If you have dry skin like me your Libre sensor can get stuck very strongly and it might be a bit painful to take it off.
I wanted to share with you 5 easy steps which I learned that will make your sensor removal process way smoother for you.
Soak the sensor adhesive with coconut oil
Take a cotton swab, soak it in baby oil or coconut oil, and rub it around the plastic part or your sensor.
The oil will melt the adhesive and it will be much easier and much less painful for you to remove the sensor. You can let the oil run underneath the disc to soak the adhesive even more.
Let the adhesive soak for 5-10 minutes. This will really make a difference.
If you don’t want to use oil try an adhesive remover, such as Uni-solve or Tac away.
Pull up the edge of the adhesive and slowly peel it away in one motion
Try to do this gently rather than rapidly to avoid any skin irritation or skin injury.
What you can also do is pull up the sensor itself (the disc) and take it off keeping the adhesive on for now. This will expose the adhesive and you can soak it with more oil if needed.
Discard used Libre sensor responsibly
Discard the sensor according to local regulations for disposal of electronic equipment, batteries, sharps, and materials potentially exposed to body fluids.
Clean left over adhesive with warm soapy water and alcohol swab
Although properly disinfects the wound, I find it more aggressive for the skin. If you have sensitive skin like me soapy water is way gentler.
Clean the skin really well and get rid off any remaining adhesive. If you keep any adhesive it could create a black circle on your arm next day.
Insert a new Freestyle Libre sensor and scan to activate it
You don’t need to do anything else to disconnect the old sensor from the reader.
I wish you more painless sensor removals!
Here is a video from my YouTube channel where I discuss the sensor removal process in detail. Enjoy watching!
If you have oily skin it is easier for you to remove the sensor but you might be struggling with keeping it on for two weeks. If that’s the case, check out my other article where I share my tips how to make your Libre sensor stick.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and everything here is my opinion in my own words. On this page, I am sharing my diabetic journey with you and do not provide medical advice. Certain links on this page are discount links and/or affiliate links. When you use affiliate links for your purchase I will receive a small provision from the seller.