I have the Medtronic sensor very similiar to the Dexcom, and was told
about the "keep it in again" trick from my nurse educator, who is
affiliated with, but not an employee of, Medtronic. After 3-4 days I
sometimes get some sensitivity/mild pain around the sensor. I've
thought that was from it being inserted in the same place for too
long. Have you found/heard any ways to help this? Also, after the
second 72 hour round, I've been pulling my sensor out and throwing it
away. I guess if it's not bothering me, I'll try it for a third
time! Regards, Fred Goldberg

--- In JewishInsulinPumpers@yahoogroups.com, <Yerachml@...> wrote:
>
> We continue to have frequent posts from non-CGM users, presenting
> costs based on the FDA-Approved 72-hour "Sensor Life". The posts
may
> be well intentioned, but they are horribly misleading for anybody
who
> is seriously considering purchase of a CGMS. I'm spending less than
> $70 per month on Sensors.
>
> I use Dexcom, and consistently get about 18 days per Sensor.
>
> YMMV, but Nearly all of the **ACTUAL USERS** of CGMS do the
> "off-label" trick of leaving the Sensor in when the 72 hours
expires, and simply
> running the procedure to "find the new Sensor I just put in" when
the
> time is up. The CGM happily finds the "new" (old) Sensor, it waits
for
> the calibration period (2 hours in my case), and then you're good
for
> another 72 hours.
>
> The on-label usage is only 72 hours, and I suspect that the
Companies
> would get into trouble if they officially wrote recommended off-
label
> usage. They also REALLY WANT YOUR MONEY; Dexcom, in particular, is
> really struggling financially because people like me are buying a
new
> 5-pack of Sensors once every 3 MONTHS, instead of once every 2
weeks
> as they had expected. So, you won't hear about the real cost from
> them.
>