Where Is The Most Accurate Location For Your Dexcom, Libre, Or Guardian Sensor?

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices, such as the Freestyle Libre, Dexcom G6 or G7, and Medtronic Guardian, have become increasingly popular among people with diabetes as a way to monitor their blood sugar levels in real-time. However, the accuracy of these devices can be affected by various factors, including the location of the device on the body. In the video, we'll explore some of the most accurate locations to place a CGM device.

Study 1)
Where can you wear your Libre? Using the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor on alternative sites.
Study 2)
Accuracy and precision of flash glucose monitoring sensors inserted into the abdomen and upper thigh compared with the upper arm
Study 3)
Performance of the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in Pregnant Women with Diabetes
Study 4)
Accuracy and Safety of Dexcom G7 Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adults with Diabetes

[DISCLAIMER: While I am a Physician Assistant, none of the content I post should be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor or healthcare provider if you have questions about your diabetes management and overall health.]

Enjoy the video!

[diabetesdailydigest]

What are some alternative locations you have used for your sensor, and what kind of accuracy did you get???

[ericj]

Id like to see more studies on these, i have my libre 2 three finger widths below my collar bone and aligned with my nipple and i get extremely accurate readings

[traceymayo]

I have just started with my freestyle libre here and Ive got mine on the back of my right arm. I am so impressed byt how accurate it is :) ( I did a finger stick test here it was 5.8 and then I did a scan that was 5.0 :) And my very first scan was 7.7 on my reader and the blood stick test was 7.5!! very happy here :)

[arliafrink]

With my Dexcom G6 I could only ever get accurate numbers with it on my abdomen. With the Libre3 now, though, whew, so much better. On my upper arm definitely, BUT the MOST accurate is on my outside, upper thigh. Definitely need more studies because when you begin to add in people's body composition levels, things become bonkers. Also, thank you for this video. It's scary how many medical providers or pharmacists have no knowledge of CGMs.

[ardiffley-zipkin]

Using the Dexcom G6, used it on my midriff/ stomach for years. Can’t use any device on my arms, cancer issues. The Dexcom G6 is always accurate to the once daily finger-stick that I do. I don’t use the code per my Endocrinologist. It works very accurately.

[Mandi___]

Interesting video. I wear my G7 on my forearm. It’s more comfortable and more accurate than when I wore it on the back of my arm.

[vanihansen]

I used to use medtronic cgm.. in past it was always petty accurate..I got the updated pump now from them and it's always off by 20 to 30 points.

I will say though I had dexcom as a trial run for a year with the tandem pump... it never worked. Never displayed my blood sugars and when it did they were about 200 points off. Plus having to charge the tandem every single day was very annoying. I'm so glad I did not go with that pump and cgm.

[jeweldenile]

The most accurate v site for me is the one I don’t sleep on. Team abdomen or thigh!

[QUADacityLyfe]

This was good info. I use the dexcom g6 on my stomach and the readings are always off. Like they would read higher than what it normally was and I just realized in this moment that's poetically adding to my frequent lows. I am pregnant and I just can't have that, it's time to do a new sensor so I am going to try the arm.

[michelebostwick]

Have you seen any studies done with sensors placed on the front or side of the upper arm as opposed to the back of the upper arm?

[JBGeckoyt]

Even moving the sensor forward on the arm, makes a difference, im using the libre 3. I will be placing the next sensor on the back of the arm

[mhfnet]

Excellent information, thank you! So if I understand MARD correctly if the reference blood glucose value is 100 and it has a MARD of 10% it means the CGM would read anywhere between 90 and 110, correct? Also do this studies look at lag time issues of the different sites, does MARD vary for different glucose values (like is MARD is less accurate at higher and lower glucose values), when the blood glucose was stable and readings for all sites taken simultaneously? I will look further at the reports to see if they answer any of those questions.
My conclusion is yes the arm seems to be the most accurate but all sites are only a couple points difference and for a T1D who deals with blood glucose variations that are way more than differences in sites they are all perfectly fine. For me personally the upper buttocks is by far the best site for other important reasons like it is hidden and well protected by clothing. How many people have had a sensor ruined by it being knocked off their arms and getting the "what's that" looks or questions?

[markcmann]

I live in the US and have been using the Dexcom G6 for years and nearly always have it attached to the back of my arm as it seems to provide the most accurate readings and the sensor/transmitter isn't as annoying as it is on the abdomen. It doesn't make any sense why Dexcom does not recommend the arm in the US but does in other countries? But for me, it is the best option.

[suzannemorin]

When you say Winner, yes it’s the one we would like to have, were these tests done with a finger or other test at the same time ?

[sinfoniarc]

I guess my question is, what is it about the back of the upper arm that makes it more accurate? I'm 5'5/145 lbs and don't have much fat on the back of my arms. At 43 years old, most of my fat is sadly in my stomach. However, having been type 1 for 30 years, there's a lot of scar tissue. I haven't found many good solutions so far.

[TheMrsB]

Can you do a video on the most accurate location for the different insulin pumps - Tandem, Medtronic & OmniPod?

[johnb]

I use dexcom g7 I found that the most accurate is my abdomen it same number as my glucose meters when I put it on the back of my arm it's always way below from both of my meters I think might be because I don't have enough fats in my arms

[MichelleDavies]

My son is so skinny we use his upper buttocks and it’s the only place we get accurate readings, his arm the readings were terrible and he’s only six so he wont let me near the stomach cause he’s scared it will hurt

[archascents]

what was the male/female ratio of these studies?

[ChloeBensonBeautyBoxes]

It’s so hard to get it off the back of the arm.