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Home » Diabetes » Diabetes Devices » How to Insert a Dexcom CGM in the Upper Arm (Without Help)

Christel OerumBy Christel Oerum on February 22, 2018, Updated March 23, 2020
Diabetes

How to Insert a Dexcom CGM in the Upper Arm (Without Help)

If you are a regular reader of Diabetes Strong, you probably noticed that I often wear my Dexcom CGM on my upper arm. It’s one of my favorite places to wear the CGM but it can be a little tricky to insert it without help until you learn the technique.

Since a lot of you have been asking how I do it, let me show you in this short video:

 

As you can see, it really isn’t that difficult, but I still recommend havening someone around to help the first time you try it.

Why I wear my Dexcom CGM on the upper arm

My upper arm is one of my favorite CGM placements for several reasons.

  1. It’s a meatier part of my body, so there’s absolutely no pain when inserting the sensor
  2. I’ve found that this placement, for me, is where I have the least risk of ripping off the sensor by accident
  3. I get very accurate readings.

The only downside to wearing it on the arm is that wrestling off a sweaty sports bra without getting it snagged on the sensor can be a little tricky and getting the hang of inserting it by yourself might take a little practice.

I usually wear the CGM for 7-9 days. After that, it will start irritating my skin or give inaccurate readings.

 

Why doesn’t Dexcom recommend wearing it on your arm?

The Dexcom G5 sensor is only FDA and EMA (The European Medicines Agency) approved for 7-day wear (I know people who’ll make it last 30-days or more) and only for insertion on the abdomen. The placement approval is mainly due to Dexcom only submitting clinical data for abdomen wear to the FDA and EMA rather than them finding other placements to be worse. However, wearing it like I do is off-label usage and doing so is “at own risk”.

For more CGM tips and tricks, check out my post “5 CGM Tips for the Active Diabetic”

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Categories: Diabetes

Christel Oerum

About Christel Oerum

Christel is the founder of Diabetes Strong. She is a Certified Personal Trainer specializing in diabetes. As someone living with type 1 diabetes, Christel is particularly passionate about helping others with diabetes live active healthy lives. She’s a diabetes advocate, public speaker, and author of the popular diabetes book Fit With Diabetes.

View all posts by Christel Oerum
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarNancy Anderson-Morris says

    May 12, 2020 at 2:49 pm

    On a cgm, once you receive it, what ongoing cost are there and does Medicare pay for it? We, my husband, are having to do too many test, fingers are sore and it gets expensive. Maybe cgm would be a good alternative for this type 2 diabetic??

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      May 13, 2020 at 1:16 pm

      Included in the initial costs are the receiver (warranty for a year but most use it longer), 2 transmitters (lasts 6 months), and 1-3 months of sensors. You’ll need new transmitters every 6 months and new transmitters monthly (if you get a monthly supply).

      This is according to the Dexcom website: Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System is covered by Medicare for patients who meet the Medicare coverage criteria. Medicare coverage for therapeutic CGM includes certain beneficiaries who have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and intensively manage their insulin.

      If he does not manage his diabetes with insulin you can look into the Libre Freestyle. It’s a finger stick replacement, not a CGM, but I believe the Medicare requirements for coverage are somewhat different. You’d have to look into that though

      Reply
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