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Heat days, out of doors exercises, and frequent dips within the pool are superb. Sadly, scorching summer time days and exercises may imply that your CGM sensor tape begins to peel, which may imply a shorter lifespan to your sensor.
Clearly, no person desires that, so I’ve examined totally different manufacturers of Dexcom patches to see in the event that they had been comfy to put on and will delay my sensor lifetime.
I examined these patches with a Dexcom sensor however a lot of the manufacturers I attempted supply patches for Dexcom, Freestyle Libre, Eversense, and Medtronic, in addition to pump and blood glucose meter adhesives.
Since I’ve solely examined a handful of the patches accessible, be at liberty so as to add your favourite CGM tape within the remark beneath.
I also needs to point out that many individuals add an adhesive (like pores and skin glue) to their pores and skin below the tape for the sensor to stay longer. I’ve by no means had enormous success with the extra adhesive and I didn’t put on it with any of the CGM patches I used on this check.
What’s necessary in a CGM patch?
Relating to selecting sensor patches, I worth:
- How effectively and the way lengthy it sticks to the pores and skin
- If it’s waterproof and lets my pores and skin breath
- Design and coloration selections
- Affordable pricing
On the whole, I don’t put on a sensor longer than 7-10 days (which can be what the Dexcom G5 and G6 are accredited for). The first purpose I solely put on the sensor for 7-10 days is that I’ve pretty delicate pores and skin and carrying it longer might be an itchy and painful expertise.
I do know that a few of you put on the sensors for for much longer than I do, however, sadly, I can’t let you know how these patches carry out for those who put on them for greater than 10 days.
GrifGrips
This was the primary sensor tape I got here throughout after I began carrying my Dexcom and it’s by far essentially the most sturdy of all of the patches I’ve tried. It really sticks so effectively to the pores and skin that it may be onerous to get off.
I’ve had to make use of glue remover (Uni-Remedy works effectively and can be nice for eradicating glue residue) to make eradicating the patch much less uncomfortable. For sure, the GrifGrips will simply keep on for 7-10 days.
A lot of the grips are product of a fabric very like sports activities tape, so it doesn’t really feel restrictive or stiff, and the pores and skin can breathe since you gained’t sweat below the patch however via it.
You’ll be able to select between 5 totally different adhesive choices, so this can be a nice choice you probably have delicate pores and skin or can’t tolerate pigments or dyes.
If you’d like your grip to be colourful, GrifGrips are available quite a lot of colours and shapes. I haven’t tried their multicolored designs, that are product of a distinct materials, so I can’t say in the event that they stick as effectively.
Costs range by design and the quantity of patches you buy. You may get a 10-pack of primary coloured oval grips for $10 plus transport.
Yow will discover all of the designs on the GrifGrip web site in addition to a variety on Amazon. The oval sports activities tape that I most frequently decide is $20 for 20 grips on Amazon ($1/patch).
Pores and skin Grip
The Pores and skin Grip CGM patches are similar to GrifGrips. They’re additionally product of a mushy fabric-like materials. Nevertheless, it’s a a lot smaller firm and so they solely supply oval and spherical patches in a small number of totally different colours, one being “tan”. Sadly, their definition of tan is just not the identical as my pores and skin coloration.
That apart, what actually units Pores and skin Grips aside from GrifGrips is the peel-off paper.
The paper is precut into 4 items, so as a substitute of getting to peel all of it off directly and having to handle a really sticky grip (I’ve tousled a number of grips as a result of they bought glued to themselves earlier than I bought them on my pores and skin), you may merely loosen up the perimeters, place the grip over the sensor, after which take away the paper. Easy however sensible.
You’ll be able to see how I placed on the Pores and skin Grip on this video:
I’ve discovered that the fabric feels barely lighter than the GrifGrips however sticks simply as effectively. It additionally doesn’t irritate my pores and skin.
Costs are very cheap, with a 20-pack of patches being $24.99 ($1.25/patch) on Amazon.
ExpressionMed
These CGM adhesives are enjoyable and colourful, and you will get a broad vary of cute designs. They’re predominantly oval patches however you can too get a number of different enjoyable shapes, together with mini tapes which can be smaller than a lot of the patches I’ve seen.
I attempted their owl-shaped and heart-shaped patches (not accessible anymore), which some may argue cater extra to the youthful viewers (however who cares, I’m younger at coronary heart!).
That is undoubtedly for individuals who aren’t shy about displaying off their diabetes gear and I actually loved carrying them.
The most important draw back to those grips is that they’re printed on materials that feels extra like paper than sports activities tape. They felt stiffer than each GrifGrips and Pores and skin Grips, and so they didn’t final me various days.
My take is that these CGM patches are a technique to beautify the sensors somewhat than ensuring they stick longer.
They’re fairly a bit costlier than the patches above, with a mean patch worth of $3/patch while you purchase a 5-pack and $4 for a single patch. Yow will discover them on Amazon or the ExpressionMed web site.
Pump Peelz
Just like the ExpressionMed CGM patches, Pump Peelz brings the enjoyable in the case of designs. They’ve a bigger collection of print designs than any of the opposite manufacturers however solely are available a single oval form.
Very similar to ExpressionMed, the prints are on materials that feels extra like paper than cloth, so additionally they are inclined to wrinkle a bit and don’t final me so long as GrifGrip and Pores and skin Grips.
Nevertheless, for those who’re on the lookout for a technique to jazz up your CGM for any event, you’ll find it right here. They’ll even print your individual design if that’s what you favor. I wore their American flag after I grew to become a US citizen and thought that was very applicable.
The designs appear barely extra mature than ExpressionMed. I had a number of enjoyable carrying them and would undoubtedly purchase them once more. However primarily to put on within the wintertime as a result of they don’t deal with warmth (and sweat) in addition to a number of the different patches.
You should buy a single patch for $3.49 or a pack of 5 patches for $12 ($2.4/patch), and you’ll decide as many various designs as you want on their web site.
Clear adhesives
The clear adhesives like Tegaderm and Flexifix are usually not actually patches however somewhat medical adhesives/tape.
I can’t assist getting the sensation that I’m placing workplace tape on my physique each time I’ve used them. Since they’re produced from a plastic-like materials, my pores and skin can’t breathe, and the adhesives normally don’t final lengthy since sweat will pool up below the adhesive somewhat than undergo it.
I discover that my pores and skin turns into pink and irritated in a short time, and the one upside I see to this answer is that it’s comparatively low cost and see-through.
Flexifix was the final model I attempted, and I obtained a big roll of tape, which may simply be lower into no matter form you need. That’s, in fact, a bonus for those who don’t just like the bigger CGM patches accessible (I’ve written about learn how to lower the tape right here).
If you wish to strive it out, you’ll find it on Amazon.
Which Dexcom patch would I like to recommend?
If the purpose is to make the Dexcom sensor keep on longer, and also you don’t care about colours, shapes, and designs, I’d suggest the Pores and skin Grips. They barely outperform GrifGrips on the similar worth, they’re straightforward to use, and so they stick.
Though tremendous enjoyable and cute, the ExpressionMed patches and the Pump Peelz are extra a manner of beautifying your CGM sensor than a technique to actually safe the sensor and delay its lifetime.
That doesn’t imply I gained’t put on them (I really actually like how enjoyable they’re), however, for me, they’ll simply be extra of a winter wearable.
UPDATE: Different nice Dexcom patches that I’ve tried after writing this text:
Not Simply A Patch – Funky colours and a cool form for $21.99 for 20 patches
Dexcom’s Free Overlay tape – I didn’t like this tape however I’m including it because it’s free. Simply request a tape via the Dexcom app or contact Dexcom via their web site.
