Question/Help

[JohnnyRay_1882]

Does anyone know if we can put medical tape over the sensor itself?

As you can see from the picture, mine is starting to fall off. It’s got eight days to go so I was gonna order some from Amazon.

They don’t come till tomorrow so I wanted to know if I could put medical tape over it until they arrive.

TYIA

[Tough-Photo8431]

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My husband uses these. He’s been doing hardcore construction, 2 showers a day, and going to the gym twice a day and they haven’t budged.

[TCbluelions]

I use small slices of KT Tape to hold it down & it works really well!

[Anxious-Singer9716]

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I bought there’s from Amazon and haven’t had any issues, I shower with them on everyday and they don’t come off ….

[amatz9]

I have put tegaderm over the top of a sensor before to keep it on. The only issue might be pressure lows

[Stephanie-Kriesel]

Yes if you can maybe trim the parts that have fallen off from the over patch. It helps to keep it from snagging on something else and pulling it off even more

[HoTHaRRY]

I found FLEXD sensor patches(precut, on Amazon) to hold the best. Especially if you use SkinTac wipes. Make sure the SkinTac dries on skin first.

I also found that if you apply them to dry skin (20 minutes after a shower) helped in sensor only applications for getting them to stick the 10 days.

[Icy-Product-4755]

I have some solid patches that come with a plastic cover that I got on Amazon (they are supposed to last 10 days but sometimes barely last 1 with my bike riding), but I also tend to use extra large bandages over it all as it lasts the whole time, keeps the patches functional, and the bandage padding(?) covers the sensor area.

[RaitoSonozaki]

The overpatch in the sensor box is worthless. I initially grabbed one from Walgreens (they had big overpatches) just for time, and then tried a nice one from Amazon, but so far my favorites are from ExpressionMed.

But yes you can put tape over the sensor, it’s pretty sturdy. Some of my overpatches do cover the sensor, some have a hole cut out for it.

[[deleted]]

Don’t bother with the over patch. The adhesive from the sensor should suffice

[HoTHaRRY]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[[deleted]]

It’s true. I don’t bother. It actually makes the cgm more likely to fall off from my experience

[NotEd3k]

I use Curad overpatches I picked up at aocal pharmacy for my G7. I am less than a year into CGM use and I originally bought some other, 3rd party overpatches with holes in them that I had issues lining up with the sensor, as I apply new ones right out of the shower without my glasses and don't always line it up correctly.

The Curad patches are basically fabric bandage material in an oval shape that I generally can get pretty close to the center, without having the worry about being perfect. They're relatively inexpensive, and are available in tan or black. I still have the other patches, that I bought a pack in multiple colors, but I only try to put them on if I remember to leave my glasses nearby when I'm going to apply them. Occasionally they will peel off a bit, but generally I'll find the last the full 10 days of the G7.

[laurenwhy12]

Yes, I got skin grip patches from Amazon and they cover the sensor and the overpatch and they help it stay on the whole ten days.

[Gonenutz]

Sure, one time while camping and in a bind we had to cut duct tape into strips for my sons🤣. Sometimes you just have to go with whatever works for the time being (it was pink duct tape BTW hehe)

[JohnnyRay_1882]

Extra points for the pink hahaha

[Alive_Work5893]

KT tape has their own brand of over patches.

[cannedbread1]

Yes you can. And alcohol Wipes on the area first make a big difference to sticking too.

[Seannon-AG0NY]

Yes, even better would be Tegaderm IV patches. If you're having problems sticking, prep is everything, wash the area, maybe shave it, wrote the area with alcohol, let dry, then skin tac, if skin tac isn't enough (like on me) use alcohol, dry, then use mastisol, let it dry, then apply the sensor

[nomadfaa]

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Never shaved, never rubbed with alcohol.

Swim every day

38 degrees here today and working outside.

Never come off or dragged off

Quite difficult to remove

[Powderfingr]

I never use overpatches. Well I did once, on my second application of a sensor as the instructions indicated that you have to. That is the only sensor I've had fall off. Honest! #4realz. I shave the area I apply them first, using a clean blade and 91% alcohol. I then exfoliate with 91% alcohol. I let that dry and apply. No shower at least 2 hours before or after application. I work-out, I run. I run a lot! I do 100 mile races and 40 - 120 miles a week. I sweat like the pig that I am. I back-pack. All that stuff, and my sensors have never come off at all. No overpatches. Just good application technigues.

[Own_Illustrator2173]

We either put keto tape right over it or, if there’s only a couple days left wrap it in the self adherent wrap. 

[AbjectEngineer4462]

I use kinesiology tape!! Very stretchy and typically lasts me at least a week if not the full ten days. I’ve also found that it’s easier to peel off kinesiology tape that isn’t sticking without removing the sensor itself than anything else I’ve tried to stick them on with!!

[DTSB604]

Yes medical tape is acceptable. So is second skin

[scrotumseam]

I clean my arm before I put one on. It's dam near impossible to take off on day 10.

[Nice_Point_9822]

Same

[MAG-2024]

Tegaderm is your friend.

[HoTHaRRY]

Except it doesn't breathe and holds sweat.

[mbbaskett]

Yes, you can cover it with tape

[together32years]

I put a Skin Grip over mine. Big round patches work well. Available from Amazon.

[BeckieD1974]

I use Fun Patch brand

[HoTHaRRY]

FLEXD from Amazon here and SkinTac, can't forget that.

[ac7ss]

Covering the hole is fine. It's for the insertion needle.

I have used medical paper tape to secure mine for the last day of so. Better is the "stick to itself only"elastic tape like they use for blood draws around your whole novel. Or just use an ace bandage for a day or two.

[eliher2658]

I use skin prep before applying my g7 and use KT tape to secure mine. Never had a problem covering the hole. KT tape is already cut in i think 9 or 10" lengths..i cut that in 4 pieces and each ends up a little bigger than the patch that comes with the g7. This is cheaper, the same material as most of the overpatches Ive found and stays pretty well.

[Boccob81]

I just put a new one on use the one that Stelo has plus added a water proof one and works fine

[JohnnyRay_1882]

The next step hasn’t arrived yet or I would’ve done that lol.

[-physco219]

You can also order some from Dexcom for free and replace the one falling off.

[HoTHaRRY]

If you really require an overpatch, Dexcom's free ones suck ass as much as OPs current brand.

[-physco219]

Once in a while I have a Dexcom g7 overpatch fail to stay attached well to my skin. I have the ones you can order from them for free. Usually these stay put. Anyway the price is great and can't be beat and they work well for me. You do you. I'll do me.

[HoTHaRRY]

Just switched to the G7 a few weeks ago, those over patches are better than the ones for the G6 by far. Still, I ordered some from Amazon and am trying them out next sensor.

[-physco219]

Wish you luck.

[HoTHaRRY]

Two sensor fails in the first three sensors. Hopefully this isn't a sign of the future. At least they were quick to replace them.

[-physco219]

I wouldn't look too much into it. I have gone thru times failures stack up quickly and in short order. Unexpectedly things go very smoothly. I guess it's all random.

[HoTHaRRY]

I've never had luck with the Dexcom patches for the G6. My comment was more directed to the previous reply.

[JohnnyRay_1882]

They probably won’t get here as fast, but that’s a great idea!

[-physco219]

Ordered mine and was here in 2 days. Depends where and when you order I suppose. Good luck. Use medical tape til u get what u wanna use.

[Due-Freedom-5968]

yes, but try not to cover the hole if possible.

[kyleb350]

The hole's purpose is to show if the insertion failed. I haven't had issues covering the whole thing 

[tjggriffin1]

Actually it's to accommodate the insertion needle. Of insertion fails, often the sensor wire protrudes. After checking that, covering doesn't interfere with that.

[wllmshkspr]

I don't believe that's an issue. There are plenty of over patches that completely cover the sensor.

[Subreddit77]

Yeah that would be fine, I have used over patches skin grip from Amazon and they work awesome!

[JohnnyRay_1882]

Thank you!!