When Your CGM and Body Have a Little Disagreement: An Update on My Latest Diabetes Adventure

In my last blog, I shared the joys (read: late-night frustrations) of dealing with Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) that don’t always agree. Well, buckle up because this diabetes rollercoaster had another twist this week!

Here’s what went down: I decided to take off my CGM early—and not because I’m a rebel who refuses to squeeze every last second out of the sensor. No, this time it was because I suspected my CGM was acting a little… shady. You know, like that friend who keeps telling you, "You’re fine!" when clearly something’s not right. My blood sugar readings were all over the place, and not in a "you had an extra Tim Tam" kind of way.

When I peeled it off my left upper arm, the culprit was revealed: a small, red, and slightly irritated area where the sensor had been. Yup, it was an infection. Nothing major—thankfully not the "rushing to the emergency room" type of situation—but enough to make me wonder if it had been throwing off my readings. And suddenly, everything started making sense. The lower-than-normal numbers, the weird readings that didn’t match what I was eating… Was my CGM tattling on me inaccurately because of this tiny unwelcome guest?

Out with the Old, In with the New

So, like any good diabetes detective, I decided to test my theory. I slapped on a new CGM sensor, this time on my right upper arm (because variety is the spice of life, right?). And guess what? The new one is behaving like an absolute angel. My blood sugar numbers are steady, logical, and—dare I say it—trustworthy. I’m cautiously optimistic, but it seems the infection on my left arm might have been the root cause of the drama.

Lessons Learned (Because Diabetes is One Big Life Class)

What’s Next?

For now, I’m keeping a close eye on my readings and making sure my right arm stays infection-free. I’ve also learned to be a little more diligent with cleaning the site before inserting a new sensor—because apparently, my arms didn’t read the memo about being low-maintenance.

If you’ve ever had similar issues with your CGM, I’d love to hear how you handled it. Did you switch sites? Try a different brand? Or just have a good old-fashioned rant about it? Let’s swap stories—and maybe a little laughter—because we’re all in this together.

Until next time, here’s to accurate readings, clean sensor sites, and fewer late-night CGM dilemmas. Stay healthy, stay informed, and always trust your gut (or, in this case, your arm).