FREESTYLE LIBRE ON SALE!!!!

[Danaemac]

Mines within 0.5 At all points showed the dp this morning that seems to have doubled it's efforts will be watching that closely tonight for a possible basal adjustment I absolutely love it

 

[Sideburnt]

I had a long conversation with an Abbott rep about this this morning and basically we first users are the guinea pigs - the sensors are being modified with reference to the feedback they are getting.

Oh dear, I don't think I like paying full for that kind of setup. No offence to them and the great work they're doing but they already had two rounds of Human trail testing to get this right. I'm okay with the odd faulty sensor but only getting 13 days of accuracy (possibly less) is a bit of a swizz.

 

[newenden]

must be a theme with me my first 2 insulin pump pods failed but 16 months down the line i wouldnt be without it after 20 years of spearing myself. hopefully the libre will sort itself out as in theory its a great idea .but i am feeling a little down after all the waiting and then it failing .still the rep is trying to get a new sensor to me asap

 

[Sideburnt]

must be a theme with me my first 2 insulin pump pods failed but 16 months down the line i wouldnt be without it after 20 years of spearing myself. hopefully the libre will sort itself out as in theory its a great idea .but i am feeling a little down after all the waiting and then it failing .still the rep is trying to get a new sensor to me asap

DId they mention is this is from a different batch?

 

[AndBreathe]

Wow so we are paying them to be their testers. Not cool. That's why they haven't sent a general email out about it yet then

Emmotha - It is a fact of product development, especially for a complex product as this is, that almost whatever level of testing you have done, mass use will throw up some unexpected issues. By and large, testers will have been taught how to use the units, and very quickly develop unconscious workarounds to get the best out of the gizmos.

In my old world, where I was accountable for implementations and product development, I used to call the first couple of weeks, post-implementation/launch, as "Super Testing". Consumers have a way of finding ways to break the previously considered unbreakable, and of course suddenly, the manufacturer's user base is multiplied many, many fold.

Think Microsoft Window, iPhones, iPads, Android OS, just as examples, where new launches are almost always very quickly followed by updates and patches. Your feedback to Abbott is extremely important, and I feel confident they will be generous in these early days where replacements may potentially be required.

 

[jack412]

sounds like windows OS 3.1...sell it first and we'll fix it later...no it's stuffed buy windows 95, ****** buy w98, oh schite buy millennium ...woops that's worse, buy OS xp..how about windows 7 or 8 or 8.1?..hang in there we'll get it right

 

[Emmotha]

Oh dear, I don't think I like paying full for that kind of setup. No offence to them and the great work they're doing but they already had two rounds of Human trail testing to get this right. I'm okay with the odd faulty sensor but only getting 13 days of accuracy (possibly less) is a bit of a swizz.

I agree.
I'm feeling annoyed. Mine is 3 mmol out now and no response from Abbott.

 

[logindetails]

A few things I discussed with customer care this morning:

My first sensor gave inaccurate readings then died.

They are sending me a replacement sensor​

Due to the inaccurate readings, reports and average glucose calculations will be wrong. Could cause problems for users if they need to show reports/meter readings to specialists, dvla etc - i.e. will they believe you when you say your BS was ok when reports show otherwise.

1: Take finger prick readings using the Libre - these will show up on reports showing the scan data is wrong.
2: Report the sensor errors to Abbott and get a case number which will be kept on file and can be used if required to show authorities that the sensor readings were inaccurate. (!!!)​

If I need to take finger prick tests to show scan is incorrect I'll need test strips - my prescription is for another meter and I don't intend to change it until I can rely on the Libre.

Customer care said they will send me a 'few' Optium strips.
​

Can sensor readings be deleted?

No.
​

Can the meter be factory reset to delete all data?

No - meter can be reset but this will not delete stored readings but each reading is automatically deleted 90 days after it was taken.
​

I need to record half unit doses (0.5u) of insulin - can I have the code so I can set this option myself?

No - customer care do not have the code.
​

Can the sensor be covered with an elasticated tube bandage or micropore tape etc?

Yes - but take care not to dislodge the sensor.​

Still waiting for a refund of the vat and delivery charge.

The refund will take up to 7 days.
​

Can anyone think of anything else I should have asked?

 

[phoenix]

I think Abbott has been very clever with this. First they've marketed it by using bloggers to demonstrate how good it is (they've done that in France as well as the UK so I expect they've done it elsewhere) The people who read the blogs are people who are well motivated and they have created a demand from these people.
Moreover these are people that prepared to pay for it for a while. That is significant since they all come from countries where diabetes supplies are mostly paid for by health care schemes
As is happening they will certainly tell them of problems. I'm sure they expected that They've got the opportunity to hopefully remedy before marketing the product further.
What they must want is satisfied customers who will in turn impress their doctors . This might create a groundswell to add to the evidence from trials when they try to persuade health authorities to pay for it (especially since the costs aren't that big compared to high strip users)
I found it interesting that neither my diabetologist or my 'pump nurse' had heard of the product .

 

[logindetails]

I agree.
I'm feeling annoyed. Mine is 3 mmol out now and no response from Abbott.

I didn't get a response to an email I sent them yesterday. I mentioned this to the CC rep and he said that he can see my email in the system but they are currently drowning in emails and nobody has had a chance to reply to it yet.
I wasn't kept waiting when I called them (0500 467466) which I think is the best thing to do, especially if you need a replacement sensor.

 

[AndBreathe]

sounds like windows OS 3.1...sell it first and we'll fix it later...no it's stuffed buy windows 95, ****** buy w98, oh schite buy millennium ...woops that's worse, buy OS xp..how about windows 7 or 8 or 8.1?..hang in there we'll get it right

That's a bit unfait Jack, bearing in mind each of those systems includes additional functionality, and even the most robust products have some sort of lifespan, in terms of functionality and future-proofing.

(I don't have any association with Microsoft.)

 

[newenden]

DId they mention is this is from a different batch?

still awaiting a reply from rep

 

[jodysd6]

A few things I discussed with customer care this morning:

My first sensor gave inaccurate readings then died.

They are sending me a replacement sensor​

Due to the inaccurate readings, reports and average glucose calculations will be wrong. Could cause problems for users if they need to show reports/meter readings to specialists, dvla etc - i.e. will they believe you when you say your BS was ok when reports show otherwise.

1: Take finger prick readings using the Libre - these will show up on reports showing the scan data is wrong.
2: Report the sensor errors to Abbott and get a case number which will be kept on file and can be used if required to show authorities that the sensor readings were inaccurate. (!!!)​

If I need to take finger prick tests to show scan is incorrect I'll need test strips - my prescription is for another meter and I don't intend to change it until I can rely on the Libre.

Customer care said they will send me a 'few' Optium strips.
​

Can sensor readings be deleted?

No.
​

Can the meter be factory reset to delete all data?

No - meter can be reset but this will not delete stored readings but each reading is automatically deleted 90 days after it was taken.
​

I need to record half unit doses (0.5u) of insulin - can I have the code so I can set this option myself?

No - customer care do not have the code.
​

Can the sensor be covered with an elasticated tube bandage or micropore tape etc?

Yes - but take care not to dislodge the sensor.​

Still waiting for a refund of the vat and delivery charge.

The refund will take up to 7 days.
​

Can anyone think of anything else I should have asked?

I don't know if you still need it but the code is the same as for the insulinx and can be found via google!

 

[jodysd6]

Mine seemed to be showing a couple of mmol lower than meter yesterday but it was hard to work out as I did keep dropping and going low. I put the sensor in at about 2pm yesterday and today all readings have been very close, furthest apart was 0.6mmol between libre and accu check combo meter, considering margin with meters anyway I am very pleased with it, just hoping it continues like this!

 

[Emmotha]

:-(

 

[baz2107]

Asked my consultant about it last week-he said it was up to me but he wouldn't recommend it at the current time-saying it judged the glucose in the skin rather than the blood you would get from finger prick and says the trials they have done are not large enough or approved as of yet. He said it would be advisable to wait

 

[Emmotha]

My verdict so far is that it's pants and a waste of money. Hope it improves though as I was really excited! If not I will be requesting a refund.

 

[logindetails]

I don't know if you still need it but the code is the same as for the insulinx and can be found via google!

You're a gem
Now why didn't I think of trying that - time for a brain transplant

 

[logindetails]

...... today all readings have been very close, furthest apart was 0.6mmol between libre and accu check combo meter, considering margin with meters anyway I am very pleased with it, just hoping it continues like this!

Once we can trust it and don't feel we have to double check each reading it will be the best thing since sliced bread - not that I'm endorsing bread - sliced or otherwise

 

[jack412]

Asked my consultant about it last week-he said it was up to me but he wouldn't recommend it at the current time-saying it judged the glucose in the skin rather than the blood you would get from finger prick and says the trials they have done are not large enough or approved as of yet. He said it would be advisable to wait

it can't be more accurate than alternate site BG and as such, on arms and legs isn't for rapid change, I think it's good for basal and before meal, isn't good for hypo or 1-2 hr post meal because of the lag
I would rely on the trend and prompt a finger prick, rather than the number