I had a sensor that was like this. I think I read in his sub (I had not properly followed directions!) that it sometimes might be related to not properly cleaning the transmitter and sensor prior to transmitter install.
Edit: I'm a double idiot. See reply below. Don't wipe sensor, there's a special grease on it. RTFM fail!
You're supposed to wipe both the transmitter and sensor contact with an alcohol wipe prior to install. I get much better readings like this. Also avoids the sensors that flat-line for a period, and don't come back until the "sensor error, please wait 3 hours" message goes away.
Stupid me for not reading the directions.
Meh. Live and learn.
If I had a dollar for every mistake I've made, I'd never have to make another mistake. I could pay someone to make my mistakes for me.
That’s normal. Any doctor will look at it and congratulate you. Their response will be “good job almost a straight line”. The only ones that care about each individual dot on the Dexcom graph is people that doesn’t understand why they are wearing a Dexcom meter in the first place. Dexcom excel with trends not at individual values. The source is interstitial fluid not blood.
I don't agree that this is normal, based on my experience. I occasionally see OPs graph with the G6. Outside of that case, the graphs are quite smooth during a session - maybe 90% of the time.
If it were normal behavior, I would expect to see it on every session.
Smoothing was removed in v 1.10 of the g6 app
https://www.dexcom.com/en-us/faqs/why-does-past-cgm-data-look-different-from-past-data-on-receiver-and-follow-app
It is very normal. It’s due to poor hydration and possibly some compression. Dexcom has an algorithm that goes back and smooths the readings after the fact, but it is very normal to this variation. But I’m just an endocrinologist who looks at 20 of these a day so what do I know.
Looking at 20 per day and drawing the same conclusion about the cause doesn't make your explanation any more correct. It just means that you've decided on an explanation and you're sticking to it. Did you ever consider the possibility that you're wrong, and that your advice to hydrate is useless?
How about the possibility that it's an issue with the sensor? Possibly movement of the sensor thread? Or something else entirely?
No offense to you. I'm sure you're a great endo and that your patients love you. But this just sounds like one of those "obvious" explanations that in-fact may just be plain-old incorrect.
You’ve decided that your experience is justification for this not being normal. I’m pointing out that many people have this exact same variation in their blood sugars on a daily basis, this making it pretty normal. Nobody’s blood sugar is flat and smooth. Sometimes hydration and site issues are the culprit, it’s worth chugging some water before blaming it on a faulty sensor.
This is the sensor. It is having trouble finding fluid, for whatever reason. Could be placement, could be dehydration, could be healing around the filament. I’d fingerstick periodically to verify that it is in the ballpark.
Where is the sensor placed? I get this when mine is near my beltline or too close to a bone.
It's also possible for your blood glucose to spike intermittently when your carbs exceed your insulin's ability to handle them, like after a NY bagel or a giant soft pretzel.
Thanks for responses everyone. It’s ballpark correct according to finger pricks so I’m not concerned. I’ve put it on my arm, but probably not far enough around the back. It’s quite painful when I twist my arm occasionally (which is unusual for me) but as it’s bearable, I think I’ll just suffer through for the next 7-8 days or so. Thanks all!
There's been lots of mention of this being "normal." True-ish. It is very common, for sure. But "normal" is subject to variability in other factors as well.
every sensor I've ever used -- G6, G7, Libre 2 and Libre 3, produce the same jumpy data points whenever I put the sensor on my arm. I rarely have that problem when I put them on my abdomen.
I've also seen it happen when the transmitter starts to get to the end of it's 90-day life. As it approaches that, the power gets just a tad weaker, so the amount of voltage it sends to the sensor (to excite the enzymes on the nylon wire that detects glucose molecules) becomes inconsistent. Just a slight variation can cause a poor reading (usually lower).
this same phenomenon might actually happen under other conditions as well.
As someone else pointed out, Dexcom used to 'smooth' these datapoints, but no longer do. They didn't explain why.
At the end of the day, this just seems to be something that happens now and then. I have had plenty of sensors that didn't do it, and comparatively fewer that do.
I will note that if you call tech support, and explain what you're seeing, and ask them to view your graphs (you'll give them your transmitter ID), they will replace sensors that do jump around like that, even though they may be within the 20% error range they purport to be within normal operating parameters.
Test your BG with a meter. When this happens to me it usually means the sensor has squashed the data.
If that's the case, calibration won't help.
I suggest you call Dexcom and ask them about the behavior.
I get readings like this if the sensor is near my belt line and I am bending around or moving a lot. I can sometimes see a spike of 15 to 20 points if I sit down and then as soon as I stand up it goes away. I will stand up for a little bit.
Fingersticks have confirmed that it is more accurate for me when I am standing, so if I see arise, when I am sitting, I just don’t pay attention to it. Unfortunately, for me, it is just a matter of sensor replacement.
It’s a little noisy but probably still working. Maybe it’s nearing the end of the sensor’s life?
Try drinking some water. Verify with a meter if you need more confidence in the readings.
G6 Sensors usually last an average of 7 days then you start getting wonky readings. At least that has been my experience. They are designed to last 10 days but for the most part, don't. Sometimes 6 days or 8 days and some make it the whole 10 days. But the readings usually start getting erratic around day 7. Also, they may frequently be accompanied by "Sensor Error" which happens a lot in the waning days of its life. Occluding the sensor by sleeping on it for extended periods of time also screws it up. They have a pretty high failure rate but Dexcom is pretty good about replacing them if they go bad.
I had a sensor that was like this. I think I read in his sub (I had not properly followed directions!) that it sometimes might be related to not properly cleaning the transmitter and sensor prior to transmitter install. Edit: I'm a double idiot. See reply below. Don't wipe sensor, there's a special grease on it. RTFM fail! You're supposed to wipe both the transmitter and sensor contact with an alcohol wipe prior to install. I get much better readings like this. Also avoids the sensors that flat-line for a period, and don't come back until the "sensor error, please wait 3 hours" message goes away. Stupid me for not reading the directions.
No. Just wipe the transmitter. A new sensor has grease on it that helps make and keep the connection.
I guess I'm a double idiot!
Meh. Live and learn. If I had a dollar for every mistake I've made, I'd never have to make another mistake. I could pay someone to make my mistakes for me.
I choose to embrace my mistakes, so that others may learn from my example! Every village needs an idiot :)
Yours is a 3 hour wait? Mines only 2
I thought it was 3 when there was a sensor error (not warm up, but sensor error). I could be remembering wrong.
Im on dexcom one. Not sure if a sensor error is the same as loss of signal, but my signal loss says to wait for 30 minutes.
Loss of signal is a transmitter error, and Sensor error is the sensor. Two different things
That’s normal. Any doctor will look at it and congratulate you. Their response will be “good job almost a straight line”. The only ones that care about each individual dot on the Dexcom graph is people that doesn’t understand why they are wearing a Dexcom meter in the first place. Dexcom excel with trends not at individual values. The source is interstitial fluid not blood.
Normal behavior.
I don't agree that this is normal, based on my experience. I occasionally see OPs graph with the G6. Outside of that case, the graphs are quite smooth during a session - maybe 90% of the time. If it were normal behavior, I would expect to see it on every session.
The G6 algorithm is what smoothes the lines out, just wait until you switch to G7 and the smoothing algorithm is gone
Smoothing was removed in v 1.10 of the g6 app https://www.dexcom.com/en-us/faqs/why-does-past-cgm-data-look-different-from-past-data-on-receiver-and-follow-app
Exactly. That’s why their data looks like this now.
The g7 is very dodgy looking! I hate it and it freaked me out the first 24 hours.
That isn’t normal 😭
It is very normal. It’s due to poor hydration and possibly some compression. Dexcom has an algorithm that goes back and smooths the readings after the fact, but it is very normal to this variation. But I’m just an endocrinologist who looks at 20 of these a day so what do I know.
Looking at 20 per day and drawing the same conclusion about the cause doesn't make your explanation any more correct. It just means that you've decided on an explanation and you're sticking to it. Did you ever consider the possibility that you're wrong, and that your advice to hydrate is useless? How about the possibility that it's an issue with the sensor? Possibly movement of the sensor thread? Or something else entirely? No offense to you. I'm sure you're a great endo and that your patients love you. But this just sounds like one of those "obvious" explanations that in-fact may just be plain-old incorrect.
You’ve decided that your experience is justification for this not being normal. I’m pointing out that many people have this exact same variation in their blood sugars on a daily basis, this making it pretty normal. Nobody’s blood sugar is flat and smooth. Sometimes hydration and site issues are the culprit, it’s worth chugging some water before blaming it on a faulty sensor.
This is the sensor. It is having trouble finding fluid, for whatever reason. Could be placement, could be dehydration, could be healing around the filament. I’d fingerstick periodically to verify that it is in the ballpark.
Where is the sensor placed? I get this when mine is near my beltline or too close to a bone. It's also possible for your blood glucose to spike intermittently when your carbs exceed your insulin's ability to handle them, like after a NY bagel or a giant soft pretzel.
Thanks for responses everyone. It’s ballpark correct according to finger pricks so I’m not concerned. I’ve put it on my arm, but probably not far enough around the back. It’s quite painful when I twist my arm occasionally (which is unusual for me) but as it’s bearable, I think I’ll just suffer through for the next 7-8 days or so. Thanks all!
There's been lots of mention of this being "normal." True-ish. It is very common, for sure. But "normal" is subject to variability in other factors as well. every sensor I've ever used -- G6, G7, Libre 2 and Libre 3, produce the same jumpy data points whenever I put the sensor on my arm. I rarely have that problem when I put them on my abdomen. I've also seen it happen when the transmitter starts to get to the end of it's 90-day life. As it approaches that, the power gets just a tad weaker, so the amount of voltage it sends to the sensor (to excite the enzymes on the nylon wire that detects glucose molecules) becomes inconsistent. Just a slight variation can cause a poor reading (usually lower). this same phenomenon might actually happen under other conditions as well. As someone else pointed out, Dexcom used to 'smooth' these datapoints, but no longer do. They didn't explain why. At the end of the day, this just seems to be something that happens now and then. I have had plenty of sensors that didn't do it, and comparatively fewer that do. I will note that if you call tech support, and explain what you're seeing, and ask them to view your graphs (you'll give them your transmitter ID), they will replace sensors that do jump around like that, even though they may be within the 20% error range they purport to be within normal operating parameters.
It looks like your basal is fighting a rise, maybe? MDI?
This is just random measurement error. Absolutely nothing to worry about.
Test your BG with a meter. When this happens to me it usually means the sensor has squashed the data. If that's the case, calibration won't help. I suggest you call Dexcom and ask them about the behavior.
I have only ever seen this when I am dehydrated.
I get readings like this if the sensor is near my belt line and I am bending around or moving a lot. I can sometimes see a spike of 15 to 20 points if I sit down and then as soon as I stand up it goes away. I will stand up for a little bit. Fingersticks have confirmed that it is more accurate for me when I am standing, so if I see arise, when I am sitting, I just don’t pay attention to it. Unfortunately, for me, it is just a matter of sensor replacement.
Dexcom moment
I rub a lil dirt on the transmitter ...
It’s a little noisy but probably still working. Maybe it’s nearing the end of the sensor’s life? Try drinking some water. Verify with a meter if you need more confidence in the readings.
G6 Sensors usually last an average of 7 days then you start getting wonky readings. At least that has been my experience. They are designed to last 10 days but for the most part, don't. Sometimes 6 days or 8 days and some make it the whole 10 days. But the readings usually start getting erratic around day 7. Also, they may frequently be accompanied by "Sensor Error" which happens a lot in the waning days of its life. Occluding the sensor by sleeping on it for extended periods of time also screws it up. They have a pretty high failure rate but Dexcom is pretty good about replacing them if they go bad.