Gushing

What went wrong with the last sensor insertion? I think maybe the transmitter battery was not fully charged. I replaced the battery in the transmitter charger. I replaced the battery in the CGM. I see the blinking lights on the transmitter indicating it is charging, so I let it charge for eight hours.

The next morning I prepare to insert the next sensor. I shaved the night before, so the skin is less sensitive to the alcoholic wipe. The sensor goes in with only a small amount of blood. Five minutes later I connect the transmitter and I have a strong signal to the CGM. It looks like this insertion is a good connection. I have two hours before the next required BG test.

The “BG NOW” alert is sounded. I test and have a BG of 124 the CGM is telling me I have a BG of 74. I enter the BG 124 into the CGM to get a calibration. Fifty points off is not to big of a difference for the calculations to correct. I look at the insertion site and I see a little more blood appearing around the insertion site. I don’t think this is a good sign, but so far the numbers are tracking close together, so it looks like a go. I have six hours to my next BG test.

It is time for the next BG. I test and I my BG is 158, while the CGM is telling me I have a BG of 73, so I enter the 158 as a calibration reading. I don’t receive a calibration error as I expect. I do inspect the insertion site and I see a small pool of blood forming at the from of the sensor. I am a little perplexed by this, so I consult my T3, the right woman, to see what opinion she has about the situation.

She looks at the insertion site and immediately scrunches her face into a “this doesn’t look so good” expression. My thoughts exactly! It is Sunday night, so I can’t call diabetes support team at the clinic. I decide it is best to remove the transmitter and sensor. I am now thinking that the sensor is too close to my belt line and the movement of my belly is causing the bleeding.
I work at removing the clear IV tape and this causes more movement of the sensor and transmitter. Once I get the IV tape off, a small pool of blood drips on to my left foot. I remove the transmitter and I pull at the sensor tape to loosen the sensor. This causes more movement of the sensor. I am struggling with the sensor tape, so I use a pair of tweezers to loosen most of the sensor tape. A small amount of tape remains stuck to me as I pull at the sensor and try to remove it. I pull a little harder at the sensor and the tape breaks free and the sensor pops out.

T3 is watching and immediately she turns a whiter shade of pale as the blood start gushing down my belly and onto my shorts and left foot. I grab several tissues and apply pressure to stop the bleeding; I feel blood on my fingers as I look at the insertion site. I have bled through the tissues; I grab another handful of tissues and apply pressure. I do this 2 more times before the bleeding stops.

I tape a bandage over the insertion site. This is the second unsuccessful sensor insertion in as many days. I decide to wait for a day or tow before I try another sensor.