This submit could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Please learn our disclosure.
Heat days, outside exercises, and frequent dips within the pool are superb. Sadly, scorching summer season days and exercises may also imply that your CGM sensor tape begins to peel, which might 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 have been snug to put on and will lengthen my sensor lifetime.
I examined these patches with a Dexcom sensor however many 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 beneath.
I must also 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 big 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 essential in a CGM patch?
In terms of 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
Normally, I don’t put on a sensor longer than 7-10 days (which can be what the Dexcom G5 and G6 are accepted 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 in case you 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 probably 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 by means of it.
You’ll be able to select between 5 totally different adhesive choices, so this can be a nice possibility in case you have delicate pores and skin or can’t tolerate pigments or dyes.
If you’d like your grip to be colourful, GrifGrips are available in a wide range 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 quantity of patches you buy. You may get a 10-pack of primary coloured oval grips for $10 plus delivery.
Yow will discover 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 product of a gentle fabric-like materials. Nonetheless, it’s a a lot smaller firm they usually solely supply oval and spherical patches in a small number of totally different colours, one being “tan”. Sadly, their definition of tan shouldn’t be 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 just a few 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 good.
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 affordable, 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 just a few different enjoyable shapes, together with mini tapes which are smaller than many of the patches I’ve seen.
I attempted their owl-shaped and heart-shaped patches (not accessible anymore), which some would possibly 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 they usually didn’t final me quite a lot of days. My take is that these CGM patches are a option to beautify the sensors reasonably than ensuring they stick longer.
They’re fairly a bit costlier than the patches above with a mean patch worth of $3/patch if 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 relation to 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 material, so additionally they are inclined to wrinkle somewhat and don’t final me so long as GrifGrip and Pores and skin Grips.
Nonetheless, in case you’re on the lookout for a option to jazz up your CGM for any event, yow will discover it right here. They’ll even print your personal 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 quite a 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 few 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 also you decide as many various designs as you want on their web site.
Clear adhesives
The clear adhesives like Tegaderm and Flexifix will not be actually patches however reasonably 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 comprised of a plastic materials, my pores and skin can not breathe, and the adhesives normally don’t final lengthy since sweat will pool up below the adhesive reasonably 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 minimize into no matter form you need. That’s, after all, a bonus in case you don’t just like the bigger CGM patches accessible (I’ve written about the right way to minimize the tape right here).
If you wish to strive it out, yow will discover it on Amazon.
Which Dexcom patch would I like to recommend?
If the objective is to make the Dexcom sensor keep on longer, and also you don’t care about colours, shapes, and designs, I’d advocate the Pores and skin Grips. They barely outperform GrifGrips on the identical worth, they’re simple to use, they usually stick.
Though tremendous enjoyable and cute, the ExpressionMed patches and the Pump Peelz are extra a means of beautifying your CGM sensor than a option to actually safe the sensor and prolonging the 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.
In case you are on the lookout for the very best combo of practicality and design, I might advocate beginning within the GrifGrip retailer. Their patches work nice and they’re all the time popping out with new designs.
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 means of the Dexcom app or contact Dexcom by means of their web site.
