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I love my CGM, but it has taken me a while to learn how to wear it all the time without irritation or itching, and without the adhesive tape falling off after a few days.
These CGM tips and tricks are based on my experience with the Dexcom G6, Dexcom G7, and FreeStyle Libre 2, but they should work for any CGM brand and model on the market.
How to find the right CGM placement for you
I’ve found that where I place the sensor has the largest impact on my overall comfort Where I place the CGM sensor has the largest impact on my overall comfort level, so it’s one of my most important CGM tips.
I prefer to place the Dexcom G6 and FreeStyle Libre 2 on my lower back or the back of my upper arms (the triceps), whereas I find the Dexcom G7 to work best for me on the stomach or upper thigh. This is where there’s the least chance of me bumping into something and tearing it off.
In this video, you can see some different places where you can wear the Dexcom G7.
On my lower back, I’ve found that I need to place it just above my belt/pants. If I place it below my belt, there’s a greater chance of me pulling it off whenever I wear jeans, and I find it uncomfortable to have my pants pushing on the sensor.
I also want to keep the sensor away from places where I bend. I attach it horizontally to minimize the chance of it getting in the way when I move around.
Placing the sensor optimally can be challenging and some sites I just can’t reach on my own, so Tobias will sometimes lend a helping hand.
And then there are some sites that just scare me, so I haven’t built up the nerve to try them yet (I’ve seen folks wear them on their calves!!).
How to make the CGM stay on
Making your CGM stay on for the duration of the sensor’s lifetime can be a problem, but there are tricks you can use to help keep your CGM on.
Use Skin Grip overlay tapes
Regular overlay tape, and especially the one Dexcom sends out, can make my skin irritated when the weather is really warm or I’m doing a lot of cardio.
This is my arm after just 3 days of using the Dexcom overlay tape. It’s almost like a burn and I could still see it after 3 months!
I find fabric patches like Skin Grip much more usable. They were originally designed with an active lifestyle in mind, and they really do the job! This is one of my top CGM tips for summer.
They keep the sensor in place for weeks without irritating my skin at all. Since the texture of the patch is more like a big bandage than plastic, it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing a patch and I forget about it pretty quickly.
Skin Grip comes in many different colors and designs, as well as a see-through tape that is barely visible.
If you, like me, are into colorful patches, their products are for you. You can use code DIABETESSTRONG for 10% off on the Skin Grib website.
Other overlay tape options
I prefer the Skin Grip overlay tapes, but there are many other options to choose from:
- Griff Grip has patches in a lot of crazy shapes and colors (how about a patch shaped like a T-Rex?) This makes them ideal for kids and people who like to accessorize their CGM.
- ExpressionMed also makes patches in a lot of different designs (including a Taylor Swift collection). Their patches are printed on material that feels more like paper than sports tape, which I am not a fan of, but they are still a solid option.
- Pump Peelz are similar to ExpressionMed in fabric, but their designs are a bit more “mature” than Griff Grip and ExpressionMed. I have used them and liked them, but they don’t last as long as Skin Grips.
Use Skin-Tac™ Adhesive Wipes to add extra adhesive to the sensor
If you find that your CGM falls off very quickly, Skin-Tac could be the solution for you.
It’s basically body glue that you apply to your skin and allow to dry before attaching the sensor. It makes the skin super sticky and acts as an extra adhesive.
I’ve never liked it too much since I’d get glue all over the place, but I know plenty from the diabetes community who love it.
Some also add Skin-Tac if the sensor starts coming off after a few days. Just add a little adhesive under the edge and reattach it that way.
Again, this method doesn’t work very well for me, maybe because it’s pretty hard to clean the area where the sensor has come loose.
It’s somewhat challenging to get off (from the area where you applied it and your hands), so I recommend using adhesive remover wipes to get the adhesive off.
Kim
After reading this post I decided to try the Medtronic sensor on my calf. I really liked the placement, it didn’t get in the way of clothing or snag on anything. However, the readings were terrible! I have never had so many weak signal alarms or lost sensor. For the most part this seemed to happen in the middle of the night. I will be going to back to wearing the sensor on the side of my upper arm.
Linda Devereux
I started using grifgrips(buy a roll and cut it to fit in circle or square) and it completely covers the Medtronic CGM. Since I started doing this and placing it on the back of my arm, with assistance from my husband, I have liked the CGM so much better. I like not visually seeing the sensor and the grifgrips doesn’t start ruffling at the edges til day 5-6.
Jadeen
I’ve always wondered if the Skin-Tac would work! I used to use it when I had an Omnipod, but my endo warned against using it with the Dexcom because the solution could coat the sensors as they pierce the skin and give you false readings. I’m happy to hear that other folks aren’t actually experiencing this issue!
A tip for the skin irritation: squirt some Flonase onto the area (after swabbing, of course) and let dry before inserting your sensor. As an anti-inflammatory, it’ll reduce your skin’s reaction to the adhesive. I’m highly allergic to adhesives and this has worked wonderfully for me!
I, too, have a huge issue with my sensor staying on so I’ve gotten a little creative with the overlay tape. Not only do I cut (manually, which is ragged…so excited to check out this tag punch!) a hole in the tape and apply it, but I also cut a second piece into four strips that I adhere to the sides (not over the top) of the sensor and onto my body. I’ve had a lot of success with this method, even through some pretty gnarly sweat sessions, water activities, and accidental jean snags.
Eric
Skin-Tac is great but it WILL interfere with your sensor readings. You need to leave a little circle clean where the sensor needle goes. It helps to draw a circle on your skin with a pen first.
Diana
Hi! I use a freestyle libra and find really hard to keep it after a few days (it should stay 14 days, they say). I use the skin-tac wipes but it doesn’t really solve the problem. I had times where I bumped my arm against something and the sensor came off and it was really painful!
I’ve tried a few skin adhesives and it just made my skin really irritated :/ I never heard about GrifGrips, I saw they are made for the Dexcom…I was wondering if you know anything that I can use like that but for the libra?
Thank you 🙂 xx
Diana
Tobias Oerum
Hi Diana,
Christel is at the gym right now, so I will try to answer 😀 . GrifGrips lists the Abbott Freestyle Libre as one of the products they support, so GrifGrips should work for you. You just need the right size and design (it’s confusing on their website). I would suggest you contact GrifGrip directly and ask for advice.
– Tobias
Tim Meloy
Interresting piece on site placement. It was my understanding however that at least with the Dexcom CGM, the abdomen was the only FDA approved site ? Thanks!
Jadeen
It is, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work in other places. We only have so much real estate on our bodies for insertions!
Emily
These are great. We’ve done all of these except for the GrifGrips with my ten year old son. It sounds like I really need to try it.
Funny how much of a game changer getting the little tag punch has been–makes it so much easier. Before the tag punch, I sometimes would just cut short strips and put it around the sensor. (I saw that tip in a YouTube video from the Living Vertical guy).
My son is a competitive wrestler so placement is a really big deal for him. During wrestling season he only wears his sensor on his upper buttocks. Unfortunately he has knocked it off a few times, but he’s so lean and muscular that we’ve never tried a sensor, infusion site or even injection in his lower back or stomach. We use the back of the arm for his sensor during the off season to give his poor bum a break.
Great post! Thanks!
Lucy
Mastisol is stickier but doesn’t smell as nice. When showering, if you have the sensor on your side, turn it away from the shower spray so it isn’t getting directly hit with water.
Christel Oerum
Hopefully the Mastisol smell goes away? I have found that when showering my CGM readings are a little weird. Will try your tip of not having the shower spray hit it directly. Thanks
Paul
We use vet wrap which is used on horses, dogs etc
Christel Oerum
Hi Paul, can you add a link please, so we can check it out?
Michelle F
Thank you for this post! I hadn’t heard of GrifGrips before- excited to try them out as an alternative to Opsite Flexifix!
Christel Oerum
Glad to help 🙂 The GrifGrips are definitely another experience than the Opsite Flexifix. If they were see-through that’s all I would ever use
Annalisa Siracusa-Hilmo
GREAT ADVICE!!! Thank you!
Christel Oerum
Thanks