How do patients remove their sensors?

If patients experience difficulty removing the sensor from their skin, these products and techniques may help:

General Removal Techniques

  • Loosen edge of adhesive with fingernail and use products listed below if necessary.1,2
  • While removing tapes, use fingers of opposite hand to push skin down and away from adhesive. Continue to move fingers on skin toward adhesive as it is removed.2
  • ‘‘Fold back’’ technique: Remove adhesive slowly, at low angle, folding back on itself.2
  • ‘‘Stretch and relax’’ technique: Films that stretch (e.g., IV3000 or Tegaderm) may be stretched horizontally away from the center (opposite of the fold back technique) while walking fingers under the dressing to continue stretching it.2
  • Use adhesive removal wipes to rub the skin under the tape toward the adhesive as it is removed. This helps loosen adhesive from skin and may help reduce pain with removal.1

     

Removal Products and Description

Product Description
Uni-solve Adhesive Remover (Smith&Nephew) - Comes in wipes or liquid
AllKare Adhesive Removal Wipe (ConvaTec Inc) - Comes in wipes
Tac Away Adhesive Removal Wipes (Torbot) - Comes in wipes

 - Reciprocal product to Skin Tac
Detachol Adhesive Remover (Eloquest) - Latex free, alcohol free

 - Comes in single use vials or liquid - Reciprocal product to Mastisol
Household oilsa:

 - Baby oil, coconut oil or olive oil
- Least specialized and least expensive option

 

For detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System, please refer to the user guide. Dexcom, Inc. does not recommend, endorse or warrant any third-party products, including adhesive supplements and removal products.

View the downloadable "What Works for Me" document, which outlines the step-by-step process for how to insert and remove a Dexcom G6 sensor patch.

1. Chase HP, Messer L: Understanding Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitors. 3rd ed. Denver: Children’s Diabetes Research Foundation, 2016.

2. McNichol L, Lund C, Rosen T, Gray M: Medical adhesives and patient safety: State of the science: consensus statements for the assessment, prevention, and treatment of adhesive related skin injuries. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 2013;40:365–380; quiz E361–E362.

 a Used within institution or support in public commentary, online articles, diabetes blogs, social media.

Contact Us

If you are a healthcare provider and want to learn more about Dexcom, please fill out the form and a representative will contact you. If you are a Dexcom User or Patient, please contact Dexcom here.

Contact Reason

Please note: To ensure a successful transaction, please provide information that matches the Provider’s medical license information. A valid business address is required for a request to be fulfilled.

Do not include prefix (Mr., Mrs., Dr.)
As listed on Provider’s medical license (no MD, Jr., Sr.)
Please use the Provider’s NPI
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Is your patient on a connected pump device?

 

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