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If you use a CGM, have you ever used expired sensors? If so, did you notice any issues with the sensors?
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Now, to answer the question: `At first I didn’t keep track of how long sensors were lasting. Then I noticed some were lasting longer than 10 days. Then I noticed sensors were inaccurate in day before they were to expire. Now I mark on calendar expected date of sensor expiration so: 1. I can be prepared for periodic reminder to reorder from Byram; 2. Be prepared for false high alerts or false low alerts from Dexcom 6 sensor.
I was never aware of possible false high or low alerts the day after putting on new sensor or on the last day of its 10 day life until I was hospitalized for a heart problem. My numbers and the finger stick numbers used by the nursing staff were not consistent at all. I was running into a problem in that they were either insisting on feeding me or actually withholding food. It was difficult to not be in charge of making my own decisions regarding my diabetes management. I wish I had known about these possible inaccuracies before then. Thank Heavens the diabetes educator became involved.
My insurance only covers a 3month supply of sensors so no ability to stock pile and potentially have out of date product. Since the Dexcom G4 I have never figured out how to restart as session.
seemyCGM.com for steps. Or do a Google search!! Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy enough.
Never really paid attention but I used to restart sensors just because I could. I don’t bother anymore as ended up with too many sensors. Distributor sends 90 day supply and that has been plenty
Jane, here in CA there is a program “diabetics pay it forward”, donating extra insulin and supplies for others who need. I take mine to camp as some kids don’t bring an extra sensor. Maybe there’s a group near you.
My sensor will not work once expired.
Not sure about expired sensors due to age of sensor. But I can get 14 to 21 days out of a guardian 3 sensor. Could probably get more but the transmitter battery dies
I charged my transmitter while out & could go 21 days easy.
Not recently, but years ago I used some Medtronic sensors past their exp date while waiting for my next order to arrive. I didn’t notice a difference in reliability.
My comment above was referring to the sensor exp date on the box. I have restarted a Dexcom G6 session before the 10 days are up and have gotten up to 30 days. Not manufacturer recommended(!), but seemed to perform ok without site issues.
No I haven’t used expired sensors for two reasons: First Minimed G3 sensor is so bad, I don’t push them. Second Medicare only allows a 30 day supply. So I check the expndate when I frst receive them. I pushed sensors when they only lasted 3 days. But that was in the early days of CGM.
It may be a matter of degree. Most medical expiration dates are extremely conservative. Just past, likely fully useful, 3 years past, likely not. I have not used expired CGM sensors because it just does not come up- I use them and don’t have a backlog since the Dexcom CGM’s are much more difficult to restart then in the past. When they were 7 days, I routinely restarted at 7 and got 14 days out of them. I would donate any extra to other T1D’s. Now hard to restart Dexcom CGM and 10 days w factory calibration, so I don’t. If I occasionally restart, I would use in calibration mode not factory, otherwise accuracy much more likely to be off.
I use expired supplies all of the time without issues. However, one time, I tried to use an old cgm sensor- a Medtronic Enlite sensor that expired nearly 5 years earlier and it simply did not work. My 2 cents: If its expiration date is within reason, it’ll work, otherwise, don’t try it- you’re just setting yourself up for disappointment.
How in the heck would you use an expired sensor when they turn off. Mine don’t even last till the 10th day, they start erroring out and I have to change it to get a proper reading
Expired implies use after the “Expiration Date” marked on the box, not by restarting sensors. But I’ve done both, re-used sensor for second or third session and also used sensors as much as 3 years after their package claimed they were expired.
Check UTube. Remove the transmitter from the sensor. Allow a 10 or so minutes. Put the transmitter back on the sensor, and star it up.
Once. My three month supply of sensors came late. So, I used my last sensor for a few days until my new supplies arrived. I don’t remember having any problems.
I have had far more problems with my current/unexpired G6 sensors than I’ve ever had with sensors of earlier versions I’ve used as much as three years past their marked expiration date!
For example, my current sensor doesn’t expire until December, and first session is scheduled to end this coming Wednesday, but already since yesterday, my current G6 sensor has been fluctuating between claiming I’m in the 40s while my BG is around 130 to then claiming I’m over 240 while I’m actually in the 70s!!!
For me, Dexcom G6 has proven to be much LESS reliable OR accurate than the Dexcom G4 sensors were!!!
I have experienced exactly what you have described with the G6 sensors and unfortunately my TSlim Control IQ depends on more accuracy to function properly.
I don’t have enough sensors hanging around for them to expire!
same here.
I often worry that there will be a mishap, and I won’t have a spare to replace what got knocked off or failed.
I have used Dexcom G5 sensors slightly past their expiration date without any problems. With the Dexcom G6 there’s no chance to find out because I’m without any backup.
I didn’t know they expired. My insurance company never let me have more than a few days past the essential change date. After two weeks they simply don’t work.
I inadvertently used an expired sensor once. It did fail within 10 days. I realized it had expired only when I wasn’t able to get a replacement from Dexcom because the expiration date had passed.
While I have never used a sensor that was out of date, I have had to re-start an expired G6 sensor after the 10th day because the new batch of sensors hadn’t yet arrived. The two times I have had to do that I found after a few days the readings were out of whack. During those times I would always double check my results with my expired test stips. 😉
I used a G6 sensor that had expired 4 months earlier. After 36 hours, I replaced it because the readings weren’t accurate (but it sure it was nice to see BGs of 80 to 105 mg/dL after eating foods that should have spiked me.)
Yes, I’ve used expired sensors. Those 6 months or less out of date worked with little to no issues, those over 6 months had lots of issues.
I’ve restarted my Dexcom. It only lasted three hours and it was incorrect readings.
How does that work? I am always running out of sensors before any of my other supplies and did not know that was an option.
Jen, I even restart my sensors. Not everyone gets accurate readings, but I do a finger stick at day10, and day 15 or so, mine read well. I use my hips. Also my tape sticks, may use overtape when it get’s frayed during the 2nd session (but I have gone with 2 restarts.) There’s quite a few comments via Google. Be sure to save the sensor code as you will use it.
Even just restarted once or twice will take away that stress of enough supplies.
Good luck
By expired I assume you mean date of product expiration printed on packaging. I have used a Dexcom sensor 1 month past expiration date printed on package because that’s all I had as back-up while waiting for a next delivery. It worked just fine … however, I wouldn’t risk using an expired sensor if it was past 2 months of the expiration date. Too unstable.
I am more likely to run out of sensors than have expired sensor.
Sensors can expire but an expired transmitter does not work right, those you have to pay attention to.