74 Comments
If you use a CGM, in what situations has a sensor accidentally been pulled off your body? Select all that apply and share your own in the comments.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
By a toddler while I was holding her.
I never had a Dexcom G4, G5 or G6 sensor come off. Now, why don’t you ask about Tandem t:slim x2 infusion sets….
Agree! I pull the infusion sets off just pulling down my pants to potty!
It is a very rare occurrence, less than yearly, but it has happened with quick movement of clothes when I am tired. Pulling pumps out is more common.
While working is another way my CGM has been pulled off
In addition to above, I have also had sensors come loose just from rubbing to close to my waistband or adhesive losing its grip.
As others have said, having an infusion set tear out is more common. Tubing and door knobs don’t mix! Haha
Door handles. Drawer handles. Car seat belts. Reaching for the stars. Lap sitters. Yard work stretching. Ahh, and yes, gesticulating while giving directions to a lost driver. Oh, well.
Your answers apply to my over-the-ear Phonak hearing aids. Pruning apple trees or picking apples or digging out blackberry vines with a pickhoe or taking off my backpack could result in lost hearing aid. But never have lost Dexcom worn on belly. Are you wearing CGM on arm?
Only once: came off the back of my arm when I got into my car and hit it on the drivers seat.
My son was doing the backstroke and ran into the lane lines. It pulled the transmitter bracket right off the adhesive.
I used to swim in different pools for variety doing 48 lengths 3x/week to accumulate my weekly aerobic points. For variety i also used 12 lengths crawl, 12 lengths sidestroke, 12 lengths backstroke and 12 lengths breast strokes. I wore a Casio shockproof water resistant watch to time myself.
never had one pulled off but I’ve bumped them and then they don’t work correctly anymore – once getting out of the car & catching it on driver seat and once bumping it on a doorframe. this is in 2.5 years of CGM usage
Within minutes of putting on a new sensor, I know I must put a patch over it or I’ll likely rip it off within hours!
Once or twice it has come off when I didn’t notice it was getting loose. Once when I was changing my Omnipod, and my brain flaked out and I took off the Dexcom instead!
Lol you sound like me
I have done the same. My second or third Omnipod 5 change I disabled the Omnipod using the controller, then ripped off my Dexcom. On the other hand, I have lost multiple Medtronic infusion sets and now Omnipods due to accidentally rubbing against things.
Been wearing a Dexcom
For many years. Except for one year on FSL due to insurance. Like Dexcom because can see on applewatch. One time at end of 10 days of wear, I was getting out of a truck and pulled off when rubbed back of seat. Only time ever. Used to add SkinTac but haven’t been lately
Bath/swimming/hot tub- any kind of immersion in water.
I ruined one while body boarding once. It didn’t come all of the way off. It just pulled out enough to stop working well. It hasn’t happened again since I started using overpatches.
When working outside and lifting things that caught on it
While ziplining
Once or twice in years past, it sweated off.
See Ginger’s comment. Overpatchs are free from Dexcom.
Welcome to the tribe Ja’fr. 😀. And see my additional comments to Csampogna.
With sweat, the tape loses its stickiness and the sensor falls off.
See Marty’s comment. Dexcom supplies free over patches. Wear the CGM where you sweat least. Before you put on sensor, do you first apply 70% alcohol and let it dry? Do You press down on the adhesive 3 times? As you age, you will sweat less. Good to hear from you.
I have had my pet knock it off most often
Freestyle Libres are ONLY allowed the back of the arm, a place that can easily hit doorframes, car doors, other people in crowds, and hurts to sleep on. Do some more research Abbot, so they can legally be put on the stomach where there’s protection. This is even with Skin Tac.
I have never had a CGM pulled of. However, before I started using CGM Overpatches, my CGM’s would come loose and stop working. I must use overpatches 100% of the time.
On the other hand, my cannula’s rip of of my leg often, unless I use three film dressings to tape them down.
My friend’s dog jumping on me to greet me. His paw knocked it off my stomach.
Being 6’7″ climbing into a vehicle beside my truck. Caught a shoulder mounted CGM on the top door jam and it hit the ground. Clean removal.
Pulled or sweat off reaching at work
Sports, beach, shower. My son has been using sensors for nine years, and we’ve lost less than half a dozen.
Happened once while deep water soloing in Oman – after being in the water for two hours (repeatedly climbing sea cliffs and falling back into the sea), I lost the sensor (FreeStyle Libre) during the swim back to shore. Given that I went DWS on a weekly basis for several years, I’m surprised I didn’t lose more. Also went scuba diving on a number of occasions (up to 30 m depth) and was impressed that I never lost a sensor and they kept working fine afterward (although I always took care when removing the wet suit).
Martin, now you’re bragging (Just kiddiing!). What you’re showing the world is how diabetics can live any life they want! Well lived, sir!
Also getting out of the car
I’d guess that I have only dislodged my CGM sensor only a couple times in all the years I have been wearing them. Usually it’s my Omnipod that gets ripped off me if I am working close to a wall or under the hood of my Jeep or truck. That’s why I rarely put them on my arms.
Wrestling with brothers, backpack, climbing into a hammock, etc.
Playing with my dogs and once my grandson grabbed it by mistake and ripped it off
Moving my extension ladder gets me the most. I only move it 3 or 4 times a year but I hold it up against my abdomen and depending on where the sensor is located it will pull it out.
The second case is moving big boxes or some thing heavy. Like with the ladder I hold it in to my abdomen.
The third place is squeezing in a tight place.
Over the years I have learned to watch out for these situations but they can sneak up on me.
The 16% of you who have never had one pull off…I don’t believe you lol! I’ve had the adhesive just wear down on its own in the summer, from sweat, and it just starts to peel off.
I have NEVER had one fall off due to it losing stickiness. And if the question were asked about occurrences over the last 3 years, Ii would have had absolutely none to report.
I’ve never had my Dexcom fall off either. However, I have managed to dislodge/pull out/catch on something more pump sites than I can count!
I live in Idaho with substantial snowfall. I was using a snowblower and slipped, falling forward into the handle, dislodging the sensor.
I wear my Dexcom sensor on my abdomen and occasionally catch it on the lip of the dining table as I stand up after a meal.
On the car seat while reaching into the back to grab my purse.
I’m a teacher, and I’ve ripped my sensor out running into a desk!
I have removed when tape is loose and about to fall off. Usually get alerts connection problems.
During sexy time 🙈
What’s that, anj1832? lol.
When I am sweating
I’ve taken to using a piece of micropore across the top of the sensor in an attempt to keep it in place, but even that doesn’t always work. My Diabetes Specialist Nurse has commented that there should be no reason to do this, but I’ve had sensors replaced twice whilst I’ve been attending diabetes clinics at my local hospital by Diabetes Specialist Nurses. 😉 (I have a tendency to sweat profusely.)
In the 14 years I’ve worn a Dexcom there have only been a few times it has caught on a doorway, about as often as i Calibrate (3 times a year)
Most of the time I place the Dexcom on the back of my upper arm. Twice, I’ve had it pulled off by medical staff without my permission or asking what it was. The first time was for Mohs surgery on my scalp to remove a growth and the second time was before a colonoscopy. I filled complaints both times, requesting that the HMO and surgery center educate their staff.
My selection of “doing exercise” was actually yard work on a hot day. I was getting exercise, but it was more the heat that caused me to sweat it off. Also, a few different times on a door jam!
In addition to those darn doorframes and entrance and egress from cars (mostly driver’s side because of the steering wheel), I have had trouble when moving or carrying boxes/suitcases… usually “heavy” ones… but “heavy” can just be about 5 pounds with the correct angles and bad luck.
Also rough housing with dog
I chose a “door frame” because it seemed the closest to what happened with me, but then I saw the “something else” option and chose it. My CGM pulled out of my arm while getting out of the car. I’m not certain if it was the “door frame” or the seat belt that caught it though.
Rare occurrence in 10 years.
Back when I had a Libre, it got caught on the hog wire fence while reaching through to pull a weed. And once during sexy time. Since getting a Dexcom and wearing it on my abdomen, I have never had one come off. I am MDI so I have plenty of “ real estate” on my almost 65 year-old abdomen.
The only time I’ve had a Dexcom pulled off my body was when I was shopping in Walmart and an employee purposely walked into me, when she felt it on my upper arm she ripped it out on purpose and started yelling at me about not having the permission to film her. The employees at this location have always been rude and a little off, but not like this before.
While I attempted to use Medtronic’s sensor they would get knocked off by clothes, door frame, etc. along with never giving an accurate reading.
Super powered hot tub
While weeding around shrubs in the garden!
Once I tried fitting the sensor without first exposing the patch to my body. The. DEXCOM fired off but everything was loose! Stupid
During a massage! I think when it’s dry outside my sensor doesn’t stick as well. Usually I don’t have issues.
This is a biggie, as the Dexcom, though a miracle device, can pull of quite easily if you bump into a wall or something you walk through. Because the transmitter must be exposed/open, you cannot tape over it to keep this from happening, and it isn’t actually the tape that pulls away from the skin. In fact, it remains in tact. It is the transmitter and holder that breaks free. So please, Dexcom, find a way to prevent this!
Beth, the free Dexcom overpatches go AROUND the sensor and transmitter. They have a hole in the middle like a doughnut.
Are you sure the transmitter is snapped in place? It took me awhile to learn this new technology stuff, and i still have much to learn.
Pulling clothes out of the dryer
Door or doorways. Clothes removal. But each time I was rushing and moving fast, not taking care.
When taking my pack off while backpacking. My arm was the wrong location for my CGM.
I use an Eversense CGM, my sensor is implanted in my upper arm for 6 months. Externally, I have a transmitter that placed over the spot where the sensor is implanted. If that happens i usually put it back
Working outside in hot weather.
Getting in and out of the car should have been an answer. Seat belts, door frames, backpacks, steering wheels. So many obstacles ha.
A chair at my mom’s house would constantly knock off my Libre for some reason.