper. Now I have the G7, I just use the overpatch, which sticks like a supercharged limpet!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Abbott say that covering the hole doesn’t allow the central hole to release any trapped moisture under the sensor (from the skin breathing), or from any moisture that gets in eg in the shower.

I think it depends in if you have problems with the sensor lifting away at the edges - mine were always stuck like a limpet!

 

[Thebearcametoo]

We use type 1 style too for Dexcom. They do lift a bit on the edges sometimes and you get the black marks around the edges like most sticky things but he’s never lost a sensor.

 

[Lisa65]

I did buy some patches from Amazon initially, the brand was kovoq. if anything they were too sticky and I lost a bit of skin when pulling one off. Now I use a skin-tac wipe before applying the sensor and they stick fine for two weeks. I've only lost one and that was because I was reaching into a water butt to tighten the tap nut and scraped my libre on the side.

 

[mashedupmatt]

Just a Patch "splat" ones are good (I use them when umpiring summer hockey as you get a bit sweatier and they have more chance of falling off)

 

[eggyg]

If my sticky bit lifts off, which it is wont to do at about day 10 too. I stick a good a old fashioned big fabric Elastoplast on. Doesn’t look very glamorous if I’m out and about, but I actually don’t care! 😉

 

[helli]

I don't use any stickers.
Like Mike, mine stick like limpets unless I put them on the wrong part of my arm.
I do not use any single use wipes (I dislike adding unnecessary non biodegradable rubbish to landfill) but I do make sure my arm is clean, dry and grease free (no moisturizer or moisturising shower gel). And I make sure I apply my sensor to a flat part or my arm that dies not bend. It is the bending that causes sensors to lift off.
I placed my arm higher up my arm than the official photos suggest but 8 think the marketing material puts them lower so you can see them.

 

[freesia]

Thanks everyone. I have used Tegaderm before and they are a reasonable price. I just fancied something a little more jazzy. I might try the skin tac though, i'll have a look for it.

 

[Lucyr]

Abbott say that covering the hole doesn’t allow the central hole to release any trapped moisture under the sensor (from the skin breathing), or from any moisture that gets in eg in the shower.

Does that not depend what you cover it with? If it’s one of he breathable fabric ones I’d think it’s ok but one of the plasticy waterproof ones not?

 

[Lisa65]

Thanks everyone. I have used Tegaderm before and they are a reasonable price. I just fancied something a little more jazzy. I might try the skin tac though, i'll have a look for it.

I think you can buy it in a little spray bottle if you don't want the single use wipes

 

[JJay]

I don't use any stickers.
Like Mike, mine stick like limpets unless I put them on the wrong part of my arm.
I do not use any single use wipes (I dislike adding unnecessary non biodegradable rubbish to landfill) but I do make sure my arm is clean, dry and grease free (no moisturizer or moisturising shower gel). And I make sure I apply my sensor to a flat part or my arm that dies not bend. It is the bending that causes sensors to lift off.
I placed my arm higher up my arm than the official photos suggest but 8 think the marketing material puts them lower so you can see them.

Same here. Never used any patches, tape, straps or anything else. I’ve lost a few due to my own carelessness but that’s all. I too prefer them higher up - if I put them where Abbott suggest they’d be constantly catching the sleeve hem of my t-shirts.

 

[freesia]

Maybe i'll try putting them higher as well.

 

[louisew]

Just give my arm a wipe with some alcohol, and use cheap see through patches off amazon. On holiday, if I’m diving, I use one made out of elastoplast. Often need replacing after a week, but no problems with reading them. They don’t have a hole over the sensor and never noticed any moisture in them, or the sensors not working properly after showering or swimming

 

[PhoebeC]

I used some cheap ones from Amazon they did the job, but I found them best for on holiday / in water and warm weather. I prefer vet wrap though for rugby as I do like taking it back off afterwards and don't need the extra stick usually.

 

[Woodywoodpecker]

Thanks everyone. I have used Tegaderm before and they are a reasonable price. I just fancied something a little more jazzy. I might try the skin tac though, i'll have a look for it.

I used skin tac once, and what a mess it made off my arm