FREESTYLE LIBRE ON SALE!!!!

iHs

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,595
Good morning all. I've had a couple of close rinserteradings, now pulling in within 1mmol. So bit more pleased.

How about everyone else? @logindetails ?
What has brought this about Emmotha? Did Abbott replace the sensors or did you have a go at inserting in another arm?

Good news though
 

Emmotha

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,123
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
What has brought this about Emmotha? Did Abbott replace the sensors or did you have a go at inserting in another arm?

Good news though
Hello. I didn't change it, I thought as I've got it in anyway I'll wait and see if time helps. Suddenly last night it started to be more stable. I can live with 1mmol 1.5mmol out as long as there's a pattern. But 3 days is a long time to calibrate?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

AndBreathe

Master
Retired Moderator
Messages
11,320
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello. I didn't change it, I thought as I've got it in anyway I'll wait and see if time helps. Suddenly last night it started to be more stable. I can live with 1mmol 1.5mmol out as long as there's a pattern. But 3 days is a long time to calibrate?

Emmotha - Have you tried increasing your fluid intake? Having lived for protracted periods in the Tropics, I'm very tuned to my hydration levels. These days I'm more likely to go dehydrated in UK, than in the heat, because it's just so easy not to take on the fluids.

I know if I do get dehydrated, my blood scores can go a bit wonky, and return scores that sometimes just don't feel right.
 

smidge

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,761
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
I had another fake hypo overnight - seems to happen when I lie on the sensor (BG tested with the mobile at the same time was 5.1)

Your level control is brilliant Robert. Although my overall control is excellent as measured by HbA1c, the devil really is in the detail. The Libre is showing that over the 3 nights I've worn it, the first night and last night my BG rose all night from around 3ish and was v high on waking but the middle night it fell at around 3ish and I had a secret hypo down into the 2s which recovered into the 4s by the time I woke up. This is perfect data to discuss with my consultant as he has never believed my overnight readings are just bloody random! I'm convinced the Levemir is at fault.

In terms of accuracy, most of the time the Libre tracks consistently 1.2mmol higher than the Mobile, but that gap increases significantly at high levels. I think I would expect that at higher levels. Just need to find out which is more accurate the rest of the time.

Overall I'm really happy with the insight I'm getting into what my BG is doing, but I'm not confident enough to stop testing or to base insulin doses on it.

Smidge
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people

LucySW

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,945
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Well, this is why we got them, Smidge: to collect just exactly detail like this. Especially about the Great Night-Time Mystery.

Great stuff, just amass that detail.

Lucy
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

supp

Active Member
Messages
26
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I got an email reply from Abbott about the discomfort I've been experiencing with the sensor. I'm still getting slight stabbing pain if I move my arm in certain way or roll over onto it in bed. Not pain free at all.

Abbott:

"Since you are experiencing these symptoms, and since you informed me that you have followed the proper instructions on how to apply the sensor, I have to advise you to remove the sensor.
Pain or discomfort during insertion of sensor may be due to nerve ending sensitivity at the insertion site. Pain or discomfort should not last for more than an hour or be severe in nature."

No mention of a replacement. I'm not looking for a replacement but it's disappointing that they simply say remove it. At £48 per sensor I would have been more apprehensive about purchasing if I had any idea it could cause pain while attached to my arm. There's no mention anywhere saying it can cause discomfort while attached.
 

Nebula65

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
Insulin
HI, I am new on the forum, have a daughter and son who are both type 1. We are looking to invest in a libre to use alternately with them for information on trends/basal rates etc. Was thinking this is such a fantastic technology at our fingertips, yet is not available on the NHS although is not far off the costs currently for fingerprick tests? Have never done anything like this before, but hope there may be some help on here - wondered if anyone had thought of starting an online petition for the libre to be available on the NHS? With the power of social networking I am sure a good number of people would sign it? If this is not thought practical by forum users, would you be able to advise what the procedure is to ask Hospital/GP for specific funding? Is a letter outlining reasons to them the usual way? Thanks in advance!
 

phoenix

Expert
Messages
5,671
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
The joys of living in the middle of nowhere.
Just had an email from Abbott with tracking number ,trouble is they sent the parcel on Wednesday. (must have been immediately on ordering)
It has been stuck at the depot 60km away for 2 days. They couldn't find us. We don't have a road or street number just the name of the village, That's normal in the countryside around here (18 people per square km) so usually delivery drivers use their common sense, get to the village, knock at a door and ask someone, or phone, this one obviously didn't.
They will try again on Monday so fingers crossed.
 

iHs

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,595
I got an email reply from Abbott about the discomfort I've been experiencing with the sensor. I'm still getting slight stabbing pain if I move my arm in certain way or roll over onto it in bed. Not pain free at all.

Abbott:

"Since you are experiencing these symptoms, and since you informed me that you have followed the proper instructions on how to apply the sensor, I have to advise you to remove the sensor.
Pain or discomfort during insertion of sensor may be due to nerve ending sensitivity at the insertion site. Pain or discomfort should not last for more than an hour or be severe in nature."

No mention of a replacement. I'm not looking for a replacement but it's disappointing that they simply say remove it. At £48 per sensor I would have been more apprehensive about purchasing if I had any idea it could cause pain while attached to my arm. There's no mention anywhere saying it can cause discomfort while attached.

I would be fairly angry at not being offered a refund if I had this problem so come Monday phone them and if necessary involve their head office. Take advantage of the moneyback guarantee?

Abbott need to have good user feedback for the Libre to sell
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

Omnipod

Well-Known Member
Messages
531
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I would be fairly angry at not being offered a refund if I had this problem so come Monday phone them and if necessary involve their head office. Take advantage of the moneyback guarantee?

Abbott need to have good user feedback for the Libre to sell

I too have a numbness in my arm and pins and needles in 3 fingers. i spoke to Abbott.
They advised me to speak to my GP and to contact them on Monday about a replacement sensor.
 

iHs

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,595
Obviously, Abbott are covering themselves with this as if you have nerve damage like CTS then only a hospital specialist doing a nerve conduction test will be able to reveal the cause.
 

supp

Active Member
Messages
26
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I too have a numbness in my arm and pins and needles in 3 fingers. i spoke to Abbott.
They advised me to speak to my GP and to contact them on Monday about a replacement sensor.

How long has your sensor been in? Very similar to my experience. I was advised the following:

"Do you have any signs of infection at insertion site (inflammation, redness, rash, discharge, fever etc.) or allergy (fever, shortness of breath, swollen lips, face, etc.)?

Please contact your Health Care Provider for any skin, allergic reaction or other condition that is of concern"

But I have non of the above so not gonna take time off work to see my doc.
 

Omnipod

Well-Known Member
Messages
531
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
How long has your sensor been in? Very similar to my experience. I was advised the following:

"Do you have any signs of infection at insertion site (inflammation, redness, rash, discharge, fever etc.) or allergy (fever, shortness of breath, swollen lips, face, etc.)?

Please contact your Health Care Provider for any skin, allergic reaction or other condition that is of concern"

But I have non of the above so not gonna take time off work to see my doc.


I inserted the sensor on Thur. Its been perfect till I woke up today. My readings are spot on with my meter. Its just the numbness today. Hoping it goes away because Im loving the libre. For the first time in 13 years I see a full picture and today I made adjustments to my pump.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

tim2000s

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
8,934
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
I've been reading this topic with interest. There has been a lot discussed about spot checks and comparisons with prick meters, however, for me the value is less in the spot checks and more in the trend analysis and pattern spotting.

With this in mind, could those who have one share their experiences in this respect? It would be especially interesting to hear what you have found relating to overnight trends and periods of increased activity such as sport participation.

Thanks.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
 

tim2000s

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
8,934
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
Apologies for the second post in quick succession, but the next thing that we need from Abbott on this product is an app for our smartphones. The functionality in the reader if the strip tester is removed is essentially Bluetooth or NFC and an app. Whilst it would reduce the initial outlay, they'd still make their cash from sensors (as all bg test companies do) and we'd have to carry fewer devices around.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people

logindetails

Well-Known Member
Messages
297
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Neuropathy :-(
Good morning all. I've had a couple of close readings, now pulling in within 1mmol. So bit more pleased.
How about everyone else? @logindetails ?
I waited until today to start my 3rd sensor and it looks a bit more promising than the previous two:

12:52 6.0 BG
13:00 4.2 scan
13:10 4.2 scan
13:40 4.2 scan

For comparison my other sensor starts were
1st
4.9 BG
2.6 scan
The accuracy got worse and the sensor ended itself the next morning.

2nd
7.8 BG
5.8 scan
Again the accuracy got worse until it would only give readning of 'LO' or no readings at all.

Just hoping it's third time lucky and the accuracy gets better with time rather than worse - fingers crossed :rolleyes:
 

logindetails

Well-Known Member
Messages
297
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Neuropathy :-(
Apologies for the second post in quick succession, but the next thing that we need from Abbott on this product is an app for our smartphones. The functionality in the reader if the strip tester is removed is essentially Bluetooth or NFC and an app. Whilst it would reduce the initial outlay, they'd still make their cash from sensors (as all bg test companies do) and we'd have to carry fewer devices around.
The meter is using NFC technology so as long as a smartphone also has NFC there is no reason an application could not be developed. Of course you'd still need to carry a BG monitor as back up.
 

jackois

Well-Known Member
Messages
391
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
tim2000s....

I'm in my third day of using it. So far, so good. All my cross checking has been within the tolerences I had set for it, bearing in mind that even blood testing can give false readings. Sensor fitting was simple and painless and currently have showered, played golf and slept in it, I don't have any worries about it coming off.

Trend analysis is the bit I bought it for and so far I've found it superb. Having seen the graphs of how insulin is supposed to work, it's reassuring to actually see it working real time, so to speak. Using finger pricking, I was quite happy that my long acting was doing as it should, i.e. whatever level I went to bed with was the level I woke up with. The libre showed a tendency to a slight hypo (3.6) around two in the morning which was followed by a recovery about half an hour later probably from a liver dump.

I followed this up by setting the alarm for two the next morning to double check with blood tests and found it to be correct. After reducing my Lantus by one unit, last night seemed to show a good steady trace above 4.5.

I've also found it good for keeping my blood sugar up around 7 to 8 while playing golf. Whilst understanding that the Libre runs 15 minutes behind a blood test, the trend can be seen and this allows me to add a few carbs each hole, rather than something like a small banana every couple of holes. I suspect previously that my sugar was see-sawing as I went around the course leading to patchy play. I've played twice wearing it and my scores are, so far, steadier.

I think that if, on day one, I'd been given a Libre and told that it could read around 10% out, I'd have been quite happy with it's performance.

As ever, this is a personal opinion and I do understand that others may not have had such a positive experience as myself.

Next step, hopefully is the certification for under 18's, and the adoption by the NHS as I'm not sure how long I can self-fund for.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people