TOP TIPS TO MAKE YOUR CGM STAY ON LONGER
Here's a great article from our friends at Not Just a Patch - actions that will help you extend the period of time you can use your sensor.
There are two areas to consider when using a CGM that can help prolong the life of the sensor - your skincare routine and the practical aspects of your CGM.
Skincare tips:
- Exfoliate your skin. With all the daily effort and sweating, there is a lot of dead skin that is left on. Make sure to eliminate it prior to applying your sensor
- Clean and dry the sensor site. It’s important to wash the site twice: first, wash with soap and water and let dry. Then, scrub the site thoroughly with an alcohol wipe and let dry.
- Keep your skin dry. In order for your sensor to not stop working it is important to keep your skin cool and to avoid engaging in activities that make you sweat before right applying the sensor.
- Remove any adhesive residue. It is well known that sensors might leave some residue, therefore it’s important to clean the site accordingly. Consider using an adhesive remove
- Be careful with the products you are using. Antiperspirant spray may help with adhesion, but deodorant might not be so good as it has extra chemicals that can irritate the skin.
- Leave a product-free spot on the skin. While using moisturizing products it’s important to leave some product-free spots for the CGM sensor needle to stick. Otherwise, the adhesive’s chemicals could compromise the accuracy of your readings.
Sensor tips:
- Give your sensor warm-up time. If you apply the new sensor before bed, make sure the warm-up period of the sensor is complete before going to sleep.
- Be careful where you place your CGM. Make sure not to place your CGM where your skin folds when you bend, where there is hair, and/or near your waistband as it will impact the sensor’s lifecycle. Moreover, make sure to change the sites with every sensor session.
- Keep your sensor dry. If you are not covering your sensor in any way make sure to dry your sensor thoroughly by patting it with a towel.
- Use an adhesive underneath and a patch over the top. If you feel the need for extra care and assurance you can use an adhesive like Skin Glu and then cover your sensor with a patch like Not Just a Patch 😉