Get the most out of your Guardian™ 4 sensor

Tips for your Guardian™ 4 sensors

I’m Cheryl, a Medtronic employee living with type 1 diabetes for 35 years. As a longtime pump and CGM wearer, I understand the frustration of having to change a sensor unexpectedly. While we can’t plan for everything, I would love to share some tips to help your sensor last longer and make things a little more predictable.

1. Where you place your CGM matters

For many of us, we get comfortable using our same spots for infusion sets and sensors, and hey, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But that’s not the case with the Guardian™ 4 sensor.

Wearing your Guardian™ 4 sensor on the back of your upper arm plays a big part in providing the best possible experience when it comes to sensor life. Choose a flat area on the back of your upper arm where you can “pinch an inch” that’s also free of scar tissue.

If you’re having trouble inserting your sensor, try standing in front of a mirror or ask a care partner, friend, or family member for help. Check out this video for additional instruction on CGM arm insertion. And while it might not always feel natural to ask for help, I am always shocked how happy my friends and family are to lend a quick hand.
 

2. Practice good skin prep

It’s a little step that can easily be missed when you’ve been managing diabetes for a while, but it can make all the difference when it comes to getting the most out of your sensor life. Make sure your skin is clean and dry before insertion. Many soaps and body washes contain oils that can make it harder for your adhesives to stick, so clean your skin with an alcohol swab to ensure the adhesive sticks properly and lasts longer. Let that area air-dry for about 5 seconds to make sure that you don’t have any issues with your tape sticking.

3. Hold the sensor in place when removing the needle

It can be easy to rush removing the needle from the sensor, but make sure to hold the sensor firmly in place. If your sensor is pulled out slightly when you remove the needle, it could impact sensor performance.

4. Let overtape be your best friend

Your Guardian™ 4 sensors come with two pieces of Oval Tape to help secure your sensor, and for many people, that is enough. Personally, I really like putting on additional overtape after I have put on my Oval Tape. Here are the quick steps I follow after I’ve inserted the sensor:

• Remove the sensor needle.
• Place my first piece of Oval Tape over the sensor, making sure not to cover where the transmitter needs to connect
• Connect my transmitter.
• Place my second piece of Oval Tape, this time mirroring the first piece of tape so the second covers the transmitter.
• Place my overtape on top.

Overtape really helps keep that sensor secure, makes it look a little more discreet (however, I do love to pick a bright pink one in the summer!) and helps clothes slide over the sensor and prevent catching. Shop tapes on our online shop.
 

5. Do not fear if “Sensor Updating” appears

“Sensor updating” can really make those who have been wearing a CGM for a while cringe. But it’s different with the Guardian™ 4 sensor! 

With this sensor, it’s simply a safety feature that’s most likely to happen on the first day. There’s nothing you need to do unless your pump alerts you. Most of the time, it resolves on its own within an hour. If it lasts for more than three hours, replace the sensor, and get in touch with Medtronic for help.^✝ I have become much more comfortable with it now that I have been using the Guardian™ 4 sensor and typically plan a little time for it to occur on day one… but the algorithm is worth it!

Pro tip: As long as you are getting 6 days out of a Guardian™ 4 sensor, 1 box should last you an entire month. Each box of Guardian™ 4 sensors come with 5 sensors per box. Given at least a 6-day wear, a box will last one month.  If a sensor fails before 6 days, you can request a replacement online.

These tips should help you make your sensor last and contribute to better performance. Which of them was most helpful to you? Let us know in the comments!

Footnotes

^✝ Monitor BG with a meter for treatment decisions.

Important safety information: MiniMed™ 780G system with SmartGuard™ technology with Guardian™ 4 sensor

The MiniMed™ 780G system is intended for continuous delivery of basal insulin at selectable rates, and the administration of insulin boluses at selectable amounts for the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus in persons seven years of age and older requiring insulin as well as for the continuous monitoring and trending of glucose levels in the fluid under the skin. The MiniMed™ 780G system includes SmartGuard™ technology, which can be programmed to automatically adjust insulin delivery based on the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor glucose values and can suspend delivery of insulin when the sensor glucose (SG) value falls below or is predicted to fall below predefined threshold values.
 

The Medtronic MiniMed™ 780G system consists of the following devices: MiniMed™ 780G insulin pump, the Guardian™ 4 transmitter, the Guardian™ 4 sensor, One-press serter, the Accu-Chek™ Guide Link blood glucose meter, and the Accu-Chek™ Guide test strips. The system requires a prescription from a healthcare professional.

The Guardian™ 4 sensor is intended for use with the MiniMed™ 780G system and the Guardian 4 transmitter to monitor glucose levels for the management of diabetes. The sensor is intended for single use and requires a prescription. The Guardian™ 4 sensor is indicated for up to seven days of continuous use.

The Guardian™ 4 sensor is not intended to be used directly to make therapy adjustments while the MiniMed™ 780G is operating in manual mode. All therapy adjustments in manual mode should be based on measurements obtained using a blood glucose meter and not on values provided by the Guardian™ 4 sensor. The Guardian™ 4 sensor has been studied and is approved for use in patients ages 7 years and older and in the arm insertion site only. Do not use the Guardian™ 4 sensor in the abdomen or other body sites including the buttocks, due to unknown or different performance that could result in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
 

WARNING: Do not use the MiniMed^™ 780G system until appropriate training has been received from a healthcare professional. Training is essential to ensure the safe use of the MiniMed^™ 780G system. 
 

WARNING: Do not use SG values to make treatment decisions, including delivering a bolus, while the pump is in Manual Mode. When the SmartGuard^™ feature is active and you are no longer in Manual Mode, the pump uses an SG value, when available, to calculate a bolus amount. However, if your symptoms do not match the SG value, use a BG meter to confirm the SG value. Failure to confirm glucose levels when your symptoms do not match the SG value can result in the infusion of too much or too little insulin, which may cause hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. 

Pump therapy is not recommended for people whose vision or hearing does not allow for the recognition of pump signals, alerts, or alarms. The safety of the MiniMed™ 780G system has not been studied in pregnant women, persons with type 2 diabetes, or in persons using other anti-hyperglycemic therapies that do not include insulin. For complete details of the system, including product and important safety information such as indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions associated with system and its components, please consult https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/important-safety-information#minimed-… and the appropriate user guide at https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/download-library