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Heat days, outside exercises, and frequent dips within the pool are superb. Sadly, scorching summer season days and exercises can even imply that your CGM sensor tape begins to peel, which may imply a shorter lifespan in your sensor.
Clearly, no person desires that, so I’ve examined completely different manufacturers of Dexcom patches to see in the event that they have 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 happy so as to add your favourite CGM tape within the remark under.
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 large success with the extra adhesive and I didn’t put on it with any of the CGM patches I used on this take a look at.
What’s necessary in a CGM patch?
In relation to choosing sensor patches, I worth:
- How nicely 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
- Cheap pricing
Usually, I don’t put on a sensor longer than 7-10 days (which can be what the Dexcom G5 and G6 are authorised for). The first motive 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 once 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 nicely to the pores and skin that it may be exhausting to get off.
I’ve had to make use of glue remover (Uni-Resolve works nicely and can be nice for eradicating glue residue) to make eradicating the patch much less uncomfortable. Evidently, the GrifGrips will simply keep on for 7-10 days.
A lot of the grips are manufactured from a cloth 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 by it.
You’ll be able to select between 5 completely different adhesive choices, so it is a nice choice when you have delicate pores and skin or can’t tolerate pigments or dyes.
If you would like your grip to be colourful, GrifGrips are available in quite a lot of colours and shapes. I haven’t tried their multicolored designs, that are manufactured from a special materials, so I can’t say in the event that they stick as nicely.
Costs differ by design and the amount of patches you buy. You will get a 10-pack of fundamental coloured oval grips for $10 plus delivery.
You could find all of the designs on the GrifGrip web site in addition to a range 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 manufactured from a gentle fabric-like materials. Nonetheless, it’s a a lot smaller firm and so they solely supply oval and spherical patches in a small number of completely different colours, one being “tan”. Sadly, their definition of tan just isn’t the identical as my pores and skin coloration.
That apart, what actually units Pores and skin Grips other than GrifGrips is the peel-off paper.
The paper is precut into 4 items, so as an alternative of getting to peel all of it off without delay and having to handle a really sticky grip (I’ve tousled just a few grips as a result of they bought glued to themselves earlier than I bought them on my pores and skin), you’ll be able to 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 nicely. 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 it’s also possible to get just a few different enjoyable shapes, together with mini tapes which are 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 positively for individuals who aren’t shy about exhibiting off their diabetes gear and I actually loved carrying them.
The main 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 quite than ensuring they stick longer.
They’re fairly a bit costlier than the patches above, with a mean patch value of $3/patch if you purchase a 5-pack and $4 for a single patch. You could find them on Amazon or the ExpressionMed web site.
Pump Peelz
Just like the ExpressionMed CGM patches, Pump Peelz brings the enjoyable in terms of designs. They’ve a bigger number of print designs than any of the opposite manufacturers however solely are available in a single oval form.
Very like ExpressionMed, the prints are on materials that feels extra like paper than cloth, so in addition they are inclined to wrinkle a bit and don’t final me so long as GrifGrip and Pores and skin Grips.
Nonetheless, for those who’re searching for a technique to jazz up your CGM for any event, you will discover it right here. They’ll even print your individual design if that’s what you favor. I wore their American flag once I turned a US citizen and thought that was very acceptable.
The designs appear barely extra mature than ExpressionMed. I had a whole lot of enjoyable carrying them and would positively 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 may decide as many alternative designs as you want on their web site.
Clear adhesives
The clear adhesives like Tegaderm and Flexifix should not actually patches however quite medical adhesives/tape.
I can’t assist getting the sensation that I’m placing workplace tape on my physique every time I’ve used them. Since they’re constituted of a plastic-like materials, my pores and skin can’t breathe, and the adhesives often don’t final lengthy since sweat will pool up below the adhesive quite than undergo it.
I discover that my pores and skin turns into purple 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 acquired 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 will discover 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 value, they’re simple to use, and so they stick.
Though tremendous enjoyable and cute, the ExpressionMed patches and the Pump Peelz are extra a method of beautifying your CGM sensor than a technique to really 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 by the Dexcom app or contact Dexcom by their web site.
