A sensor assembly for a continuous glucose monitoring system, comprising: a sensor carrier having a sensor unit receiving area and an electronics receiving area, the electronics receiving area including a substrate; a sensor unit having: a top member having an insertion shaft opening defined by a cylindrical member, a bottom member, and a spacer pad between the top member and the bottom member, the bottom member comprising a first opening and a second opening, the spacer pad comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the cylindrical member extends through the first openings (228, 234) of the bottom member and the spacer pad, respectively; a sensor comprising a contact portion; a conductive member extending through the second openings (230, 236) of the bottom member and the spacer pad, respectively, and in electrical contact with the contact portion of the sensor; a sealed, sterilized region, the sealed, sterilized region including a portion of the sensor and an insertion shaft that are positioned within the insertion shaft opening; and electronics for the continuous glucose monitoring system; wherein the sensor unit is positioned within the sensor unit receiving area of the sensor carrier and the electronics are positioned on the substrate within the electronics receiving area of the sensor carrier so as to form a sensor assembly having the sensor electrically connected, via the conductive member, to the substrate of the electronics receiving area while maintaining sterilization of the sealed, sterilized region of the sensor unit. a sensor carrier having a sensor unit receiving area and an electronics receiving area, the electronics receiving area including a substrate; a sensor unit having: a top member having an insertion shaft opening defined by a cylindrical member, a bottom member, and a spacer pad between the top member and the bottom member, the bottom member comprising a first opening and a second opening, the spacer pad comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the cylindrical member extends through the first openings (228, 234) of the bottom member and the spacer pad, respectively; a sensor comprising a contact portion; a conductive member extending through the second openings (230, 236) of the bottom member and the spacer pad, respectively, and in electrical contact with the contact portion of the sensor; a sealed, sterilized region, the sealed, sterilized region including a portion of the sensor and an insertion shaft that are positioned within the insertion shaft opening; and electronics for the continuous glucose monitoring system; wherein the sensor unit is positioned within the sensor unit receiving area of the sensor carrier and the electronics are positioned on the substrate within the electronics receiving area of the sensor carrier so as to form a sensor assembly having the sensor electrically connected, via the conductive member, to the substrate of the electronics receiving area while maintaining sterilization of the sealed, sterilized region of the sensor unit. a top member having an insertion shaft opening defined by a cylindrical member, a bottom member, and a spacer pad between the top member and the bottom member, the bottom member comprising a first opening and a second opening, the spacer pad comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the cylindrical member extends through the first openings (228, 234) of the bottom member and the spacer pad, respectively; a sensor comprising a contact portion; a conductive member extending through the second openings (230, 236) of the bottom member and the spacer pad, respectively, and in electrical contact with the contact portion of the sensor; a sealed, sterilized region, the sealed, sterilized region including a portion of the sensor and an insertion shaft that are positioned within the insertion shaft opening; and electronics for the continuous glucose monitoring system; wherein the sensor unit is positioned within the sensor unit receiving area of the sensor carrier and the electronics are positioned on the substrate within the electronics receiving area of the sensor carrier so as to form a sensor assembly having the sensor electrically connected, via the conductive member, to the substrate of the electronics receiving area while maintaining sterilization of the sealed, sterilized region of the sensor unit. a portion of the sensor and an insertion shaft that are positioned within the insertion shaft opening; and electronics for the continuous glucose monitoring system; wherein the sensor unit is positioned within the sensor unit receiving area of the sensor carrier and the electronics are positioned on the substrate within the electronics receiving area of the sensor carrier so as to form a sensor assembly having the sensor electrically connected, via the conductive member, to the substrate of the electronics receiving area while maintaining sterilization of the sealed, sterilized region of the sensor unit.