Anyone experiencing adhesive issues with G7 sensors? A number of weeks ago, I started having issues with the sensor not staying on. Typically it didn’t start being a problem till around day 8 or 9 (10 day sensor) so I didn’t bother reporting it.
But I put a new sensor in this morning around 9 am and by 3 pm, one side of the sensor was starting to lift. I can always feel it flapping on my upper arm followed by low blood sugar, then a “LOW” is displayed. This, when my BS is not low at all. So I filed a report online. Hopefully Dexcom will replace it as I just had one replaced a couple of months ago for a different reason.
This made me wonder why Dexcom seems to be pushing the use of the overpatch in recent months (or am I wrong?). It seems as if the overpatch was always an optional thing that had to be requested separately but now the G7 comes with an overpatch in each box. Is that because Dexcom knows they are now necessary for G7s?
I used to have a lot of difficulty removing my G7 sensors which is why I never bothered using the overpatch. The adhesive always seemed so strong. Now I use them all the time because without them, the darn thing won’t stay on.
I’m interested to know if anyone else is having this issue and wondering if Dexcom has messed with the adhesive materials.
@funk We tend to think that our personal experience is widespread. It may be or may not. Perhaps something is changed that you haven’t thought of. Something like a change in skin care or bath soap. Or it could be some change in your skin.
I don’t have any issues with G7 adhesive except that I have to pre treat with a medical adhesive remover 5 minutes before removal.
Where I have failures is with a different medical appliance, a urostomy pouch. These are held in place by a fairly large adhesive area. There is a problem that is not common to CGM sensors. Urine can leak past the barrier ring causing failure.
My current procedure has been working well. I have always used a barrier spray and still do. What I do now is after the spray has dried I swab the whole area with Skin Tac. I let it dry before applying the pouch.
I did have a problem with G6 occasionally falling off and began using Skin Tac at that time. It has not been necessary for G7. Considering how difficult the G7 is for me to remove - I hate to think what it would be like with Skin Tac
I haven’t changed body soap at all. For the first couple of years I used the G7, I had a heck of a time removing the sensor every 10 days. And it was quite painful too!
I also had to use skintac when I was on the G6 and was delighted when it was no longer necessary with the switch to G7. I think I will start using it again now.
That suggests Dexcom may have changed the adhesive recently. I don’t think we have any way of knowing. Adhesive issues (not staying on but allergic reactions) have always been a big deal here, perhaps because so many of us have the autoimmune diabetes.
The other thing that happened on the West Coast (of the US) a “number of weeks ago” is that we went in to summer; that’s always a big deal for me (but I’m at the south of Oregon, 400 miles south of you). I’ve been sweating like a pig every day for the last two weeks but, so far, that hasn’t discombobulated either my G7 (where I use extreme measures) or my Omnipod (where I just whack it on).
Omnipod: clean skin with 95% ethanol spray, whack it on. That’s been working just fine so far, despite the sweat. Next step if it lobbed off would be SkinTac but if that doesn’t work I have the overpatches too
G7: I always use an overpatch but certainly not the one they supply. Looks so much like a bandaid I have to assume Dexcom is sponsored. 95% ethanol first, SkinTac second, then the G7; eyeball it all the way (because of all the recent problems), check for the gooseneck. Then I apply the overpatch (I’ve posted the link before so I would do double duty on the Ad since I’m not being paid).
I’m like you; I don’t have any problem removing it. I just rip it off, I don’t even yell. I’ve never tried the “no overpatch” approach; too much money if it goes wrong. However I admit, at this moment, I’m considering it; the G7 has so many other failures and adhesion is not one that has I think every affected me, so why should I dance the SkinTac dance?
We have only had a couple of really hot days here otherwise our weather has been warm but mild (by far the mildest summer since I moved up here 6 years ago).
I do not like the Dexcom overpatch at all as I find the material quite flimsy, especially after it has been on for a few days. I’d be interested in knowing what kind of overpatch you use, if you are willing to share.
It seems from several comments that people are generally using a lot more stuff to keep their G7s in place than I am. Until I was forced to recently, I never used anything else at all - no overpatches and no glue. Just the sensor… Sounds as if my luck has just run out.
It’s interesting that you mentioned this issue as I too have noticed with the last few sensors that they seem to start to peel off which has never happened previously. I do wear the Dexcom supplied over patch which does stick on, but quite honestly you sometimes have to be a contortionist to get that patch on to the site just right. What I see now is that if the over patch doesn’t completely go around the sensor patch, and there is some skin exposed between the sensor and Dexcom over patch, the sensor does peel away. This never happened previously when the sensor patch wasn’t completely covered by over patch. During last sensor wear, I had to use tape last few day over area. That’s the first time I had to do that. With my current sensor, I was extremely careful in placing the over patch on so I hope it all stays put. I do think you need that over patch. I don’t think my sensor would stay on for the 10 days without it.
Ha Ha!! yes that is so true. I can’t do it without looking in a mirror. It would be easier if you could wear it elsewhere on your body. The back of the upper arm is truly a challenge!! Once I did try wearing the G7 on my stomach despite knowing it is not approved for that. Any my readings were so wonky, I never tried it again.
I just ordered a pack of overpatches from Dexcom but am going to shop around for others. I actually had a huge supply of G7 overpatches as I never needed them. But I gave them all away a few months ago to someone who also wears G7 and was having a heck of a time getting them to stay on.
I had thought a few months ago that Dexcom had changed the adhesive because I had an allergic reaction again. But now I think it was caused by a contaminant. They have quality control problems.
I use a 4x4 inch Tegaderm overpatch, and have not sweated off or torn off a Dexcom since I started doing that.
@Randy You may want to see the episode of Diabetech I watched this morning, (see the G8 discussion here on FUD for the link). Jack Leach mentions adhesive formulation changes, the cause of adhesive failures, and quality control issues. He naturally minimizes the impacts, but admits to them.
Thanks Tom, I will look it up. If most people are using supplemental adhesive aids to ensure the sensor stays in place, they may not notice any difference if a change has been made to the sensor adhesive. But I have not used anything else at all so I did notice a change in adhesive performance.
@funk, I cut a 4 inch piece from a 4 inch roll of clear Tegaderm. It covers the sensor completely but does not interfere with communication with my Tandem TSlim pump and various phones I have used. It may show in a sleeveless shirt but I don’t care since people see the sensor anyway.
