[Diabetes-talk] Putting on Dexcom G5 Sensor without sight - one approach

[TALey at ups.com]

Veronica, 

For what it's worth, here is a description of how I put on my Dexcom sensor without the adhesive sticking to itself. 

How I put on a new Dexcom G5 Mobile sensor without sight
First, I find that often, the sensors come out of the large sealed plastic coverings such that the adhesive oval area is curled downward, so the adhesive is not flat. I make sure I bend up the oval shaped adhesive area all the way around until it is flat again. 

The covering over the adhesive is made of two pieces, each piece covering half of the adhesive. The two tabs you pull on are right next to each other, in the middle of one of the long sides of the oval. I put my sensors either on the left or right side of my abdomen. In this description I'm putting it on my left side. I switch everything around if the sensor is going on my right side. 

I always make sure I use an alcohol swab on the site first and make sure the skin completely dries from the alcohol  before putting on the sensor. I usually start off by holding the sensor by the oval area with the fingers on my left hand, holding on the left side of the oval near the tab. When I hold it like this, the bottom of the oval is facing me, with the long body of the sensor that contains the inserter kind of falling back and down away from me to the right. 

Then I find the tab for the right half of the oval with my right hand, and making sure my left hand is only grasping the left half , I pull the tab on the right side toward  me and down to remove it. Lacking another hand, I usually put the piece I just removed between my lips to hold it until I'm done. 

Then, I very lightly grasp the now exposed sticky adhesive part with the tips of the thumb and first finger of my right fingers. I grasp the smallest part I can, about in the same place the tab was that I just removed. And, I can now let go with my left hand.

It is important not to get the adhesive stuck to your clothes or anything else. I hold it away from my body. I might say also that I always stand when I put on a new sensor. 

Now, I use my left hand to find the tab for the other half and pull it toward me and down until it comes off. I then hold this one between my lips as well. I'm sure it would make for some humorous watching if anyone videoed me while I was doing this!

Now, the entire adhesive is exposed, and I'm holding on to the adhesive with my right thumb and first finger, but just the smallest part is sticking to my fingers. Now, I grasp the body of the sensor inserter with my left hand, and very carefully unstick my fingers from the adhesive. If done carefully , none of the adhesive will be sticking to itself, or anything else. Now, since I'm going to put it on my left side, I switch hands so my right hand is holding the barrel of the inserter. 

Next, holding the barrel, I carefully use my right hand to maneuver the sensor to the place on my abdomen I plan to insert and touch the adhesive to my skin. This is the trickiest part. Then I quickly run my finger over the adhesive to make sure it is well attached all around. 

Hope this helps!

Tom