# Dexcom world records **URL:** \ **Category:** C/GM\ **Created:** [May 22, 2017, 5:39am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005 "2017-05-22T05:39:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/42 "2017-08-18T18:24:14Z")
> [@Jen](#): > > I find stable blood sugars are a big one for me. The more stable I’m able to keep my blood sugar, the longer the sensor seems to last. That is a really interesting finding, and not one I have heard before. I will have to noodle this for a bit. I wonder if average glucose has an effect. I may have to look through our Clarity history to see if that had an effect. ---
**Author:** ![Jen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jen/32/4777_2.png) [@Jen](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/43 "2017-08-18T18:29:43Z")
> [@Beacher](#): > > Then I put on my new Flexifix. A week and a half later and it still looks like I just put it on. Hypafix, meet Garbage Can. I’ve also been using Hypafix and just put on Flexifix for the first time. It’s SO much better. I’ll still use Hypafix for my infusion sets (the adhesive on the sets does not stick to my skin well, so they’re prone to just falling out without extra tape), but I’ll definitely be sticking with Flexifix from now on for my Dexcom sensors. ---
**Author:** ![Thomas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/thomas/32/1719_2.png) [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/44 "2017-08-18T18:39:07Z")
I would disagree. Maybe with some people - I just can’t see it for us. If the sticky on the sensor starts getting lose, we use the 4" Opsite Flexifix. But how long the sensor lasts also does not appear to be related as to when (or if) we use the Opsite Flexifix. The only downside to the Flexifix is getting the stuff off. It is just not worth it if we think we only have a day or two left. Just yank the sensor (easily) and be done with it. Even with Unisolve the stuff (Flexifix) is a bear to get off. It certainly holds ?anything? firmly in place !!! ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/45 "2017-08-18T18:43:42Z")
Ditto. There are zero disturbances for Liam’s sensor site…not even slight ones. But as always, YDMV! We use skin tac (everywhere except the insertion site…around about the size of a quarter.) After the sensor is laid down, we also lay a full sheet of tegaderm around the site (with a hole removed for the sensor/transmitter to poke through.) > [@Thomas](#): > > The only downside to the Flexifix is getting the stuff off. Unisolve makes it VERY easy to remove. We use the liquid version, apply to cotton balls and it is every easy to remove everything, even from a toddler’s skin who is very soft. We also use flexifix for Liam’s Omnipod when it’s around the buttocks area. Our flexifix comes off very easily (as long as you apply the unisolve/cotton ball under the tape…not on top of it.) ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/46 "2017-08-18T18:48:54Z")
> [@cardamom](#): > > I wasn’t suggesting that it was a single instance of a site being disturbed but rather that greater friction and more mild disturbances (that themselves don’t kill it) might cumulatively age the sensor faster. > [@Thomas](#): > > I would disagree. Maybe with some people - I just can’t see it for us. For our case, I tend to agree w @cardamom, although I am now wondering about @Jen’s hypothesis, which is now making me think, like @Chris, that I should go back on Clarity and see what happened in the past. So, after reading everyone’s feedback, I feel that different causes may be present for different people and circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/47 "2017-08-18T18:51:39Z")
When I read @Jen’s post it also got me thinking of that angle. I’ve never considered whether or not consistency in results may or may not help the longevity of these devices. This angle is definitely worth testing! ---
**Author:** ![Jen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jen/32/4777_2.png) [@Jen](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/48 "2017-08-18T18:55:07Z")
> [@Thomas](#): > > We do have a whole lot of autoimmune going on. At least four conditions. Maybe it is related. The weird part for me is that I have two to three autoimmune conditions and about five allergic conditions, so my immune system is pretty hyped up and my body reacts badly to many things. Yet the sensor still manages to last a month or more (for which I am grateful!). I do notice that irritation causes pump sites and CGM sites to die, though. I’m allergic to Skin Tac and if I put some on top of tape (it soaks trhough) without any barrier cream (Cavilon) underneath, the CGM almost always dies within the next 24 hours, I think likely from the immune response. I’ve found a combination of Cavilon cream, Benadryl cream, and steroid cream help keep things calm (though some of these literally disolve the adhesives on tape, so require more Skin Tac and tape when used). ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/49 "2017-08-18T19:01:53Z")
Jen, Have you tried the small tegaderm under the sensor so that the sensor glue never touches your skin. We don’t do it, but I have heard it works well for those with skin issues. ---
**Author:** ![Jen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jen/32/4777_2.png) [@Jen](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/50 "2017-08-18T19:05:19Z")
I haven’t tried this, but the Cavilon cream is a barrier cream that I put under the site (and let it dry/absorb before inserting the sensor). I found my skin didn’t like Tegaderm, but so far I haven’t noticed issues with Flexifix (I’ve been using it for less than 24 hours, though). ---
**Author:** ![cardamom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/cardamom/32/2622_2.png) [@cardamom](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/cardamom)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/51 "2017-08-18T19:20:25Z")
Yeah, I have a pretty hyperreactive immune system as well, but it doesn’t seem to be causing a problem with sensors for me. I wouldn’t be surprised if it might for some people though, or if other body chemistry factors might come into play. It does seem like there aren’t any kids getting really long sensor life, so age could somehow be a factor, perhaps via a physiological mechanism. I also wonder how sensor life correlates to overall sensor accuracy, which seems super variable too—I seem to generally have longer sensor life than a lot of folks, but I also find my sensors to be very reliable from the get-go. After the first day or so, it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference if I calibrate on time, and it stays reliable even with a calibration rate of closer to 1x a day than 2, and my Clarity 90-day averages are always spot-on with my A1c. I do have a connective tissue disorder that causes a lot of things to work differently for me (usually in very frustrating/painful ways)—I wonder if a silver lining might be improved Dexcom results somehow? ---
**Author:** ![Millz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/millz/32/12204_2.png) [@Millz](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Millz)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005/52 "2017-08-20T00:00:28Z")
I use Tegaderm under my sensor and under my pump/POD. My sensors stay on for 3-4 weeks and the plus for me is there is zero skin irritation from the sensors. I’ve had minor irritations from the POD insertion sites but expect that is from the 3 days of insulin delivery. [Previous page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/dexcom-world-records/1005.md?page=2)