2 Mistakes To Avoid When Trying To Keep Dexcom Patches Adhered To Your Skin

If you have recently started using Dexcom patches to transmit data to your blood glucose monitor, you may be having a problem with keeping the patches adhered to your skin. If so, make sure you are not making one or both of the following mistakes that could affect the patches' adhesiveness.

1.  Attempting to Place the Patches on Dirty Skin

One mistake for which to look when you are trying to determine why your patches are not staying stuck on your skin is trying to place the patch before thoroughly cleansing the skin. If you try to adhere the patch to skin that is dirty, oily, or even sweaty, any of these substances will interfere with the adhesive. This interference could be caused by uneven sticking or dissolution of the adhesive.

Before you insert the sensor and apply the patch to any area of your body, make sure you wipe the surface of your skin with an alcohol swab. If you have problems with alcohol breaking out your skin, speak with your doctor about an appropriate replacement that will be gentle to your skin while killing any microbes.

If your skin is visibly dirty or oily, however, you should take the extra time to wash it before using the alcohol. Use a mild soap without any dyes or fragrances to wash the skin, allow the area to dry thoroughly, and use the alcohol before sticking on the patch.

2.  Putting Tape Over the Center Sensor

Even if you thoroughly cleanse the area, you may still have problems with keeping the patch on your skin, especially if you are caught out in the rain, are swimming, or are sweating because of the heat. In this case, you can use a medical-grade tape recommended by your doctor to secure the edges of the patch.

However, while securing the patch, make sure you do not make the mistake of placing the tape over the center sensor. Not only would applying tape over the sensor possibly interfere with its ability to transmit your readings, but the extra tape may place pressure on the insertion site on your skin. This could cause you discomfort, as well as give inaccurate readings.

Avoiding the above mistakes can help you keep your patches on more securely while allowing the sensor to transmit to your monitor. For more information, speak with a representative from businesses like Skin Grip that offers waterproof Dexcom patches.