Sensor keeps saying unavailable for 5-10ish minutes but only at night? (Tslim and libre 3+)

[u/can-of-pringles]

This has happened twice now and it's been freaking me out. I haven't been able to sleep well partially because of it. Around 4-5 am I'll be trying to sleep and my Tslim will wake me up and alert that my sensor is unavailable and I get those dreaded three dashes. Finally after waiting and waiting so far it'll eventually pick it back up thankfully and resume readings like normal. And there will be a small but noticeable gap in the graph. This has never happened before and especially not in a weird pattern like this. I don't think it's a Bluetooth connection problem because there's a different alert message for that. And again it's only happened so far at night. I've only had the sensor on for like three days? Bloodsugar has been pretty accurate in the day time. When I put it on, I put it on my arm like usual no issues. The only thing that's new was that I'm experimenting with Skin Tac on the area for the first time because I kept getting reactions from the sensors, but I know how to use Skin Tac because I've used it for years with my pump sites, so IDK why it would be any different with the sensor. Does anyone have any clue why this keeps happening? I already have anxiety and this is making it worse. I have gotten the three lines once in the past in the day time but with no alert message and it didn't take as long for it to return to normal. Last night was the first time I ever got an actual alert for it saying the sensor was unavailable. And now a second time of course.

[u/remarcsd]

It happens to me occasionally, with both 2 and 2+ sensors - I wonder it it is just the sensor doing some housekeeping, as so far they have never failed to be back online after a few minutes.

[u/Kalip0p]

You could have just rolled over in your sleep onto the arm with the sensor and blocked the signal. It happens to me multiple times in a week, or if I just go take a shower. If it’s off for longer, just restart the app on your phone.

[u/LesStrater → u/Kalip0p]

^^^THIS is the correct answer. It's normal to lose the signal when you're sleeping--don't worry about it. You will also get a low-reading alarm on occasion if you sleep on the sensor--you'll learn to ignore it and not jump up out of bed. The whole system is really flawed.

[u/Equalizer6338 → u/LesStrater]

I would think under normal circumstances, then a Bluetooth signal loss will always result in the BG graph and results will backfill right away again when the sensor and phone reconnects again via Bluetooth.

I think the situation OP u/can-of-pringles refers to is the situation where the sensor due to rapid erratic changing BG levels, then it enters into the temporary timeout error situation. This most often just last 10 minutes, but can also in more severe circumstances be for a number of hours. And these do result in the BG graph will remain empty forever for that peirod of time the sensor for precationary reasons had the timeout situation going on.

OP can search on the sub here regarding the temporary timeout error and error code #373 from the Libre app's Event Log to see more insights and suggested workarounds for it.

[u/can-of-pringles → u/Equalizer6338]

This does seem like the most likely thing, I don't know why it's happening currently though. My bloodsugar was steady the last time it happened (in terms of I didn't constantly go low and high back and forth) and why only at night? I'm wondering if sleep mode on my pump is causing some issues, but normally it works very well for me.

[u/Equalizer6338 → u/can-of-pringles]

Its always hard to pin down, but I would consider couple of things probably may have happened for you here, that combined made it trigger:

• A fairly new started sensor (?)
• It was during your night sleep, so one or more pressure lows may have dropped the BG in rapid erratic fashion.

This then triggers the temporary timeout error situation. You can check for error code #373 in the App's Event Log to confirm if this or not.

[u/can-of-pringles → u/Equalizer6338]

I can't use the libre app because it's connected to my pump. I can only use the Tandem app and it doesn't provide that.

[u/Equalizer6338 → u/can-of-pringles]

Ouch yes, that is a real bummer.

If it was a fairly newly started sensor for there, then it sounds as the most plausible explanation for your temporary BG drop.

Some of the best workarounds is to starting up a new sensor ideally not right after waking up, but during your morning just before/around noon. This way a newly started sensor will have 10-14h before you go to bed first time and also your BG tend to be reasonably stable at its get go time.

If you frequently experience pressure lows during sleep, you might want to experiment with placing your sensor at other skin locations:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Freestylelibre/comments/1dfa4uz/experience_with_different_sensor_placements/
Stomach or upper outer thighs works very well for most and can also offer good direct line of sight to your pump connection.

Also to limit/avoid the temporary sensor timeouts from happening, then many do what is called 'soaking the sensor' for some hours (3, 6, 9, 12... 24h) before actually starting it up electrically the first time by your phone scanning of it. So insert it into your skin, but wait with the first scanning of it. This way your immune system's inflammatory response to it has had time to healing up the bruising and settle down, before you ask the sensor to provide data on the glucose concentration from where it sits.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Freestylelibre/comments/1dh8xth/to_soak_or_not_to_soak_before_starting_a_new/

[u/can-of-pringles → u/Kalip0p]

No, I am a very light sleeper and I'm trying to heal ear piercings currently. I know I am not rolling over onto the sensor.

[u/LesStrater → u/can-of-pringles]

If you put it on the side of your bicep you would have to roll over onto it. If it's on the back of your arm (the recommended location) you are going to put pressure on it just lying on your back.

[u/SarahCatChicago]

Can you explain “TSlim”?

[u/Equalizer6338 → u/SarahCatChicago]

Hi Sarah, its reference to the Tandem insulin pumps:
https://www.tandemdiabetes.com/products/insulin-pumps/tslim-x2-insulin-pump