Aug. 14, 2021

Many patients that wear a continuous glucose sensor also use pump therapy. This means at any time they have 2 injection sites in use on their body, and those sites are more often than not in the abdominal area. If the patient is a new user it is not a problem, but more seasoned users will seemingly run out of places to insert the devices. If you look at the patient on a Dexcom CGM and a T-Slim pump, they are inserting an average of 13 times a month. Although we tell patients that they only have to move a few centimeters away from a previously used site, that does not often happen. If the patient is using either a Freestyle Libre or an Omnipod they have the opportunity to use their upper arms as well.

The question is, could they use the Dexcom G6 on their upper arm, like the Libre, and get accurate readings? Our intern, Torré Anderson, II, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate, Florida A&M College of Pharmacy, found a great study from the ADA Scientific Symposium that reviewed the use of the G6 on the upper arm. Although it is not indicated to be used on the upper arm, the results of the study may give you the info you need to discuss with your patients.

 

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Dave Joffe

Editor-in-chief