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If you use a CGM, have you ever been asked to remove it for a medical procedure? Share more about your experiences in the comments!
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I always remove it before asked !!!
I do too because I know MRIs can’t be done with my CGM or pump. If it is some other type of scan, then I ask.
No one has asked me to remove it (who would do that?). If it needs to be removed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, I remove it. Then I contact the manufacturer and tell them I had to remove it for a medical procedure and they replace it for me. Easy-peasy.
I simply have to respond to your question “Who would do that?” Sadly the facilities run by my health plan. If a person with T1D is admitted they are told to give up their pump, CGM and personal meter. The thought of being an inpatient scares me to death. I just hope if I am in a car accident or something and transported to hospital – it is to the nearest hospital (which is EMS protocol thank goodness) not the health plan facility.
Prior to having my current health plan, I enjoyed “introducing” the surgeons, gasguys (and glas) and other staff to the wonder of CGM. They all totally dug it
It was a long time ago. But, I was asked to remove it for an MRI.
had to go in for a day of tests including an MRI. was able to schedule my tests on the day that I had to change my sensor so I removed the sensor and applied the new one once the MRI was done.
Gary, you and I did the same.
I has to remove it for an appendectomy surgery.
Was it on your stomach?
I recently had a mammogram and the clerk at the imaging center asked the radiology technician if I needed to remove the sensor and the answer was that I did NOT have to remove it. I then called Dexcom and they told me that I DID have to remove it for the mammogram. So I called the imaging center back and rescheduled the mammogram for a day when I needed to change the sensor anyway.
I keep mine on for mammogram. No issues so far.
I have never removed my sensor for my annual mammograms.
I haven’t had to remove mine for mammograms neither.
Only for MRI. I’ve kept it on for everything else.
For a bone density. I rescheduled for a day when I would be changing it
Yes, I just turned 65 and my doc ordered one, I rescheduled, figuring out when my sensor ended. I hope I figured right!!!
Yes, for an MRI.
Although I selected “Yes, I have been asked, but I did not have to remove it after advocating for myself” there have been occasions when I’ve been admitted to hospital, in an unconscious state, where my pump has been removed by medical staff. I then have to get someone, from my Diabetes Support Team, to ‘come across’ to the ward that I’ve been admitted to and explain to them why I need to have my pump connected, rather than them treat me via their hospital protocol of being put on a continuous insulin infusion drip. 😉
Have had a few outpatient procedures under anesthesia. Always discuss my diabetes needs prior. When I had a pump was allowed to keep. Now on MDI so not an issue. CGM was never mentioned.
For an MRI
Not allowed to wear it or my pump for mri even if it’s no where near my devices.
As others have said, for an MRI.
I also have MS so whenever I get an MRI I have to remove
I have removed it for MRI, sometimes a CT scan depending on the technician
Yes for MRI.
Yes, for MRI’s due to sports related shoulder injuries.
#BeWell
For MRIs and a back surgery. Regular xrays are ok for Dexcom G6.
I went in for a colonoscopy several years ago and in the doctor’s interview he told me I had to remove my Dexcom. Fortunately the nurse assistant spoke up even before I did — claiming her own T1D status and her use of a CGM. After a bit of discussion between the three of us, the physician agreed to let me keep my Dexcom on during the procedure.
I try to address the issue up front by asking docs to support my use of both CGM and pump, discussing my use of DIY Loop and placement of both. I’ve had to press the situation, but met with acceptance so far. Do NOT wait to the last minute though.
Yes! That helps to have agreement ahead of time instead having a wrinkle day of.
CT, MRI, Xray
Yes, because I have another medical issue that occasionally requires me to have cat scans and MRI’s , I have been asked to remove my CGM and pump. If I can, I rearrange the days I am wearing my CGM leading up to the days of the procedures so I don’t end up wasting the days of my CGMs since once taken off, they can’t be reinserted.
Asked to remove during Radiology Scan, said I preferred not to since it was newly applied. The tech said it may not will after the scan. I took the risk. It would fine after scan.
Pump, yes but never asked to remove sensor. Past 3 surgeries was allowed to keep pump on. Anesthesiologist are more up on how my insulin pump works .
Years ago I was asked for every surgery/procedure but when I explained I’d intentionally placed it out of their work area they reconsidered. In recent years more drs have some knowledge about CGM even when out of their area and understand the need to have continuity before, during and after surgery. Some still do their own finger sticks. I don’t ever remember removing.
Only for MRIs.
MRI and CT had to remove, knew this so just scheduled my MRI and CT on the last day of the sensor.
I have had two surgeries in last 5 years or so. I insisted on keeping CGM and pump This was not a problem for the surgeons etc.
The only time I was asked to remove my pump was during the stay in the hospital before and after the first surgery. The request came from the hospital’s Endocrinologist. (Go figure) In short, I told them to fry ice. The only thing I allowed the hospital to do was finger sticks. The request to remove the pump was not the only stupid request or instruction given by the ends, but it was the last straw.
… fry ice … LOL!
I remove sensors before MRIs but not X-rays, as others have said. Fortunately, Dexcom has always been great about replacing sensors when I’ve had to take them off before getting a full 10 days of use. For my last MRI, the technician told me I had to remove my infusion set, too, which took me by surprise. I told her that my infusion set was “plastic” and had never caused a problem with MRIs before. She insisted that it had to be metal since it had a needle. When I appealed to her supervisor he said that if it turned out to be metal, I would feel heat right away and they’d stop the procedure. As common as pumps and CGMs are, you’d think they’d have encountered this situation before and figured out how to deal with it. Scary!
Marty–and you can deal with it with a little hand-held magnet. Sigh!
Yes, for MRIs and surgeries.
I have had to remove my pump site and CGM for MRIs and for open heart surgery.
After the open heart the hospital resident endo helped me calculate a basal rate for my next 10 days in the ICU.
Yes, every time I have any kind of scan, or procedure irregardless of what and where I’m wearing the CGM. For mammograms in the past I’ve been allowed to keep it on and the area was covered with a protective apron. Not any more. If I object I’m told to leave, no discussion, just appointment cancelled. My last experience was for Mohs surgery on my scalp. The nurse, assisting the MD, immediately started to remove the sensor on the back of my upper arm. I told her not to. She thought it might “explode” during the surgery. Very fortunately the MD knew what it was and assured her it didn’t need to be removed.
I removed for MRI and other X-rays. As per Dexcom.
I was getting a CAT scan done after a diabetic seizure they made me take off my pump and my dexcom because of the metal in the medical devices. I always keep extra supplies on me for just in case emergencies.
Only for MRI’s. Had two MRI’s and four surgeries along with multiple x-rays.
For MRI, I knew, and staff said my CGM and pump had to come off but pump infusion set could remain in place since it had no metal. For x-rays, only mention of CGM or other device removal was saying I could remove them if I wanted but it wasn’t necessary.
For my 2017 back surgery, the Hospital insisted my pump and CGM had to be removed, but when the surgeon was told I had a pump and CGM, he told the Hospital that I had to continue using the pump and CGM during the surgery. And in ALL the surgeries I’ve had, despite the Hospital or Surgical Center having rules saying “No cell phones or recording devices permitted in the Operating Room, when the Surgeon and the Anesthesiologist found that xDrip+ on my phone gives audible announcement of my CGM readings, they agreed audible CGM data would make their jobs easier so they even insisted that I take my cell phone into the Operating Room so that during the procedure, instead of the Anesthesiologist having to do the extra task of monitoring my BG levels and giving Insulin if needed, he could just listen for my phone to announce my CGM readings about every 5 minutes throughout the surgery. After each surgery, at the follow-up appointment, every time, the surgeon was telling me how he and the Anesthesiologist both wished ALL their surgical patients with T1D would use Insulin Pump and CGM devices and a phone App like xDrip+ that gave audible CGM reading announcements because those devices used during my surgery made operating on me easier to monitor than on even non-diabetics where they still monitor BG readings due to how some surgeries and anesthetics adversely affect Insulin production and/or effectiveness even in some non-diabetics.
Yes, I’ve been asked and removed my sensor twice. Both for Moyamoya brain surgery. The first time no insulin drip, no blood sugar checks for 12 hours; second one I had insulin drip, my blood sugar was checked often. The second one went better all around.
Only for mri’s and ct csans.
I’ve not been asked to remove it, however, I’ve been able to schedule procedures that require its removal on a change date.
For certain medical procedures where it would ruin the sensor
I don’t think so. I’ve not had a procedure that required me to remove my CGM. But, nurses might have tried to ask me when I had my first colonoscopy. But, they also asked me to remove my pump which took up all the memory space for that event. I asked to speak to the doctor AND I told them if they removed the pump that they’d have to be calling 911 shortly thereafter because they’d put me in a medical emergency.
The doctor said I didn’t have to remove either device, thank goodness!!
So, for two surgeries and two colonoscopies, I have been able to keep my CGM on. 😀 😀 😀
Yes, when I was in the emergency room with pneumonia. They were getting me set up with a room to stay in the hospital and the staff told me I would have to remove both my pump and CGM. I refused. I explained that I know my body better than they do and could therefore better regulate my blood sugars by keeping both items active. They finally gave in, after I assured them that I would let my blood sugar run a little higher than I normally do so they didn’t have to worry about me dropping too low.
Dexcom would not guarantee my G6 would function after an MRI. Coincidentally, my MRI was scheduled on the same day as my sensor expired so I was only without my CGM for a half day.
I have never been asked to remove my sensor for a medical procedure. Employees seem to be pretty much unaware of the need to do this in some circumstances. For example, I certainly needed to remove it for an MRI. I also had an epidural injection of steroids in my back that was a procedure that used x-ray for guiding the physician in the procedure. They were really nice so I didn’t have to remove my pump or sensor as they had small versions of protective pads that they wrapped around, my devices to protect them from x-rays. I did have to do a lot of explaining and advocating for this, however but I wanted to have my pump working as well as my CGM during the procedure.
Two years ago I had a bi-lateral mastectomy due to breast cancer. I advocated for myself to leave my pump and sensor on to both the surgeon and anesthesiologist and they at first agreed but just before the surgery decided that my pump and sensor could be damaged by the cauterizing equipment and asked me to remove them both. As soon as I came back to my room I put them both back on.
I recently had a dexa scan and was asked to remove my pump leaving the infusion connector intact. But I had to remove the sensor because of the metal.
I’ve removed it and also advocated for myself to keep it on. It depends on the medical procedure/test being done. MRI of my kidneys, I advocated for putting a lead shield over the sensor like I do at the dentist office for XRays. MRI or xray of anywhere close to the sensor, I plan to remove it before the test.
BOTH yes answers apply!
Yes I had to remove a sensor for a MRI. I would call Dexcom the next day and explain why and they would send me 1 sensor in the mail.
i had ankle surgery that took longer than it should have (The surgeon was young and knew nothing about type 1 diabetics) they made me remove my pump. My blood sugar was 400 post op, and took a long time (days) to come back down because of the stress, pain, steroids and lack of insulin for an hour. The surgery had a bad outcome and I almost lost my foot. (sorry for the rant, I’m still upset about it!)
I read the question wrong! The made me remove my insulin pump, at the time i did not have a CGM.
I was scheduled for an MRI. When I got there and realized I needed to have my cgm off, I told them and rescheduled my appointment for the end of my sensor life! They were very nice about it.
X-rays, MRI’s, and and small out patient surgery.
When I had an MRI, I prepared to remove it beforehand. I had an x-ray with one on and they asked about it afterward.
I had to remove both my pump and CGM to have an MRI. They said it was dangerous to me and the machine to leave them on.
Had to remove Dexcom and Omnipod for an MRI. Dexcom replaced the sensor quickly and easily… Omnipod took talking to multiple people for several hours before they finally agreed to replace the pod. The first person didn’t even know what an MRI was. 🤦
I was hospitalized three years ago, and the physician and nurses wanted me to remove my pump and sensor. It made no sense when I questioned why they could not give me an answer. I kept my pump on but had to sign a waiver. They feared the pump and the sensor, and did not know how it functioned. They all needed education.