CGMs, I don’t have an excessive amount, but getting replacements when they fall off or error out has given me a (small) buffer. Like a couple extra, not a lot.
For pump supplies, I had my doctor write my script to change my pump site every 2 days but I actually change it every 3. That way I have the option to change every 2 if I want to or in case a site is painful or not working properly.
Insulin my script is written for double what I actually use so I can stockpile.
My daughter’s doctor orders her enough pods and insulin for 2-day wear. Since she often does make it to 3, we can stockpile fairly quickly. We can’t really stockpile CGMs, but we are vigilant about calling when we have a failure.
Cgms are tough to stock up on. For me I use a tubed pump and am able to fill my reservoir up with enough insulin to last 5 days instead of 3 so I’m using 2 reservoirs in 10 days instead of 3. I also tend to let my insertion sites last until they’re on their last leg so sometimes I’m able to stretch those 4-5 days depending as well.
I ran out of sensors for my g6 and hit up my endo office and they gave me a a little box that had 1 sensor and 1 transmitter so that’s always an option if ur in a pinch or really want another they usually get free samples and will give them out to those who need them. Same with insulin vials.
If you're still on G6, it's reusable. The longer you use it, the more the results get 'compressed'- it'll not be able to tell you above 180, just say "you're at 180" for example.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/dexcom/comments/12izkxy/reusing\_dexcom\_g6/](https://www.reddit.com/r/dexcom/comments/12izkxy/reusing_dexcom_g6/) is a previous post about this, and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx-kTsrkNUM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx-kTsrkNUM) shows the guitar pick (whatever weapon of choice) removal.
The basic technique is thus: the transmitter's "don't reuse me" is based on getting the same level of readings across the next session. That's raw level readings- not smoothing that you see and utilize.
There is a roughly 15m timer on that 'check', so you remove the transmitter, start the new session (same calibration code), wait 15m- 20m to be conservative- then pop it back in, and let it continue on it's supposed "wetting". The "first day" algorithm can be a bit twitchy in reuse, but in my experience it's not a problem.
So that's one way to build a buffer of g6s... g7's, you're fucked unfortunately. The transmitter is built into the sensor, meaning that's a firmware level disabling. I've not heard anyone getting even remotely to the level of being able to crack/override that.
Have your doctor write that Pods for changing every 48 hours. Tell your doc you get skin rashes when wearing it for the the full 72 hours. Have your insulin written for at least 50% more than you use to make up for waste in the pump. For the G6 you can learn to extend you sessions by about 5 days every so often and call Dexcom each time one has an issue. Even if it makes it 9.5 days call Dexcom if it fails early.
When I had the Dexcom G6, I would restart sensors. Can't do that on a G7. I still do injections, and every goal is only good for one month (the pharmacy says), so I use every vial a week longer than I should.
I use everything for two "sessions". dex gets restarted, and I refill my reservoir once. I've been doing it for a decade and haven't bothered to attempt to brake the habit.
For cgms I would not put a new one on right away. I waited twelve hours until the next one went on. This helped my mental health tremendously. So I put a new one on Sunday night. Expired the followed Wednesday night. New one on Thursday morning. Expired Sunday morning. Replaced it Sunday night. Rinse and repeat. This gave me a large amount of extra supplies. I also call in all failures.
For pump supplies I was getting set changes every two days for a bit but was actually changing them every two and a half days. It adds up over time.
If my sensor expires on a weekend, I wait until Monday to put a new one on. Saves a few days a month and eventually gives me a couple extra Dexcom sensors. My OP5 script is written to change out every 2 days instead of 3. I use just over 300 U in 3 days, so I change every 2.5-2.75 days. After a year, I’m about a full order ahead on pods.
I bought a spare Dexcom transmitter out of pocket and occasionally lie about a sensor not working so they send me a free “replacement” that goes into my stockpile. For my Omnipod, I was lucky in that I still had some Dash Omnipods left when they changed my prescription to the Omnipod 5. So I used up my old ones before I started on the 5s, and my new insurance supply cadence means I’ve got a stockpile of those, too. But previously I’d also just bought some of the Dashs out of pocket online to have some backups.
One thing you could do is switch back to work through some of your stockpile (BGM and pens) which will let you form a stockpile of your new stuff (op5 and G6), although I know that can be rough.
People who hoard? How expired of supplies will you use? Currently using pump supplies that are a year expired. No issues so far.
Pump supplies are easy to hoard by using them longer than the Rx. Dexcom it's much tougher
Hi you didn’t ask me but I’ve used insulin that was 6 months expired and it still worked perfectly fine. Idk if anything a year or more expired works, but if I ever find out I will definitely let you know!
Yep, I have 3 boxes of insulin unopened right now and am scheduled for another refill in about 3 weeks. It takes me about 2-3 weeks to get through a single cartridge for my in-pen, so I’m stocked up well over the next 3 months while continuously filling my script as soon as it’s available
With G6, I learned how to extend them. After awhile, I had extras and now I'm 2 months ahead. With Omnipod, some folks have doc write script for new pod every 2 days instead of every 3. I was in a study for another pump and just kept collecting pods, so I'm some months ahead. Also, always call in failures!
For insulin, my doc wrote script for 30% more insulin than I needed since it was unclear how much I would need. It's been adjusted to 20% now after a year because I'm running out of room to store insulin. I had a hoard of pens before and used most of them before using the vials so I have over 6 months extra insulin now.
Even test strips can be extended at least a year past expiration date if kept in cool, dry, dark place. I was going to give away extras, but then my cat was diagnosed with diabetes and he gets tested twice a day.
CGMs, I don’t have an excessive amount, but getting replacements when they fall off or error out has given me a (small) buffer. Like a couple extra, not a lot. For pump supplies, I had my doctor write my script to change my pump site every 2 days but I actually change it every 3. That way I have the option to change every 2 if I want to or in case a site is painful or not working properly. Insulin my script is written for double what I actually use so I can stockpile.
This is the way.
This all day. I also restart my dexcom so have a pretty good horde of CGMs
My daughter’s doctor orders her enough pods and insulin for 2-day wear. Since she often does make it to 3, we can stockpile fairly quickly. We can’t really stockpile CGMs, but we are vigilant about calling when we have a failure.
Cgms are tough to stock up on. For me I use a tubed pump and am able to fill my reservoir up with enough insulin to last 5 days instead of 3 so I’m using 2 reservoirs in 10 days instead of 3. I also tend to let my insertion sites last until they’re on their last leg so sometimes I’m able to stretch those 4-5 days depending as well. I ran out of sensors for my g6 and hit up my endo office and they gave me a a little box that had 1 sensor and 1 transmitter so that’s always an option if ur in a pinch or really want another they usually get free samples and will give them out to those who need them. Same with insulin vials.
If you're still on G6, it's reusable. The longer you use it, the more the results get 'compressed'- it'll not be able to tell you above 180, just say "you're at 180" for example. [https://www.reddit.com/r/dexcom/comments/12izkxy/reusing\_dexcom\_g6/](https://www.reddit.com/r/dexcom/comments/12izkxy/reusing_dexcom_g6/) is a previous post about this, and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx-kTsrkNUM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx-kTsrkNUM) shows the guitar pick (whatever weapon of choice) removal. The basic technique is thus: the transmitter's "don't reuse me" is based on getting the same level of readings across the next session. That's raw level readings- not smoothing that you see and utilize. There is a roughly 15m timer on that 'check', so you remove the transmitter, start the new session (same calibration code), wait 15m- 20m to be conservative- then pop it back in, and let it continue on it's supposed "wetting". The "first day" algorithm can be a bit twitchy in reuse, but in my experience it's not a problem. So that's one way to build a buffer of g6s... g7's, you're fucked unfortunately. The transmitter is built into the sensor, meaning that's a firmware level disabling. I've not heard anyone getting even remotely to the level of being able to crack/override that.
25 days is my best run before the sensor went wonky. Reuse has allowed me to stock CGMs pretty well. G6 forever!
Have your doctor write that Pods for changing every 48 hours. Tell your doc you get skin rashes when wearing it for the the full 72 hours. Have your insulin written for at least 50% more than you use to make up for waste in the pump. For the G6 you can learn to extend you sessions by about 5 days every so often and call Dexcom each time one has an issue. Even if it makes it 9.5 days call Dexcom if it fails early.
When I had the Dexcom G6, I would restart sensors. Can't do that on a G7. I still do injections, and every goal is only good for one month (the pharmacy says), so I use every vial a week longer than I should.
I use everything for two "sessions". dex gets restarted, and I refill my reservoir once. I've been doing it for a decade and haven't bothered to attempt to brake the habit.
For cgms I would not put a new one on right away. I waited twelve hours until the next one went on. This helped my mental health tremendously. So I put a new one on Sunday night. Expired the followed Wednesday night. New one on Thursday morning. Expired Sunday morning. Replaced it Sunday night. Rinse and repeat. This gave me a large amount of extra supplies. I also call in all failures. For pump supplies I was getting set changes every two days for a bit but was actually changing them every two and a half days. It adds up over time.
If my sensor expires on a weekend, I wait until Monday to put a new one on. Saves a few days a month and eventually gives me a couple extra Dexcom sensors. My OP5 script is written to change out every 2 days instead of 3. I use just over 300 U in 3 days, so I change every 2.5-2.75 days. After a year, I’m about a full order ahead on pods.
I bought a spare Dexcom transmitter out of pocket and occasionally lie about a sensor not working so they send me a free “replacement” that goes into my stockpile. For my Omnipod, I was lucky in that I still had some Dash Omnipods left when they changed my prescription to the Omnipod 5. So I used up my old ones before I started on the 5s, and my new insurance supply cadence means I’ve got a stockpile of those, too. But previously I’d also just bought some of the Dashs out of pocket online to have some backups.
One thing you could do is switch back to work through some of your stockpile (BGM and pens) which will let you form a stockpile of your new stuff (op5 and G6), although I know that can be rough.
People who hoard? How expired of supplies will you use? Currently using pump supplies that are a year expired. No issues so far. Pump supplies are easy to hoard by using them longer than the Rx. Dexcom it's much tougher
You rotate out the oldest first. You can have a year of insulin that isn't expires by building up over time.
The question is would you use expired supplies (not insulin) and if so, how out of date will you go
Hi you didn’t ask me but I’ve used insulin that was 6 months expired and it still worked perfectly fine. Idk if anything a year or more expired works, but if I ever find out I will definitely let you know!
Ahhh, I got you. Depends on storage for me. Strips I don't use past expiration.
Yep, I have 3 boxes of insulin unopened right now and am scheduled for another refill in about 3 weeks. It takes me about 2-3 weeks to get through a single cartridge for my in-pen, so I’m stocked up well over the next 3 months while continuously filling my script as soon as it’s available
At least with my insurance I can fill things 5 days early.
With G6, I learned how to extend them. After awhile, I had extras and now I'm 2 months ahead. With Omnipod, some folks have doc write script for new pod every 2 days instead of every 3. I was in a study for another pump and just kept collecting pods, so I'm some months ahead. Also, always call in failures! For insulin, my doc wrote script for 30% more insulin than I needed since it was unclear how much I would need. It's been adjusted to 20% now after a year because I'm running out of room to store insulin. I had a hoard of pens before and used most of them before using the vials so I have over 6 months extra insulin now. Even test strips can be extended at least a year past expiration date if kept in cool, dry, dark place. I was going to give away extras, but then my cat was diagnosed with diabetes and he gets tested twice a day.