I am new to the Dexcom. I have been brittle type1 diabetic for over 50 years.
Just sharing my experience. I have sensor loss quite often. I was told this may be because I am very thin with little body fat. I was told to talk to Doctor about using different site that is not recommended for adults. I made appointment and will keep you posted.
I have never had a sensor last more than 10 days. It alarms me and advises time remaining. Sensor ends and alarms me to replace. I have had a few sensors go bad already and just became user in January 2019. I will say tech support is awesome and they have replaced bad sensors.
I love seeing the graph and knowing what my blood sugar is doing but the sensor loss really frustrates me! I am excited to see if this CGM helps my A1C. Never been in good range…my only issue is that I still have the spikes. Is it really accurate if I am bringing it down with my Novolog and that the average is just a balance of my highs and lows. I would feel so much better if my graph maintained a steady line in a healthy range.
Any comments appreciated.
Thanks and Bless you all!!!
Hi @Tbjones, welcome to FUD! 
By default they don’t last longer than 10 days. Some people choose to “restart” their sensor by tricking the receiver into thinking they’ve put a new sensor on when they haven’t 
Have you ever heard of a technique called Sugar Surfing? It’s sort of an aggressive treatment technique which relies on taking action based on where a CGM trend is headed so you can try to stop a big spike or big drop before it gets too bad. The digital versions of the book are only about $7 and I learned some useful tips from reading it 
Thank you so much for your reply! I have never heard of sugar surfing…very interested and will definitely read book! I am always reading anything I can to help myself!
I would also be chicken to try and outsmart my sensor! I guess old age is clicking in!!!
Hello, @Tbjones! And welcome! 
I’m just a few months into my new life with Dexcom, too. I’m a recovering Medtronic user. 
I also got frequent dropped signals but am learning not all dropped signals are equal. Do you get yours consistently throughout the sensor’s life? For how long do they occur? And are you using the t:slim as well, or are you MDI?
Welcome to FUD! We would all feel better if we were able to maintain a steady line in a healthy range. Unfortunately, for most people this is achievable, but you will either need to learn some advanced Jedi insulin tricks using the information your CGM provides or use up a lot of blood sugar strips. The other way is to reduce your carbs to a point that lines up with your insulin dosing skills.
Really glad you started posting!
Just as an aside, I am fine with it, but some people may bristle at the use of “brittle”, it is kind of an old description that some people believe was used by doctors to describe folks that could never control their diabetes.
Thanks Chris! To be honest I do not eat many carbs…no white, only complex. I have a spinal cord injury and suffer great pain. I have noticed this causes my sugar to go up as well as stress. Thanks also for the update on brittle. Sorry if I upset anyone but that is all I have ever heard!
I have really enjoyed reading and connecting with people that can relate. I am learning and that is a positive!!!
Hi Theresa, welcome to the forum! And congratulations on your 53 years, you are an inspiration!
There are many here already on the G6, who I am sure can help you. We are still on the G5 
But I still wanted to welcome you!!!
Hi Nicky…all I am using is the G6. I am not on an insulin pump. I use Toujeo as my long acting insulin.
My sensor loss signals were coming often. One says wait up to 30 minutes and the other says 3 hours. Tech support has helped me a lot and taught me some tricks. Usually the signal returns and if not I call and they have me change sensor. I am really excited because my current sensor has not lost signal and I am almost 3 days in.
Thank you for responding and I have enjoyed reading your post!
Thank you so much! Very Blessed!!! I don’t really know the difference but I love the G6. Very easy so far and hopefully they work out glitches!
@Tbjones, you were talking about your spikes. Do you pre-bolus ahead of your meals?
I’ve been called “brittle” for 14 of my 15 years as a diabetic. I can’t help but notice there’s been less mention of it with a better A1c and better control. I believe, in my case, it was easier just to hand me a label my doctors and I use in place of really understanding what was going on, but I’m not sure it’s that simple for everyone. Either I was never brittle in the first place, or I’ve learned such good strategies that there’s just no reason to use the word, but whatever it is, it’s nice to have dropped it.
Not coincidence, by the way, that it was shortly after joining FUD that I heard that last mention.
Or maybe complete coincidence.
Welcome @Tbjones, from another 50+ year T1D. I’ve been using Dexcom G4 for many years, but this week, just started G6.
You will learn a lot, just by watching the trends, and see how food, exercise AND many other things impact bg (stress, illness, hormones, emotions, etc.).
I found the Sugar Surfing book to be very helpful. There is also website, same name, with much of same info in book if you want a preview.
@Tbjones, this may be a good thread to start on how to get a flatter line:
Welcome @Tbjones!! I also use Dexcom, but am still using the older G5.
I’ve also been told this by Dexcom tech and my sensors also rarely make it longer than 10 days. I do not have the signal drops that you experience though. I always wear my sensor on my abdomen, rotating each one whereever I can find the most fatty tissue.
As several already mentioned (@glitzabetes etc) , Dexcom makes Sugar Surfing a realistic reality for T1s, a huge step forward for BG management!! I have been doing this even before on MDI, before I heard of the term, but w/ a pump (I use Omnipod) it is much easier.
I’m glad to hear your Dexcom is working now w/out the signal loss. Good luck. 
I have tried both ways… before and after. I have not figured out which is better yet. I was once told to try after since I am older that my food does not process as fast. When doing this my sugar goes high before insulin kicks in. I will continue to experiment by watching graphs closely.
I am curious after so much reading if anyone is using Toujeo. I am also interested to know the difference in Novolog vs Humolog.
Hi @Tbjones,
I think its great you are now using Dexcom - I am confident you will get it to work well and help you.
My 3yo daughter uses G6 and we think it is great.
30mins usually means your receiver or phone is too far away.
3 hours means the system has a different problem.
In my experience when this message comes I usually get my daughter to wear her phone on her waist and it recovers quite quickly (maybe 15mins). Occasionally it takes longer. I dont recall it going passed 3 hours.
Getting started it is good to look at your personal Dexcom webpage - it shows some very helpful information without you doing anything. I attached a screenshot showing an example.
Go to https://clarity.dexcom.com and setup or login. If you need help doing this just reply
Ed
Thank you!!!
We’ve used both humalog and novolog. Ten years with humalog for MDI (manual daily injections). It worked fine! But it didn’t work when EH switched to the pump - he never made it to the third day with humalog in the omnipod. @Eric suggested Novolog and that has been much more successful in the pump.
As far as pharmacological differences I’m not really sure about that.
As a counterpoint, we have great success with Humalog in a cartridge for 4-6 days. It usually isn’t the insulin that is the problem for us, it is the site, which is why we change sites every 2 days.