Silly question: does the dexcom g7 have different overpatches? I’m assuming yes. I’m thinking of switching soonish, and since the overpatches take a few weeks to get to me, I’d thought I’d check…
Thanks!
Edit: each sensor comes with an overpatch.
Honestly, I look up to people who can wear these devices with no overpatch.
Dexcom doesn’t make anything like the Omnipod “pod pals”. ExpressionMed stays on me with SkinTac. Skin Grip makes tape rolls. Cut to size to use. Highly versatile and more cost effective for me.
I got the advice to wipe the skintac in a circle, leaving a hole in the center where you inject your canula. Also learned that if there is any curling up during the 10 days, you can use skintac again to stick it down. The brush-on application from a bottle is more cost effective than the individual packages. Unisolve to remove and baby oil for sticker residue on skin. Since I can’t carry Unisolve, I carry single pack adhesive remover pads. Good luck.
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For Dexcom G7, there is an overpatch included with each sensor.
For G6, patches can be ordered for free, using form on dexcom website.
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I have to use skintac. I understand that one needs to wait a few seconds for it to dry a little to get its stickiest. I hate that I have to spend so much money on overpatches.
I know this has been posted before, but I’ll throw it here, too: for Dexcom adhesive + overpatch adhesives, I clean my skin with rubbing alcohol first and let it dry. Then place Dexcom and/or overpatch and I have good luck in getting them to stay secured longer (the rubbing alcohol preps your skin well for the adhesive).
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That’s what we do as well with the G6. Works great for us but we realize YDMV.
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I sweat a lot, and am active doing yardwork and stuff. So I clean the oils off my skin the way @JessicaD does. Then have to use 3M Tegaderm over the G6, so I bought a 4 inch roll and whack off about 3 inches at a time. Covers everything including the 3M hydrocolloidal patch between my skin and the Dexcom adhesive that I am allergic to. I sometimes have to trim the black stuff off the edges after about a week. It won’t make @keshazel happy because it’s expensive.
I use smaller Tegaderm patches over my infusion sets as well, since before using them I sweated the infusion sets off regularly in summer.
I recently switched to the G7 and their overpatch doesn’t work for me. 
I was glad I found Not Just a Patch, they have patches that are specifically designed for the g7. It has been the most effective option for keeping my CGM secure.
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Let us know the source and name of the supplier, please
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The brand is Not Just a Patch. Here is the link - https://notjustapatch.com/
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Thank you
Yep, it comes with an overpatch, but a lot of people like using third-party ones for extra hold. I’ve had great luck with NJAP overpatches—they stick really well!
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I tried and was disappointed with the patches supplied by Dexcom. I'm very pleased with Lexcam brand over patches, purchased on Amazon. They are easy to apply, cost less than a dollar a patch, and are usually delivered the next day. I've never had one fail....but an important factor is that I also apply a thin coat of liquid adhesive on my skin before inserting the Dexcom sensor and applying the over patch. A four-ounce bottle of Skin-Tac liquid adhesive can be obtained on Amazon for about $15 and lasts for several years.
On a related note, I also apply the liquid adhesive over and around a newly inserted cannula followed by a band aid size patch of film adhesive over the top. (A 50 piece supply of "Transparent Film Adhesive Bandages"....also Amazon) I've rarely had any problem keeping CGMs and cannulas in place, despite being subjected to frequent soaking in a hot tub.
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@RGS5790 Welcome to the group! Glad you found something that seems to work for you! A recommendation: if you have hairy arms, like the person in Amazon’s video, try shaving the hair first for better adhesion (and possibly less “hair holes”). I can’t imagine trying to take those off without pulling each of the hairs with it…of course I may be a wimp.
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One of the odd diabetic complications is the loss of body hair. While I never had much it is pretty scarce now. This was not the result of Chemo. I’ve been noticing it for several years. My arms are nearly bald.
My issue with both the G7 sensor and the overpatch is that they aare very hard to remove without damaging my old thin skin. I haven’t had external bleeding but get some beautiful purpuras.
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@CarlosLuis I can appreciate everything you said…EXCEPT what the heck is “perupruas”? I find myself Googling a lot anymore and this didn’t come up with nothin’! (Yes, I’m smiling as I say it…I can feel the bat swinging at my head…doh!)
BTW, I haven’t used over-patches since my third G7; find the little that comes stock on them plenty for everyday use, though I do take some with me on travel for just in cae use! I can imagine as I age (further) and as my skin thins out a bit more I may get some “perupruas” of my own! 
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Supposed to be purpuras spell check doesn’t like either spelling so I didn’t catch it. Those are those reddish splotches that us ancient ones get. Usually we don’t know what we did to get them, brushing against a door frame is a favorite.
I only get them on my arms where years of Texas sun has cooked the life of them.
Will edit
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