FAQ: What should I do if I feel pain, discomfort, or bleeding?
FAQ:
Answer:
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:
- The best location to apply your sensor is in the fatty part of the back of your upper arm, in the river between tricep and deltoid and discomfort is more common when the sensor is over the triceps muscle. Avoid placing the sensor directly over your muscle as this has been associated with pain and discomfort.
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. For the sensor filament to reach the interstitial fluid and measure your glucose, the application needle must go through your skin which has small blood vessels scattered throughout. If the application needle comes into contact with one of these blood vessels you may see a small amount of blood coming from the sensor but this is generally nothing to worry about. You should apply light pressure on the sensor with a tissue – the bleeding should stop within a few minutes.
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.
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.
If there are any additional medical concerns, we recommend you consult with your primary care physician.
If you have more questions, or if you need to replace a sensor for any of the reasons above, please email us at support@levelshealth.com and we will be happy to help!
Further Reading: