41 Comments
If you wear a CGM, have you ever extended your sensor past its approved session duration?
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I heard that with the earlier Dexcom models (G4 G5?) the effective use could be extended beyond 14 days, but never tried. I do not want to do more finger sticks to be sure that my CGM’s #’s are accurate!! I am satisfied with the (great) performance of Dexcom’s G6. 🥰
The Abbott Freestyle Libre times out when it is time to change, so I have no choice in extending time worn.
I could extend sensor life with the earlier Dexcom sites, but not with the G6.
I did with the Medtronic CGM when it was only 3 days. Not with the latest CGM. It can run 7 days occasionally.
I used to be able to extend wear with the old Dexcom G5 and G6 sensors, but no longer with the current G6 sensors because they are hard-wired to shut off at 10 days. I don’t mind the 10 day duration, but I do wish they lasted for 14 days or longer so we didn’t have to change them so often.
My record was 47 days with the G6, just to see if I could. I still extend my sensors for two sessions because my readings are more accurate and stable with the second session. Beyond that they get kinda gross 🤮
Minimed 670g guardian 3 sensors unplug and recharge transmitter. Got 21 days in the back of arm before numbers started getting weird. Fortunately they have made it so the uninsured can afford them and I don’t have to do that anymore. Thank you minimed
I use the guardian sensors (Medtronic) which times out at seven days. If I knew a way to extend it, I would.
I can’t. I would if I could but there is no possibility to do so with my Libre/Blucon.
Despite Dexcom’s efforts to f with us to try and preventand restarting, the DOC has prevailed! Popping out the transmitter is a pain though (now required with a software change by Dexcom). Typically get 20 days.
Has anyone figured out how to extend the Libre?
Yes with dexcom g5 no with g6
I don’t know how with Dexcom G6. As it is, the sensors frequently give wild numbers before the 10 days are up. Yet Dexcom/Tandem are really good about replacing sensors which don’t last the full 10 days. They are great!
Still on the Dexcom G5. I always extend and get at least 13 days. Sometimes up to 24. I find after the first week it is much more accurate until end of life where it goes crazy. I tried a G6 for 1 week and got 14 days. At least for me, I was unimpressed with its accuracy. Hopefully when I have to go there, it will be better.
With my G5 I used to do it all the time, typically at least two and maybe three “cycles”. Now I’m on G6 which is harder to do. But since I don’t pay anything for my sensors (thank you Medicare Advantage policy) I don’t worry about it anymore and just stick to the 10 days.
I use the Medtronic Sensor 3. I always try to extend them. Take off the transmitter while leaving the sensor in. Recharge the transmitter and reattach. Then start the sensor like it is new. Sometimes it extends for 3 days (10 total) and I occasionally get 7 days (14 total). Once I get past the first 7 days, the sensor demands calibration more often, about every 6 hours instead of 12. I know the sensor is done when the readings get weird or the sensor goes into updating mode too often.
I did routinely with Dexcom G5 and earlier, and did for a while with G6 and extended to 14 days, but they made it hard to do now. I am no longer interested, because I use Control IQ and don’t want inaccurate readings being used by my pump. Prior versions of Dexcom required calibration, so you could be more sure it was aligned, but I think it is a bad idea to restart a non calibrated G6 beyond 10 days. If you do, do it in calibrate mode. There is a possible loss of accuracy with extension with no calibration- I would not trust it.
Like Gary Taylor I extend my Medtronic 3 by removing the transmitter, recharging it and starting it as if it is a new sensor. I get a second week out of it, but I was interested in his comments about the need for additional calibration, that does become an issue.
Ha; my Dexcom G6 sensors rarely make it to 10 days. It’s a huge problem as insurance coverage is based on their FDA approved label.
I have extended the G6 following the you tube instructions, but I usually only get 2-3 more days.
I was able to with the G5, I’ve had no luck with extending the G6.
I always used my Dexcom G5 for 14 days. It was consistently MORE accurate the second week than the first. Because they work through an electrochemical reaction, I suspect they lasted longer for those with lower average blood sugar. Consequently without a design feature to block reuse, Dexcom couldn’t avoid some of us using them longer, since they had to last 7 days even for those with higher sugar. Since they are covered by my insurance, it was convenience rather than cost that led me to double their life this way, but it was a great convenience. I am furious that Dexcom no longer makes the G5 available (or, for that matter, the compact little G5 receiver). The G6 is purposely designed to prevent use beyond 10 days, and, for reasons that I fail to understand, has a new applicator design that generates far more waste plastic waste. I will bet that the G6, like the G5, would last longer for users with lower average blood sugar. But like everything else in our healthcare system, profit is the over-riding motive, and the G6 design is one of the best illustrations of the greed of companies like Dexcom.
I rarely am able to get the full 10 days
Yes. I’m lucky that even with the G6 I’m still able to make it restart and get another 9-10 days of good use from it. My insurance only covers 50% of the cost, so it’s a real help for me, plus very accurate still!
I do extend the G6. Sometimes I will get 10 extra days, sometimes less. It helps build up a supply.
I also have trouble getting the full 10 days let alone extending it beyond that. I only get about 8 days 55% of the time… a full 10 days 45% of the time, but that 45% will have errors closer to the 8 and 9 day mark.
Is it even possible with a libre?
Heck yeah I try every time to restart with my Dex G6. I usually only get 2-4 extra days, but once I got an extra 10. Those extra days build up and help save a little money.
I did frequently when I had Dexcom G5’s (sometimes extending from the suggested 7 days to 28 days). I don’t with the G6.
No, but not for a lack of trying. (G6)
No. I want to make sure the BG’s it is reading are correct. They can start to become false a day before it’s ten day limitation sometimes. I cannot tell the cause: insertion site, was my BG not stable enough when I started, or is this sensor definitely tired. Another reason I do not do wear them past duration is I want to keep my skin lacking scar tissue so this can be continued.
I used to extend my G4’s and G5’s but don’t know how to extend a G6. I would get anywhere from five to 21 extra days.
With Medtronic’s original system (Sof-Sensors + Paradigm pumps) I always extended the sensor life as long as possible. When the Enlite sensors came out they didn’t even work at all for me so extending wasn’t an issue. Now I’m on the Guardian sensors and have tried to extend the life but only got an extra day or two from them with unpredictable results so I don’t bother.
With the Guardian and Medtronic 770g I get anywhere from 9-19 days from a sensor. Usually it averages 15-16 days for me. Someone asked “why” extend it? Because it saves me money. Until the last day that the sensor goes bad, the sensor and glucose meter are reasonably close.
Am on 770G – will have to try to recharge transmitter and then start as New.
I normally wear my G6 for at least 2 sessions. I just stop the sensor after 10 days, pop the transmitter out, wait 20 minutes, start sensor and reinsert the transmitter. It remains very accurate for me. I always take a picture of the sensor code on my phone so I can enter that and avoid having to calibrate twice a day.
Thanks to all who have commented on extending the G6. I will definately start. Medicare doesn’t let the next order be sent until it’s too late to arrive and I’ve run out.
I have never tried. I am on Meftronic 670G and Guardian and the results are hardly ever accurate especially past Day 5-6. If they were accurate…do I just recharge the transmitter and Start New Sensor on the screen on the pump? The Diabetic Educator and Endocrinologist I have never mentioned a thing about doing this? It would be wonderful to extend them to save money… They are expensive. Going on 47 years as Type 1.
I did when I had the Dexcom CGM5, I’ve never tried extending the CGM6.
i MAY JUST STOP WEARING IT AND HOPE MY SEVERE LOWS(20s-30s GLUCAGON TYPE LOWS. ) WILL BE NOTICED BEFORE TO LATE, The supply co. that my insurance is contracted with are very lax on shipping on time they make excuses constantly. have even tried to over charge ne, i keep all of my paperwork and prove them wrong. I know more than they do!! It took 5 months at first for supplies, they did not know they were contracted with my insurance, I had a 3 way conversation with Dexcom rep and supervisors of the supply company. I wish I knew how to re use the sensors.
I have the Dexcom G6 & have had trouble with it stopping early if I could get any of them to extend that would be helpful. How can you pop out the sensor?