How to Make Dexcom Sensor Last 2 Weeks
The Dexcom is not cheap. With a 3 month supply costing about $1,500 on average you’re probably wondering how to get the most out of your supplies. Or maybe you don’t pay a penny because your Dexcom is completely covered by insurance, but the insertion device scares the bejesus out of you and mustering up the courage to put a new one on every 7 days is enough to make you question if it’s even worth it.
Getting your sensors to last an extra week or two is simple. Heck you could make them last 6 months if you really wanted to, though I wouldn’t recommend it. 2 weeks is my goldilocks time for sensors for a couple reasons:
- The insertion site gets red and scary looking the longer you have it on. A couple times I tried wearing my sensor for 3 weeks and when I pulled the bandage off it looked very irritated and had hints of an infection.
- The bandage starts to look like trash. Trying to keep a sticker on your body for 21 days through sleeping, showering, and sweating and having it look nice and clean is an oxymoron. By the third week my sensor is held on with a couple band aids, medical tape, and the white sensor bandage is a nice greyish brown color. Nasty!
It’s for these reasons that I don’t like to push my Dexcom past the 2 week mark. However, I know some people who don’t have any issues pushing it to 3 week. It’s all about what works best for you.
So the big question is…
How to Make Dexcom Sensor Last 2 Weeks (or more)
FOR EVERY STEP LISTED BELOW, THE SENSOR WILL REMAIN ON YOUR BODY. I REPEAT. FOR EVERY STEP, LEAVE THE SENSOR ON YOUR BODY.
Step 1.
If your sensor has already expired skip down to Step 2. If your sensor has not expired select “Stop Sensor” on your receiver.
Step 2.
With the sensor still on your body, select “start sensor” on your receiver. This will begin the 2 hour warm up process (just like when you put a new sensor on).
And that’s it! I told you it was easy 🙂
Interested in learning more about the Dexcom? Check out my posts below:
- Getting a CGM: Initial Dexcom Review
- Dexcom 1 Year Update
- Dexcom G5 Mobile App for Android
- How to Get Dexcom on Android Wear Watch
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4 Comments
We used to do this for my 9-year-old son with great success; however, recently we’re lucky if we get two more days after the second warm up period. I cannot figure out what changed. I sure wish I could insertion of these sensors is really horrible for my son and it was nice to only have to put him through it every 2 weeks. Any ideas?
What’s the reason for it not lasting? Is it the tape? If so, I use this brand of tape http://amzn.to/2zrVxgb to help dex last. I’ve also used band aids in a pinch – though they don’t look as nice. There are also companies like Grif Grips that make tape specifically for CGM’s and they are in fun shapes and colors: https://www.grifgrips.com/ I think dexcom changed their adhesive because some people were getting skin reactions to the glue which may be why it’s not as tough now.
If it’s the sensor that’s not lasting as long and you’re getting crazy readings try looking into these issues: http://www.t1dliving.com/12-reasons-dexcom-inaccuracies/
Good luck! I hope this helps!
Thanks for this! My insurance covers but they cover 3 months rather than 12 weeks, which means with a couple of 31-day months this summer I am hurting. I appreciate the help!
I just got one not quite a month ago.
I lind of figured this out myself after going crazy trying to get dexcom to send me my extra sensors in time (I had an mri and am having a CT tomorrow.)They said they send one, but then told me it would not be in the time limit they told me, but several days later.
I so wish I had thought to look this up instead of going through everything I did between extremely not helpful tech support etc. and then because of having some health problems, staying up to check and recheck by finger stick half of the night. (Like I said, I’m having some health issues, and my BG is running way too high)
What actually happened is that the transmitter stopped sending to my pump, but continued sending to my phone app.
After shutting down, I saw the app saying “warm up time” etc. then it requested the calibrations.
After that I just kept testing for awhile, because I was havhbgvtorubek getting my blood sugars down and they were staying the same, but eventually I managed enough insulin to bring them down again.
So even doing NOTHING then the calibration also seemed to work!