Reddit reviews Skin-Tac Liquid Adhesive Barrier [Skin TAC ADH 4 OZ] (EA-1)

thanks /u/Shanisasha ;)

I am on Omnipod and I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I STRONGLY recommend getting SkinTac. I was having issues with the pod not sticking the full duration, and my skin would get pissed off sometimes after removal. This stuff is the SHIT for my pods AND my CGM. Nothing ever just falls off, and it helps keep it on if I accidentally bump into things.

I used to fix cars and I used to get the pod ripped off when I would try to squeeze into places really tight to fix things. Skintac helped immensely.

They sell wipes, but they are $$$$ and I only recommend them for traveling because of that.

Let me know if you have any questions!

SkinTac also comes in a bulk bottle that lasts for a long time. I think we’re going on 8 years.

(Edit: fix link format)

Do you use an adhesive barrier such as Skin Tac?

Skin-Tac will take care of that for you.

We use skin-tac to help the adhesive and cover the pod with a simpatch. We do the same thing for the dexcom G6.

Skin-tac: https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Tac-Liquid-Adhesive-Barrier-SKIN/dp/B008IUA6DU?th=1

Simpatch: https://www.amazon.com/SIMPATCH-Omnipod-Adhesive-25-Pack-Waterproof/dp/B079P92NX2/ref=sr_1_4?crid=J222E438X7UV&keywords=simpatch+for+omnipod&qid=1554489723&s=hpc&sprefix=simpatch+for+om%2Chpc%2C148&sr=1-4

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I train judo with a Dexcom G6 and Tandem t:slim X2. With a bit of preparation I'm able to keep the CGM and my infusion site from being ripped off. I've talked about how I suit up for judo before here. Since it's an evolutionary process, there are a few changes I've made since when I wrote that. Here is my current process:

I've always placed the Dexcom sensor in the abdomen, usually in the area above the belly button. I try to put it in a spot that won't be in the middle of a fold in my skin when I bend forward. I move it around every time I apply a new sensor of course, but I don't stray too far from that area and I've always had pretty good readings there.

First of all I use skin-tac on both the cgm and pump infusion site before I put them in place. That alone has always been sufficient for normal daily life, but is woefully insufficient when doing judo. When I get dressed for judo I do the following:

1. Apply skin-tac to the skin around both the cgm and pump infusion site, generally 3-4 inches around the CGM and 1 inch around the pump infusion site.
   
2. Get masking tape and tape over just the actual cgm and infusion site. For the infusion site I need to make a loop and have the sticky side facing out, with just a little bit of sticky wrapped under and taped to my skin just on each side of the infusion site.
   
3. For the CGM site I do the following: get a sheet of wax paper and cover it with strips of masking tape. Then cut out an oval-shaped section that is slightly larger than the cloth portion of the Dexcom sensor, cut a hole in the middle for the transmitter, and place this over the cloth. Then I make a loop of masking tape and put it on top of the transmitter.
   
4. When the skin-tac is dry I use a couple of sections of KT tape (cut to smaller lengths as needed) over the cgm and infusion sites. The skin-tac is so it can strongly adhere to my skin around the sites, holding them in place even when I sweat. The masking tape and wax paper that is between them is so I can remove the KT tape later without also removing the original adhesive for the cgm or infusion site. For the sensor I use one strip cut into halves, for the infusion site I use one strip cut into thirds.
   
5. Wear a compression shirt over everything. In jujutsu pretty much everyone wears a compression shirt, so that shouldn't be an issue. I've found that a tight compression shirt keeps everything tight against the skin makes it so that any friction between myself and my gi/my partner/the mat/etc., rubs across the compression shirt instead of directly against the tape and everything holding my CGM and infusion set in place. Also the compression shirt will stick directly to my skin in the area around the KT tape, again reducing friction against the CGM and infusion site.
   
   That preparation has always been sufficient for my cgm and infusion sites staying in place doing judo. Figuring all this out has taken a bit of trial and error, but once I started doing all of this I've never had either come off during practice, and that's full super-sweaty throwing (and being thrown) around and grappling on the ground that we do in judo.
   
   To take care of the pump, I have to do some additional things to protect it as well.
   
   
6. Wrap it up in a layer of thin foam (1/4" or so). This is to protect it from being broken, before I started doing this I've broken the screen on my pump twice, since I started using the foam it's never been a problem.
   
7. Put it inside a sandwich size ziplock bag (to protect it from sweat).
   
8. Put all of that inside a SPIbelt elastic running belt that I keep under my pants just under the waistline.
   
   Doing all that is a little time-consuming, since it can take me 10-15 minutes just to get dressed for judo where everyone else takes about 1 minute, but it's what I have to do to keep my sites and pump secure and undamaged.
   
   Sometimes after practice when I get home to shower and take all the tape and stuff off, the Dexcom sensor will have partly come off. I just apply some more skin-tac to the area that has detached, wait for it to dry, and then re-attach it. By doing that, I've never had a sensor that didn't last the 10 days, and I can almost always stretch it to 15-20 days with a session restart. Generally I have to change the sensor because it starts malfunctioning, not because it comes off. I've had more success with keeping everything on and not starting to fall off by waiting until all the sweat has dried away and then removing all the tape, as it gives the adhesive on the CGM a chance to get sticky again.
   
   Since you're on an Omnipod, you might try with the Omnipod the same kind of thing that I do with my CGM. However it is quite a bit bulkier than a CGM sensor+transmitter, so YMMV. If you can consider switching to a standard insulin pump I know from personal experience that it can work.

I would recommend liquid adhesive over any type of patch adhesive. All of the adhesive stays under the dexcom and doesn't attract any lint or dirt. I bought this bottle off amazon and it has lasted several years.

https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Tac-Liquid-Adhesive-Barrier-Skin/dp/B008IUA6DU

So what I do is insert the sensor, cut four pieces (or however many) of the clear flexifix tape (I cut pieces that are about 3 and a half squares) to cover the white bandage, and then I cover the top of that with the skintac glue, let dry, and that typically keeps everything on for the 10 days, even with long hot showers, exercise, house cleaning etc. Sometimes I have to replace a bit of the tape, sometimes I add some more of the skintac to stick a corner down, but this works the best I've found. Those oval bandages are awful, they peel super quickly and get all stringy, I hate using them. I was using the oval bandages and then the clear flexifix stuff over that and then the glue, but it works just as well if not better with just the clear flexitape and then the glue.

Anyway, this is just what has worked best for me!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001SIYRO8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Tac-Liquid-Adhesive-Barrier-SKIN/dp/B008IUA6DU?keywords=skintac&qid=1537119792&sr=8-4&ref=sr_1_4)

LOVE SKIN-TAC! But I use the liquid version so that my fingers don't get as sticky when I apply it.

(https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Tac-Liquid-Adhesive-Barrier-SKIN/dp/B008IUA6DU/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485977585&sr=8-4&keywords=liquid+skin+tac)

Hands down dexcom! g6 has a more slim close to you profile but g5 can sometimes be more economical because you can extend them longer. Libre is the cheapest option but isn't great because it doesn't alert you to rises and falls which I have found to be the most essential part of reducing my a1c and more importantly, increasing your Time In Range which is actually a way better indicator of control and likelihood of developing complications.

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What ever you chose here are some tips to help you make the actual wearing of a CGM easier!

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1. buy liquid Skin Tac this stuff with be a life saver, cleanse your skin and shave if necessary then apply the liquid to the skin and WAIT it must be all the way dry and feel sticky, it takes about 5 minutes, NOW apply your sensor
   
2. invest in patches either call dexcom and ask for some free trial ones or try Stay Put Medical if you don't care what they look like or if you want "cool" ones try these, they will custom make ones for you if you'd like or these. there are others these are just my two preferred brands for fun ones. if you do use over patches, I generally wait until the sensor is peeling up a bit on the edges before I patch and then I trim the patches as needed.
   
3. don't be afraid to use other places, I have very movement intensive job as well and have found after 29 years of diabetes, my abdomen is out, completely not useful. I really like the backs and front of my arms, chest, and area right below the bra line.
   
   Go get yourself a CGM (but really not a medtronic one, they are less acurate and an 18 month commitment). If I were in a financial bind today I would take a dexcom CGM and only a dexcom CGM over a pump every day!

Definitely, if you have any questions with it let me know! They have swabs and a dabber/applier versions on Amazon depending on your preference!