{"id":52260,"date":"2020-05-15T06:50:53","date_gmt":"2020-05-15T10:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260"},"modified":"2020-05-15T11:25:41","modified_gmt":"2020-05-15T15:25:41","slug":"how-to-keep-your-cgm-sensor-stuck-for-10-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260","title":{"rendered":"How to Keep Your CGM Sensor Stuck On for 10+ Days"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>Sponsored Post<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>One of the distinct minor tragedies of life with type 1 diabetes is when you lose a perfectly good CGM sensor just because the adhesive fails. This tech is as vital as it is <em>expensive<\/em>, and to lose days of continuous glucose monitoring just because a lousy piece of tape didn\u2019t do its job is insult on top of injury.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re in the middle of a race or a multi-day camping trip, a lost sensor can change from annoying to dangerous. As ASweetLife co-founder and committed marathoner Michael Aviad told me, \u201cDuring a race, nothing scares me more than losing my CGM.\u201d That fear is not a nice companion.<\/p>\n<p>Summer is now on its way, which means sweat, not to mention swimming, sand, sunscreen, bug dope and so on, all natural enemies of sticky stuff. This is the season of failing tape, when the official adhesive begins to curl up and detach sometimes only days after application.<\/p>\n<p>So, with some help from our friends at <a href=\"https:\/\/theskingrip.com\">Skin Grip<\/a>, we\u2019ve prepared some advice on how to keep your sensor stuck on for the full 10 days (or even more).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3>Skin Prep<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The biggest mistake people make is not preparing their skin. If you just slap your sensor on willy-nilly whenever the previous one expires, you\u2019re not setting yourself up for adhesive success.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clean skin is a must. Dirt or grease, even the imperceptible amounts that accumulate over the course of a normal day, are huge no-nos.<\/li>\n<li>Clean means no oils, lotions, or moisturizers \u2013 nothing will ruin the adhesion faster.<\/li>\n<li>It should go without saying, but hair and tape do not get along well. If your preferred site isn\u2019t hairless, go ahead and trim or shave the skin.<\/li>\n<li>Use an alcohol wipe to conveniently sterilize your site. This will eliminate bacteria that can cause irritation (or even infection) under the sensor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A truly clean (and hairless) site is a good start, but to really ensure a long-lasting bond, consider using an adhesive barrier wipe. This product goes directly onto your skin, and considerably increases the strength of the bond of any regular adhesive applied on top of it. Skin Tac is a popular brand that we can recommend.<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly, your skin needs to be <strong>dry<\/strong>. If you\u2019ve used an alcohol wipe or adhesive prep, let it air dry fully before you apply the sensor.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-52266 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-sam1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Skin Grip\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-sam1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-sam1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-sam1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-sam1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-sam1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-sam1.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<h3>Site Selection<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>When you choose your sensor site, are you thinking about how secure it will stay?<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s obvious that you don\u2019t want an errant door frame to scrape the sensor straight off your body, you should also consider the little bumps and tugs that the sensor endures, and the little twists and turns your body makes that loosen the adhesive. They can add up.<\/p>\n<p>Dexcom, for example, officially recommends just one site for adults: the belly (and, for younger users, the upper buttocks). But the belly stretches and twists, and may not provide the best foundation for a secure attachment. Many CGM users prefer other locations, and have found the accuracy to be undiminished.<\/p>\n<p>We recommend the back of the arm \u2013 not just the side of the arm, but truly in the back, where it is less likely to scrape against walls and such. The thigh is another good option, right in the front of the thigh, where it won\u2019t likely bump against anything or bother you during sleep. These locations seem to provide good accuracy and also minimize the likelihood of knocks and bumps.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>\n<h3>Apply an Adhesive Patch Over the Sensor<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The final step to really guaranteeing that your sensor isn\u2019t going to go anywhere is to add an additional layer of adhesive on top.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-52265 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-Emilee-jo-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Skin Grip Emilee jo\" width=\"200\" height=\"250\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-Emilee-jo-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-Emilee-jo-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-Emilee-jo-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-Emilee-jo-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-Emilee-jo.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>There are a number of generic products that serve this purpose fairly well. We\u2019ve used both OpSite Flexfix and Tegaderm. They definitely help, but aren\u2019t ideal. Because they haven\u2019t been designed for CGM use, you have to cut them to the proper size, and then cut out a sensor-shaped hole in the middle, which can be awkward. Performance is good but not great, especially if swimming or in really sweaty conditions. The material doesn\u2019t stretch and is not breathable, and as a result they don\u2019t extend sensor attachment all that much. (They also tend to look like you slapped a rectangle of packing tape onto your body, which isn\u2019t the look that we\u2019d suggest going for.)<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the best option is <a href=\"https:\/\/theskingrip.com\">Skin Grip<\/a>, a product designed for this exact purpose.<\/p>\n<p>The Skin Grip patch is pre-cut into the correct shape \u2013 they have a different version for each of the CGM systems. It is simple to apply, is available in many colors, and it <em>looks good<\/em>. And the patch is a long-term fix. You can apply it as soon as you insert your sensor without worry that it will fail before the sensor does.<\/p>\n<p>Skin Grip is rugged but breathable, like any good outdoor equipment should be, and will hold up to 10+ days of exercise and fun. It\u2019s the best product to make sure that an unsteady sensor won\u2019t hold you back this summer.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/theskingrip.com\">Skin Grip<\/a> for more information about their products.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":437,"featured_media":52264,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1585],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.9 (Yoast SEO v22.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Keep Your CGM Sensor Stuck On for 10+ Days<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Skin Grip is rugged but breathable, like any good outdoor equipment should be, and will hold up to 10+ days of exercise and fun.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ross Wollen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260\",\"name\":\"How to Keep Your CGM Sensor Stuck On for 10+ Days\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-blue-g5.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-05-15T10:50:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-05-15T15:25:41+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#\/schema\/person\/dad5417f3e14b1fd142730c7fa616283\"},\"description\":\"Skin Grip is rugged but breathable, like any good outdoor equipment should be, and will hold up to 10+ days of exercise and fun.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-blue-g5.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Skin-Grip-blue-g5.jpg\",\"width\":1911,\"height\":1012,\"caption\":\"Skin Grip - How to Keep Your CGM Sensor Secure for 10+ Days\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52260#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Keep Your CGM Sensor Stuck On for 10+ Days\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/\",\"name\":\"ASweetLife\",\"description\":\"The Diabetes Magazine\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#\/schema\/person\/dad5417f3e14b1fd142730c7fa616283\",\"name\":\"Ross Wollen\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3baf28ef14013e66fec763fe108e4bff?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3baf28ef14013e66fec763fe108e4bff?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ross Wollen\"},\"description\":\"Ross Wollen is a chef and writer based in Maine's Midcoast region. 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