beating my old sensor record, 35 days and counting... Options

[Liz]

35 days and this is a great thing for you as a diabetic? You must be a very young diabetic, hence the somewhat normal body reaction to fend off anything not from your body in the first place. I'm lucky to keep mine in for 3 days. After that I fight off infection. This too, even with the tightest control will happen to you the older you get with diabetes. The good news for you to look forward too, is a well written letter from my Endo gets all my sensors paid for from your ins company, me being a brittle type one. I have no idea just how on earth you manage to keep that in so long, without bumping, etc amazing and great work.

While I'm not as old as some people here, I'm also not too young. Definitely not very young in either age or time with diabetes. When I was first trained on the sensors my CDE told me to leave them in for a week and told me how to restart them. I have told her that I leave them in longer and she's not concerned. I do change my infusion set every 3 days. I change my reservoir only as needed, as a full reservoir lasts longer than 3 days. I've been pumping for about 6 1/2 years and using CGMS for a little over 3 years and I have yet to get an infection from either a sensor or set.

As someone else pointed out, the sensors are approved for 6 days use everywhere except the United States. Minimed is supposedly working with the FDA to get that approved here as well.

Many of us find that the two hour warmup period Minimed says the sensor needs to get "wet" really isn't enough and if we try to start them up right away the readings aren't correct. A lot of us will let the sensor get wet overnight or all day. I find that I need a minimum of 6 hours before I do the first calibration. Otherwise my readings go up and down for no reason. So there's no way I'll spend half the day with bad readings and then change it all out again 2 1/ days later when it tells me Sensor End. My insurance does cover the sensors but I've always extended the life simply because they were more accurate after the first day.

[JohnG]

Interesting and I'm the only one that follows these steps? Of course I follow them only because of possible infection. I read on this forum that most diabetics follow strict regiments with diet control, etc yet run wild with leaving a foreign body in your already compromised immune system.

I would have to agree with others, I wait 6 to 10 hours before starting a new sensor. If I start the sensor as directed it is useless
for the first day and some really don’t stabilize good during the first 72 hrs. I just wear them for a week but many of them would
run for a second week...I just change them every week because it’s covenant.

I have never had a infection from a sensor or infusion set, sometimes the paper tape I use will cause some irritation but it’s
insignificant. I’m 58 and started using the sensor 3+ years ago.

My immune system works great...I’m a diabetic because it attacked and destroyed my ability to produce insulin.

[Liz]

My immune system works great...I’m a diabetic because it attacked and destroyed my ability to produce insulin.

This is how I feel. Although I suppose if my immune system works so great (it got my thyroid, too!) in theory it might attack my infusion sets & sensors with a vengeance as well. It doesn't, though. While I do change my sets every 3 days there are times I've forgotten and gone 4 days and there's no problems. I also don't get sick very often, a couple of colds each year and that's it.

[JohnG]

This is how I feel. Although I suppose if my immune system works so great (it got my thyroid, too!) in theory it might attack my infusion sets & sensors with a vengeance as well. It doesn't, though. While I do change my sets every 3 days there are times I've forgotten and gone 4 days and there's no problems. I also don't get sick very often, a couple of colds each year and that's it.

It seems like the thyroid issue is more common with women. My mother is 84 and her thyroid stopped working at a young age and my wife had hers
removed last year and is still not able to get her numbers balanced. My brother and I both have the Betes and no one else in our family has it
our children are 29 to 40 years of age and none of them have the Betes...Thank God

My body rejects infusion sets one good day is all I can get out of a steel needle set and my numbers start climbing on day 3 with the plastic cannula
but it's slow and predictable, it would probably be a bigger issue if I was not using a CGM.

I can't remember the last time I had a cold or flu...have had a few sinus infections but there caused by the crappy smog we breath here in Dallas.

[Liz]

It seems like the thyroid issue is more common with women. My mother is 84 and her thyroid stopped working at a young age and my wife had hers
removed last year and is still not able to get her numbers balanced. My brother and I both have the Betes and no one else in our family has it
our children are 29 to 40 years of age and none of them have the Betes...Thank God

My body rejects infusion sets one good day is all I can get out of a steel needle set and my numbers start climbing on day 3 with the plastic cannula
but it's slow and predictable, it would probably be a bigger issue if I was not using a CGM.

I can't remember the last time I had a cold or flu...have had a few sinus infections but there caused by the crappy smog we breath here in Dallas.

Autoimmune problems overall affect women more than men. My mother was hyperthyroid and had radioactive iodine 35+ years ago. I have no idea if her problem was autoimmune. My sister was just diagnosed with Type 1 earlier this year and hypothyroidism as well. We're the only two people with diabetes in our family. I spent 24 years as the only one and we all thought it was some freak occurrence, but now that my sister has it as well I'm a little worried about what it might mean for her kids and all of our nieces & nephews.

I have no problems with the Sure-T sets and have gone 4 days with those as well.

[itsofishel]

I would have to agree with others, I wait 6 to 10 hours before starting a new sensor. If I start the sensor as directed it is useless
for the first day and some really don’t stabilize good during the first 72 hrs. I just wear them for a week but many of them would
run for a second week...I just change them every week because it’s covenant.

I have never had a infection from a sensor or infusion set, sometimes the paper tape I use will cause some irritation but it’s
insignificant. I’m 58 and started using the sensor 3+ years ago.

My immune system works great...I’m a diabetic because it attacked and destroyed my ability to produce insulin.

My endrocologist and pump trainer informs me otherwise. however, what works best for you, run with it. If you can keep a foriegn body in a diabetic compromised immune system for above and beyond recommended time period? Then do that.

I love that none of you have ever heard of infection from a sensor so it must be a completely isolated problem and or user error.

So far, I've made two topics and I'm completely taken back at the unwelcoming stance you all have taken with me, like a small click of elite diabetics of sorts. As if your offended at what I say. Here is a suggestion, if the topic doesn't apply to you, leave it for someone that does. There are millions of diabetics in the world and from the 3 of you on this small forum have diagnosed all to inform me that infection in a diabetic is rare. The tape holding down the sensor to your body, is this continuously sterile the 6-35 days you leave it? Are you people serious? And in the same breath probably measure all your food or something very extreme, but yeah leave the sensor in, if it starts to come out just MacGyver it back in place with duct tape. lol just saying...

[gigem99]

My endrocologist and pump trainer informs me otherwise. however, what works best for you, run with it. If you can keep a foriegn body in a diabetic compromised immune system for above and beyond recommended time period? Then do that.

I love that none of you have ever heard of infection from a sensor so it must be a completely isolated problem and or user error.

So far, I've made two topics and I'm completely taken back at the unwelcoming stance you all have taken with me, like a small click of elite diabetics of sorts. .....

I am truly sorry that you have not felt welcome here. I suspect you won't believe this, but we honestly do encourage debate and disagreement.

I guess the issue I had with your first post in this thread was your condescending and almost rude attitude toward Liz. That did kind of set me off, and I responded quickly. Plus, the advice you were giving was, IMHO, just plain wrong. Again, I have read messages from hundreds, if not thousands of users of the CGM, and you are honestly the first I've ever heard of that changes their sensor every three days!

And, once again, even MM recognizes that the 'recommended' time frame for the sensor to be inserted is bogus. My endo is concerned when I tell him I leave a sensor in for 3 weeks or so, but I show him where it was inserted and he just kind of shrugs.

I think it's safe to say that we are all aware of infections and the harm they can do us. Many of us do suffer from complications of diabetes - personally, I have a bit of retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and PAD. Fortunately, none of them are bad, and I give a lot of credit for that to my pump and CGM.

I noticed that you joined our forum back in May. I truly do hope you continue to post - we can all learn from disagreements - even while agreeing to disagree.

And finally, once again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/Welcome 2.gif) !!

Tom

[shel1181]

This is very interesting. When I was trained on my CGM, I remember the MM trainer asking me if I wanted to learn how to make the sensor extend beyond 3 days. She then explained that at the end of the 3 days (or shortly before), go to "Sensor" ; "Sensor Start"; "New Sensor", and within 5 minutes, it will prompt you to "Meter BG Now".

That's exactly what I just now did (sensor age = 2 days 20 hours). Since the MM trainer told me about this, there appears to be at least a tacit understanding at MM that the sensors can be extended beyond 3 days. And yes, I really believe you are the only one that "follows these steps" (changing sensor every 3 days). I'm not sure, but I think the Enlite sensors that are available in Europe can last up to 7 days.

With these (here in US & Canada), at the end of 7 days, the system will read 'Weak Signal' and the xmitter must be disconnected and re-charged. I do this on a regular basis, and again, I have never seen any sign of infection at the sensor site.

Like others here, I used to change them every 7 days...my Sunday ritual, but since I am currently uninsured, I am making them last as long as I can. I think I may be able to get at least 3 weeks out of this one.

Tom

So I'm new to CGM and I've been trying to extend the life of my sensors and keep having issues. My MM trainer showed me how to extend the life and when I start the new sensor it does not always prompt me to check my glucose right away. This morning I waited over an hour before it asked me to check my glucose.....so confusing. So when it prompted me it wasn't a good time so I waited until it would be but then realized that it had gone into a warm up mode. It does this a lot and I'm not sure why. Any thoughts? I'm beginning to think it's just me.

[gigem99]

So I'm new to CGM and I've been trying to extend the life of my sensors and keep having issues. My MM trainer showed me how to extend the life and when I start the new sensor it does not always prompt me to check my glucose right away. ...
...It does this a lot and I'm not sure why. Any thoughts? I'm beginning to think it's just me.

This is really interesting. Are you telling it to 'start new sensor' before the entire 72 hours is up? If not, that may be part of the problem.

Secondly, is the CGM communicating with the pump - i.e., do you have the 'martini glass' without a circle? I've never seen this problem. Good luck, though. Somebody else may have some other ideas.

[Arlene S.]

My endrocologist and pump trainer informs me otherwise. however, what works best for you, run with it. If you can keep a foriegn body in a diabetic compromised immune system for above and beyond recommended time period? Then do that.

I love that none of you have ever heard of infection from a sensor so it must be a completely isolated problem and or user error.

So far, I've made two topics and I'm completely taken back at the unwelcoming stance you all have taken with me, like a small click of elite diabetics of sorts. As if your offended at what I say. Here is a suggestion, if the topic doesn't apply to you, leave it for someone that does. There are millions of diabetics in the world and from the 3 of you on this small forum have diagnosed all to inform me that infection in a diabetic is rare. The tape holding down the sensor to your body, is this continuously sterile the 6-35 days you leave it? Are you people serious? And in the same breath probably measure all your food or something very extreme, but yeah leave the sensor in, if it starts to come out just MacGyver it back in place with duct tape. lol just saying...

When I started using the CGMS in 2006 insurance companies hadn't started paying for sensors and even now many people pay out-of-pocket for them. One of the first things my trainer taught me was to extend the life of my sensor. These sensors are approved for 3-day use in the US but the same sensors are approved for 7-day use elsewhere. If you want to use your sensors for 3 days, fine. But don't knock the rest of us (a lot more than 3 people here and everywhere else) and assume that we don't know what we're doing.

You asked this question: "The tape holding down the sensor to your body, is this continuously sterile the 6-35 days you leave it?" Why would you assume that one uses the same tape? First of all, after the sixth or seventh day the tape must be removed and the transmitter disconnected so it can be recharged. After it is recharged it is reconnected and retaped. Once the tape is removed it's easy to see if there is an infection.

FWIW, I have not gone more than 13 days with a sensor but if I could I would.

[Evona]

Liz ~

I'm really impressed with your sensor record. I wonder if there is any way to find out how long other people have gone with their sensor?

Reading everyone's comments gives me encouragement to see about getting the CGM system for my Revel. I got the pump last August, but since Medicare doesn't pay for it - I delayed getting the CGM. I have had the Dexcom for just over 3 years and I'm getting tired of carrying two pieces of equipment around everywhere I go. Just today I inquired about getting the CGMS and the young woman at Medtronic took down all of my 'information' and will get back to me.

Not sure why she couldn't just give me the cash price so I can think about it awhile, but if they don't call back then I will call them again next week.

Keep up the good work Liz and let us know how long your sensor lasts. My personal record with a Dexcom sensor is 38 days.

[Liz]

I'm pretty sure the cash price for the starter kit is $999 and includes the transmitter, charger & testing device. I don't know if it includes any sensors.

On a Yahoo mailing list, I vaguely remember someone saying they had gone more than two months with a Minimed sensor but I'll never be able to track that message down. I think 38 days on Dexcom is great! I don't read too many messages from Dex users who get much more than 2-3 weeks from a sensor.

Last night my transmitter timed out (7 days) and I came really close to pulling the sensor. In the end I decided I really wanted to find out how long I can go with this sensor so I did replace the transmitter and taped it all back down. Since the isig/calibration factor are both well within normal range I figured I might as well try. I am starting to get a little worried about what my site will look like. It doesn't hurt and doesn't look weird, what I can see, when I remove the tape to take the transmitter off.

[Evona]

I'm pretty sure the cash price for the starter kit is $999 and includes the transmitter, charger & testing device. I don't know if it includes any sensors.

On a Yahoo mailing list, I vaguely remember someone saying they had gone more than two months with a Minimed sensor but I'll never be able to track that message down. I think 38 days on Dexcom is great! I don't read too many messages from Dex users who get much more than 2-3 weeks from a sensor.

Last night my transmitter timed out (7 days) and I came really close to pulling the sensor. In the end I decided I really wanted to find out how long I can go with this sensor so I did replace the transmitter and taped it all back down. Since the isig/calibration factor are both well within normal range I figured I might as well try. I am starting to get a little worried about what my site will look like. It doesn't hurt and doesn't look weird, what I can see, when I remove the tape to take the transmitter off.

I need to correct my post - Only once have I gone 38 days with a Dexcom sensor. I usually get 14-20 something days from each sensor. Although I have had sensors that lasted 3 days and then up and croaked. Dexcom guarantees them for 7 days and have replaced several of them for me.

I wish I could leave an infusion set for more than 2 days. It is a PITA to have to change that often...but if I don't - then my skin drives me crazy with the itching. I thought at first it was the cannula or the adhesive, but now I think it is just my skin being "touchy". Sorry......didn't mean to hijack your thread.

In your opinion, is it hard to learn the CGM system? I had a hard enough time with the pump, I'm just hoping the CGM isn't too hard. I'm not the brightest bulb in the lamp, but not the dullest either I guess.

[Arlene S.]

I'm pretty sure the cash price for the starter kit is $999 and includes the transmitter, charger & testing device. I don't know if it includes any sensors.

On a Yahoo mailing list, I vaguely remember someone saying they had gone more than two months with a Minimed sensor but I'll never be able to track that message down. I think 38 days on Dexcom is great! I don't read too many messages from Dex users who get much more than 2-3 weeks from a sensor.

Last night my transmitter timed out (7 days) and I came really close to pulling the sensor. In the end I decided I really wanted to find out how long I can go with this sensor so I did replace the transmitter and taped it all back down. Since the isig/calibration factor are both well within normal range I figured I might as well try. I am starting to get a little worried about what my site will look like. It doesn't hurt and doesn't look weird, what I can see, when I remove the tape to take the transmitter off.

The $999 included a box of 10 sensors.

[Liz]

I need to correct my post - Only once have I gone 38 days with a Dexcom sensor. I usually get 14-20 something days from each sensor. Although I have had sensors that lasted 3 days and then up and croaked. Dexcom guarantees them for 7 days and have replaced several of them for me.

I wish I could leave an infusion set for more than 2 days. It is a PITA to have to change that often...but if I don't - then my skin drives me crazy with the itching. I thought at first it was the cannula or the adhesive, but now I think it is just my skin being "touchy". Sorry......didn't mean to hijack your thread.

In your opinion, is it hard to learn the CGM system? I had a hard enough time with the pump, I'm just hoping the CGM isn't too hard. I'm not the brightest bulb in the lamp, but not the dullest either I guess.

I have had very few Minimed sensors that didn't work for at least 3 days. Most of my bad sensors were early on when I first started using them. I don't really think it's too hard to learn how to use the Minimed CGMS. It might take awhile to find the best place to put them. I used my abdomen at first because I was told that's the only place they were approved for. They worked but drove me crazy. I tried my arms and usually had excellent results. It is hard inserting them in your arm by yourself. Getting the introduction needle out can be very tricky and taping it all down can get messy as well. Someone here (Linda, maybe) mentioned that she only uses her legs. I had tried my legs a few time and it didn't really work, but I tried again using the area suggested in the thread and now that's what I use most of the time. Tops of the thighs, pretty high up and not too far out to the sides. I have also used my upper butt and it worked but I found it even harder to do the insertion there than in my arms.

There are a lot of tips posted here. The keys are inserting the sensor at a deep enough angle, letting it sit & get wet long enough and taping it all down well. Since you do need a pretty big covering (most people use 4" x 4" tape of some kind), it could be a problem if you have sensitive skin. The nice thing is you can use any tape that works for you so you're not tied to a specific product. I prefer Hypafix.

[Evona]

Thanks for your thoughts Liz and for the tip on taping it down. My skin is quite sensitive (why I don't know) and I do prefer Hypafix as it causes lot less bruising than other tapes.

Your 'record' sensor still going strong? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Liz]

Thanks for your thoughts Liz and for the tip on taping it down. My skin is quite sensitive (why I don't know) and I do prefer Hypafix as it causes lot less bruising than other tapes.

Your 'record' sensor still going strong? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Yes. It's on day 44, I think. If it still works on Monday, when I'll have to change the transmitter, I do think I'll pull it. It's on my left leg and since I have to keep the pump close to it, I've also been using my left side for infusion sets and I want to give it a break.

[Evona]

Liz, you're amazing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I hope your sensor makes it to Monday.

[itsofishel]

I am truly sorry that you have not felt welcome here. I suspect you won't believe this, but we honestly do encourage debate and disagreement.

I guess the issue I had with your first post in this thread was your condescending and almost rude attitude toward Liz. That did kind of set me off, and I responded quickly. Plus, the advice you were giving was, IMHO, just plain wrong. Again, I have read messages from hundreds, if not thousands of users of the CGM, and you are honestly the first I've ever heard of that changes their sensor every three days!

And, once again, even MM recognizes that the 'recommended' time frame for the sensor to be inserted is bogus. My endo is concerned when I tell him I leave a sensor in for 3 weeks or so, but I show him where it was inserted and he just kind of shrugs.

I think it's safe to say that we are all aware of infections and the harm they can do us. Many of us do suffer from complications of diabetes - personally, I have a bit of retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and PAD. Fortunately, none of them are bad, and I give a lot of credit for that to my pump and CGM.

I noticed that you joined our forum back in May. I truly do hope you continue to post - we can all learn from disagreements - even while agreeing to disagree.

And finally, once again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/Welcome 2.gif) !!

Tom

Hey Tom,

I have to say, I'm amazed you got this impression of me based off of text words in a white box. Just like you saying sorry then in the next paragraph, explain what an ass I am. My very first post on this subject started "35 days are you serious?" What did you get out of that to indicate my rude intentions?

The start off, my first post to this topic was asking a fellow diabetic how it is that they can keep a foreign body in their system for way too long and expect me to get excited. I know nothing about this person other than keeping this sensor in for 35 plus days now. Does this person, test sugars several times a day in addition to the sensor? Does this person take food intake, counting, fat and carbs seriously? Does this person follow a good daily exercise regiment? And of course this persons A1C is something like 6%? If yes to any or all then I have to ask why be so blatantly misguided with these sensors? It flies in the face of a good diabetic.

"Hey everyone, I have used the same needle for 35 times now to inject insulin." That doesn't make sense does it?

So Tom, as the moderator of this forum, you find it best to clamp down on a person who you feel is being rude? You don't know me, yet you say you know Liz. Was that at the potluck?

I've made my point, sorry it isn't warm and fuzzy, I just was so amazed of lack of respect for ones own body. Sure I get it, the sensors are expensive, but 35 days? Just think if an infection was so rooted in this persons system that a week in the hospital on an antibiotic drip would probably cost more than the money saved. Oh and Tom has read hundreds of posts and has never heard of infection so I'm "wrong". It's not about right or wrong Tom it's about common sense.

This has taught me a valuable lesson. Keep my mouth shout and stop looking for answers on forums.

[itsofishel]

When I started using the CGMS in 2006 insurance companies hadn't started paying for sensors and even now many people pay out-of-pocket for them. One of the first things my trainer taught me was to extend the life of my sensor. These sensors are approved for 3-day use in the US but the same sensors are approved for 7-day use elsewhere. If you want to use your sensors for 3 days, fine. But don't knock the rest of us (a lot more than 3 people here and everywhere else) and assume that we don't know what we're doing.

You asked this question: "The tape holding down the sensor to your body, is this continuously sterile the 6-35 days you leave it?" Why would you assume that one uses the same tape? First of all, after the sixth or seventh day the tape must be removed and the transmitter disconnected so it can be recharged. After it is recharged it is reconnected and retaped. Once the tape is removed it's easy to see if there is an infection.

FWIW, I have not gone more than 13 days with a sensor but if I could I would.

Why would you assume I meant one taping? When you change your film cover over your sensor and recharge the transmitter, are you completely sterile. Absolutely no bacteria can get in, on, or under? You do realize that diabetics have a weaker resistance to bacteria causing infections? Knowing this if you could would you?