The 7 Best Tricks for Keeping Your CGM Sensor From Falling Off

The 7 Best Tricks for Keeping Your
CGM Sensor From Falling Off

Best Practices For Applying a CGM Sensor

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) are an invaluable tool for those with diabetes, providing real-time glucose readings and helping to prevent dangerous highs and lows. But if you’ve ever used a CGM before, you know that one of the biggest challenges is keeping the sensor in place. Here are the top seven things you can do to prepare for applying your CGM sensor and keep it from falling off.

1. Read the Manufacturer’s Instructions Thoroughly

Often the manufacturer’s instructions provide tips that while might not be obvious are borne true by all the feedback and warranties they deal with.

If you do need to warranty a sensor, you will have a much easier time getting a replacement if you know and followed their instructions.

2. Clean Your Skin Really Well

Before applying your CGM, make sure to clean your skin with an alcohol swab or soap and water. This will help ensure that the adhesive sticks properly and lasts longer. Using an alcohol wipe before application is critical.

It’s important to note that many soaps and body washes contain oils that cause the CGM adhesive to fail.

3. Correctly Using Alcohol Wipes

It’s important to use the alcohol wipe correctly if you are having challenges keeping your sensors attached. The purpose of the Alcohol wipe is to scrub away oils, soaps and other contaminants as well as disinfect the area.

Allow the area to dry completely, typically for several minutes before using the Alcohol wipe. Wet skin can negatively affect the performance of wipe in removing contaminates.
Then take an alcohol wipe and apply it evenly across the area under and around the location where you wish to place the CGM sensor. Make sure to press firmly making multiple pass back and forth to remove any contaminates.
Let the location sit for about 30 seconds in order for the alcohol to completely evaporate away. You don’t want any trace of moisture remaining before proceeding with placement of your sensor.

4. Placement & Using Pressure

Once you have placed your CGM onto your skin, use gentle pressure around the edges of the device to ensure a secure fit. This will help keep it in place longer and reduce any irritation caused by movement of the device against your skin.

Sensor Placement is important. Look for a location where you are less likely to bump the sensor and you are minimizing the bending of skin under the sensor.

For example: Rotate the a Libre sensor more on the inside of the back of the arm so it’s less likely to get knocked as your moving or sleeping.

5. Use A Quality CGM Patch

A quality CGM patch is recommended to help keep the sensor attached over its lifetime. A patch will work to keep the sensor for becoming dislodged or knocked off prematurely. We highly recommend using a patch on your CGM sensors, especially if you have seen challenges with the sensors coming off.

6. Don't Wear Tight Clothes Over The Sensor

Wearing loose clothing over your CGM can help keep it in place by reducing friction and tugging between the sensor and other fabrics or surfaces as you move throughout the day.

7. What If My Sensor Is Still Coming Loose.

My Sensor is Still Coming Lose: You’ve tried all the above and your sensors are still coming loose before they should! There are a couple of additional steps you can take to secure your sensor.

Sensor Placement: Consider talking to your healthcare provider about modifying your sensor placement if it’s regularly coming loose during a specific activity.
Use a tackifier skin prep like Matisol Liquid Adhesive, IV Prep, Cavilon Barrier or Convacare Barrier in a donut shape around the prep site to increase the tackiness (stickiness) of your skin so the CGM and CGM patch adhere better. Before using any patch or tackifier please test a small amount it less sensitive area see if you have any allergies to the materials.
Shave the application area to remove any hair. creating less weakness in the adhesive and minimize the locations where a failure can start.

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