FAQ: What if I feel pain or discomfort with my sensor?

Discomfort:

After initial application, it is normal to feel some sensations while getting used to the sensor on your arm, but if the discomfort persists for at least a few hours after applying the CGM, we’d recommend removing this sensor. 

Tips for avoiding discomfort when applying a sensor:

• apply on fleshy part of body
• avoid placing it directly over a muscle

Skin Irritation:

If you are experiencing skin irritation from the sensor and/or performance cover adhesive, we recommend removing the performance cover and sensor, and holding off on applying a new one until you have an understanding of what might be happening. If helpful, you can find the safety information from Abbott for the FreeStyle Libre on this page here and information on the performance cover materials at this link here. 

Tips to help prevent skin irritation:

• Before applying a new sensor, thoroughly clean your arm and let the area fully dry. If needed, it may also help to trim off any hair on the arm.

• With each new sensor, adjust the placement location just enough to give the skin from the original location a chance to breathe and heal.
• Loosen a strongly adhering sensor by applying baby oil or vegetable oil for 5-10 minutes before removing it. This can help prevent any irritation from pulling off the sensor.
• If the sensor itself isn't bothering your skin, then feel free to omit the Performance Cover going forward. The sensor is fully waterproof on its own and the adhesive should be plenty strong.

Bleeding:

Once in a while, people will see a small amount of blood coming from the sensor application area. If this happens and the sensor doesn't hurt, it's ok to leave it in. You should apply light pressure on the sensor with a tissue – the bleeding should stop within a few minutes.

If there are any additional medical concerns, we recommend you consult with your primary care physician.