Samantha Walsh
Samantha Walsh has lived with type 1 diabetes for over five years since 2017. After her T1D diagnosis, she was eager to give back to the diabetes community. She is the Community and Partner Manager for T1D Exchange and helps to manage the Online Community and recruit for the T1D Exchange Registry. Prior to T1D Exchange, Samantha fundraised at Joslin Diabetes Center. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors degree in sociology and early childhood education.
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CGM sensors are only approved for specific areas of the body, but many people use other locations. If you use a CGM, do you have an area of your body where you feel you get the most accurate sensor readings? Select all that apply! Cancel reply
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I generally only use inner arms. I use the back of my arm and stomach on occasion. They all are quite accurate, but I find the inner arms more comfortable than the outer arm/back of arm so I don’t use outer/back of arms as often. I also will many times get a compression low on my stomach as I often sleep on my stomach so the inner arms are my favorite place to wear a CGM.
Buttocks wins hands down. –maybe not a particularly good phrase– Just make sure it’s in a really good place, like where Forrest Gump got shot.
Thanks Ahh Life!! Humor is a great answer to our every day challenge and the picture of Tom Hanks saying “I got shot in the buttocks” just lightens everything!!
I only wear my CGM on my abdomen. The one time I tried putting it on my arm, it kept getting caught on door frames.
I had to learn to walk through doorways. Ha ha.
The abdomen is the only place I wear mine, so…..
Just transitioned to G7 which is approved only for back of arms. When using the G6, I complied with the Dexcom requirement that it be on my stomach.
Stomach
I’m a rule follower so when G6 ws supposed to be worn on the abdomen that was the only place I wore it. I just got on the G7 nd it is supposed to be worn on the back of arm and that is the only place I have placed them so far. I enjoyed wearing the G6 on my abdomen because I was not concerned about it falling off or getting knocked off. So maybe I will try putting the G7 on my abdomen.
I just switched to the G7 this past Friday. So I can only really comment on previous ones.
I use the Dexcom G6 and I put the CGM away from where I’ll insert my insulin cannula. So I use exclusively my Bottocks, and occasionally my sides/obliques.
I hope to be starting the G7 in the next month or so. I look forward to using my arms. I haven’t been able to reach the back of my arms. But, if there’s a device that I can just put on my arm, and click, I should be able to do it.
The G7 requires a clear overpatch. The tape with the G7 unit itself is quite small. If you have trouble reaching that area it may be a challenge applying that overpatch.
I put my G7 on inner arm and do not use the overpatch, so much easier to put on than the G6- one handed just click and its in and no problem staying on for 10 days, I did wear overpatch for G6 but decided to try the G7 without and it’s been great.
Since I started Medicare, I’ve only used the approved spots (abdomen for G6, back of arm for G7). I’m afraid to experiment with other places in case I lose a sensor that can’t be replaced.
Dexcom will replace it.
As an Omnipod 5 user, it’s required that my Dexcom 6 and Pod are in proximity to one another so they can “talk” to one another. So I tend to use my abdomen and the center upper thigh areas for CGM, and abdomen for the Pods.
But after reading the comments, I see that nobody has discussed “compression lows” from sleeping on top of their CGM site. I tend to sleep on my sides and have found that I often get these false low alarms at night if my CGM is too close to my sides. This would include my butt, outer arms or abdomen.
Because of years using a sensor and insets it’s getting more difficult to place sensors.
Exactly! Abdomen is not practical if you also need it for pump sites.
With my Medtronic Guardian 4 Sensors I’ve only ever used my abdomen, as advised by the trainer that I saw when first starting to use it.
With using the FreeStyle Libre Sensors, inserted on the rear of my upper arms, I NEVER found them to be accurate … that was both with the initial iteration of the product and the second generation of it. They would ALMOST always give a dramatically different reading to a fingerprick test, and NEVER gave correct readings in order to prevent lost of consciousness due to very low blood glucose levels.
The back of the uper arm is what I selected. It is the only location recommended for Llibre.
I use the Dexcom G6 and the Omnipod 5. The Omnipod is a bit sensitive to “line of sight” with the Dexcom. So I place the Dex on the underside of my upper arm. (Alternating left and right) The Omnipods go on my left and right sides (abdomen) and left and right thighs. Seems to work consistently. No compression low issues either.
I was told by a former nurse educator who worked for one of the major companies that the recommended spots exist because the companies only pay for FDA testing in a few spots to save money. There are other spots (besides what is recommended) that sometimes work just as well or better. She said there was a study done elsewhere that showed the back of the arm was more accurate. Since then, that is what I use. It seems that the sensor companies are now adding this to their “approved spots.” Never admit to the company that you’re not wearing in an approved area when calling, or they could deny you service.
Yes, if you have one fail definitely tell them you are putting it where they tell you to put it. It makes no sense because the Dexcom G6 was failing not reading all the time on my abdomen where they say to put it. I think once I started using my upper arms I have had far fewer Sensor not reading errors.
Any area that has not been over used last 20 years
I always wear mine on my low back or upper buttocks to save my abdomen for infusion sites, though I do have trouble with inaccurate sites. Haven’t tried my arms because I’m afraid my kids will rip it off.
I’ve only used abdomen. When my order of G7s arrive, I’ll try back of upper arm.
For me, it’s finding a location that I can handle without assistance, that o am not likely to compress during sleep, nor tear off during daily activities.
I have no preferred area. This is not in the options list.
I use the front of my upper arms, because anyplace else I tend to knock it off.
Abdomen, however, recently I’ve noticed sensors placed closer to the midline start acting spotty around day seven. Consequently, I’m staying at least six inches away and using the obliques more often despite some mobility issues.
I define accurate reading as blood glucose. Interstitial glucose is NOT accurate. Looking into Eversense now.
I’ve been doing my thighs for years as it was to hard keeping it in my abdomen and issue with all my pump sites causing scar tissue. I have shots for 40 years in my arms so they don’t work well. The legs keep my sensor on better with no issues.
I just use my abdomen. I’m not aware that using any other place would produce more accurate readings.
I said other because I prefer my lower mid to outer thighs, but haven’t seen a difference in accuracy from abdomen. I don’t like using on my arms because I can feel the filament and it’s always uncomfortable there.
I use the Dexcom G6 on my the back of my upper arm even though it is supposed to be used on the abdomen. I have so much scar tissue on my abdomen from years of pump use that I don’t get accurate readings on my abdomen and it was failing a lot. I don’t know why they don’t recommend back of upper arms. It definitely works there way better than my scar tissue laden abdomen.
Dexcom G6-abdomen
G7- back of upper arm
I have a lot of lot and barely any interference with my pod on my upper back shoulder blades. Just need help with placing it.
I use a G6 now but have always used my Abdomen starting with the G3.
Oops. I originally answered the next question (pumps rather than CGM) instead of this one. My comment is:
It really is crazy that the companies can only recommend the sites they actually tested AND that they apparently only tested the abdomen. After years of getting messed up readings at night by rolling onto my abdominal sensor I switched to using the upper inner side of my upper arms, which avoids that pressure problem at night. I am careful when I apply the sensor to make sure I’m not over a vein that will cause a lot of bleeding, but with a bright light such veins are easy to avoid.
I agree Anita with both g6 & g7 inner arm works best for me, other areas get compression lows.
It’s mainly about avoiding compression lows, which are a major PITA with an AID pump, so pretty much upper arms. Also “recommended” seems kinda meaningless, since Dexcom 7 doesn’t have the old restriction to abdomen, and Dexcom 6 advertising shows ’em on the upper arm all the time.
I’ve used Guardian3 as suggested by Medtronic (abdomen) but started thighs to free up real estate for infusion successfully. The Guardian4 is suggested for arms but unsure my ability to apply with one hand (living alone), although the Libre3 on arms with great results. But I’m systematic and extremely careful with application.
Heaven knows why ONLY the back of the arm is approved. Given the suspect nature of our readings (i.e. must “verify” before acting upon any “dangerous” reading), why would anyone chance siting our CGM’s elsewhere??? I’m missing something….
After years of being awoken by CGM alarms due to compression lows (I sleep on my side, so impossible to avoid sleeping on arm with sensor), I started wearing my Dexcom G7 on my upper, front thighs. Results on my thighs are about as accurate as arms, but I no longer get compression lows which is WONDERFUL ! DO NOT TRY THIS IF YOU HAVE MUSCULAR THIGHS (INSUFFICIENT FAT TO COMFORTABLY ACCOMODATE SENSOR).