28 Comments
If you wear a CGM, have you ever used expired sensors? If so, did you notice any issues with the sensors?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
I haven’t used expired sensors, but I have used expired transmitters, which don’t work as well. I have to calibrate them and they fail before the 3 months of wear time is over.
I first did this as a result of a call to the manufacturer to let them know I had received an expired transmitter. I was told by the rep that the expiration date was only the “shelf life” of the transmitter but that if it hadn’t been removed from the box it should still be good to use. @ two weeks later I was calling them back because of a failed transmitter. The next rep I spoke to told me that I never should have used it!
It was probably a battery life issue. Battery life diminishes over time even just sitting on a shelf. An Omnipod service rep told me that.
I’ve been using Dexcom since 2008 and have used G4 sensors as much as 3 years after marked expiration date and noticed absolutely no difference in accuracy or discomfort. I’ve been using G6 since January 2020 and have used G6 sensors up to one year after marked expiration date, and just like the G4 sensors, I noticed absolutely no difference in accuracy of expired sensors compared to accuracy of sensors just received from the pharmacy or supplier.
I could be wrong, but I think my Dexcom G6 sensors stop working when they reach their expiration date and time. I answered “other”, but perhaps I should have answered “No”.
I answer yes by mistake. Read too fast and thought we were talking about strips. I’ve never wear expired sensors
I answered Yes, and noticed a difference. BUT only sometimes. It’s probably 50/50 whether I can even tell I’m reusing a sensor. When I can tell, the trend line is more jagged – not necessarily wrong, but it’s like it’s overshooting by a little bit in opposite directions every other reading.
Very rarely it just doesn’t work at all. It’ll keep giving errors or it won’t be accurate in the least. I only reuse occasionally so I have a stockpile if there’s something I have to wait on in the bureaucracy of crazy between the dr, insurance, supplier, etc.
I misread the question 😣.
I’ve never had sensors long enough to use them expired.
Insurance sends me a 90 supply 9 sensors and I use them all. Expiration date is always in the future.
I answered ‘no’ but will get a chance to try becsuse has sent me 2 replacements recently that had stickers over previous dates with a note that expiration date had been changed.
Since Medicare pays for my G6 sensors I only receive enough for 3 months use, not a day more. Have never used expired ones, supplies are too fresh.
Wondering how you’re able to get three months of sensors through Medicare? I have only been permitted to order one month at a time. Thanks!
Before going on Medicare in 2020, I didn’t pay attention to the expiration date, I just grabbed one and used it. Now with being limited on how I get my supplies, I can’t order until I’ve opened my last box. No need to worry about when they expire, just that I’ll receive them in time, so I don’t have to go without.
Other – as yet I have not used an expired sensor so I cannot comment as to whether it works or not. However, I have used BG meter test strips 18 months beyond the expiration date and they worked just fine.
Thanks Connie, I have some strips that will expire and was unsure if I could trust them.
I have a tiny meter that I used expired strips on (many months expired) and they registered me as really high when I was almost low. So you might want to check their accuracy against current strips. Be suspicious.
Last time we were sent a replacement sensor, dexcom put a sticker on it with a new expiration date and said it was fine to use past the original date.
I misunderstood the question, also. I don’t even look on the box for an expiration date. I just use them.
I understood the question to mean have I used sensors beyond the FDA approved wear time. Yes, all the time. Medtronic sensors are approved for 7 days use. To save money, I reuse them and they work anywhere from 3 to 7 days beyond the recommendation.
I used expired sensors in the G5. If they were less than 6 months out of date they worked pretty well, over 6 months not so much.
I never check the expiration date. Since Medicare requires you to attest having only 10 or fewer days left of a supply, including a CGM, before approving a refill, and Medicare only authorizes a one-month supply, it is hard to exceed the expiration date.
I found this out working with a technician over the phone, “expired sensors often fail with shorter times in-service”. Looking back at my stock (I only had one expired left), this seems to have held true.
No I have never used expired sensors but I am currently using an expired transmitter. So far so good. I have one after this. Solara must have sent 2 that were almost ready to expire. I will have to be more observant next time.
I have used expired sensors. One time it worked fine, the other time it wouldn’t work at all it did not even start a warm up, I just received an error message.
I had to pay out-of-pocket. The sensors costs less but worked just fine
I tried to follow instructions from reliable & knowledgeable T1D FBk friends, but felt unconfident that I knew what I was doing so I stopped trying.
I have not ever thought to look for an expiration date. I assume I don’t use expired sensors, but who knows. Another variable that is good to be aware of.
I wanted to, but it shit off after 90 days and I didn’t catch the rework solution in time.
My CGM reader will not read an expired sensor, so I don’t have the choice.
Yeah, me too. Using an expired sensor is impossible past 20 days.. Transmitter lasts 60 days. Byram is working for me so far. At $125/ month. I can always check my one touch meter.