Anybody with experience of inaccuracy with CGM but success with Freestyle Libre? Or any Libre tips?

[London36_]

Hello,

I've previously used Medtronic CGM with quite horrendous accuracy so subsequently purchased Dexcom 7 and whilst accuracy somewhat improved, the significant cost, alarms and extra work didn't outweigh the benefits.

I'm wondering if my experiences of inaccuracy with two types of CGM are perhaps related to issues that won't affect accuracy with a Libre?

Perhaps my personal, wildly fluctuating blood sugars messed up calibration with CGM but this won't happen with a Libre 'scan'; somehow?

I'd really love it if there were people out there who didn't like CGM but love Libre? I'd feel more comfortable popping it on my credit card if anyone could tell me this is the case.

Thank you!
Ps Do I need a computer/software for it to work? Can't find this anywhere online? I only have an iPhone...

And is the starter pack for £160 all I need? (Then £57 for 14 days thereafter?)

 

[tim2000s]

No one can tell you whether it will work for you, although the the fact that it doesn't need calibrating may well work in your favour.

If you personally struggle with wildly variating bg levels I think you'll find that the results you get probably won't be brilliant, based on what i've seen.

Your best bet is to try it and see. I'm not sure what other advice to give.

 

[robert72]

My BGs don't fluctuate a lot (thanks to the Libre) and I find that most of the time it's accurate to around 1 mmol/l or less. You don't need a computer to use it, although you'll miss out on the data reporting software.

Yes, all you need is to buy one starter kit and then sensors as you need them, so low investment. Also those prices include VAT, you can pay less by claiming the VAT exemption when ordering.

 

[London36_]

Thank you, yes, I think I just need to give it a go...ill order one now and update thread for anyone else with similar BG responses to carbs, exercise etc.

If I eat more than 20-25 carbs, generally, I'll rise to 15ish BG and then back down again to 6ish (or sometimes even hypo despite the 15 spike) approx 4 hours later. I'm therefore not holding out hope that the Libre will work but really keen to improve control, so will chance it. (Have major problems with unavoidable morning cardio exercise aka 'the school run' up some hills.

I know that for my body and fluctuating levels, eating low carb will bring me more success than technology but I've previously not been able to sustain this. Must find motivation somehow!?

Thanks again

 

[Scarlet10]

Mine has arrived today, excited to see how this may help me obtain better control.

 

[Sponge89]

I'm on my second sensor now and it's accurate to within 0.5 mmol/l most of the time so quite impressive. It's made me notice that I am having hypos in the night whilst I'm asleep so I'm now able to correct that. It's also addictive to try and keep levels tight which is a good thing. Highly recommend the libre.

 

[Scarlet10]

Aw @sponge83 thats good, I'm only on day 2 sensor one but mine is so far very accurate. I have been the last few days waking with high sugars and last night i could see like you said that it dropped low and obviously my body naturally releases sugar causing it to be high in double figures when i woke. Yes i think this machine could become quite addictive.

 

[rasik500]

Well my experience
I received it 2 weeks ago
It worked for 6 hours then it stopped working
I got my second sensor next day that did not register with reader
I called tech help line they were very helpful they sent 2 replacement a sensors foc
I have been using it past 7 days
Generally very accurate easy to use , gives me lots of confidence when I am out and about. So far 8 out of 10
I will try when playing golf tomorrow
Rasik
rasik

 

[Scarlet10]

Good to hear @rasik500

 

[Britishbob]

Hello,

I've previously used Medtronic CGM with quite horrendous accuracy so subsequently purchased Dexcom 7 and whilst accuracy somewhat improved, the significant cost, alarms and extra work didn't outweigh the benefits.

I'm wondering if my experiences of inaccuracy with two types of CGM are perhaps related to issues that won't affect accuracy with a Libre?

Perhaps my personal, wildly fluctuating blood sugars messed up calibration with CGM but this won't happen with a Libre 'scan'; somehow?

I'd really love it if there were people out there who didn't like CGM but love Libre? I'd feel more comfortable popping it on my credit card if anyone could tell me this is the case.

Thank you!
Ps Do I need a computer/software for it to work? Can't find this anywhere online? I only have an iPhone...

And is the starter pack for £160 all I need? (Then £57 for 14 days thereafter?)

Hi
The Freestyle Libre is very accurate - proven in clinical trials. There will always be small differences in results between devices as different technology is used and blood is a dynamic solution and never the same anywhere in your body.
With the Libre, if you are concerned about blood levels rising or falling rapidly, you can do a blood glucose test and even Blood Ketones - ( never use urine sticks they are inaccurate)
The Libre software is free on the website and is one of the key things as it shows 24hours worth of glucose levels - Ambulatory Glucose Profiles are the way forward and designed by the international Diabetes forum.
Suggest joining the Facebook Libre page - heard it's excellent and created by patients - I'm not on Facebook so can't confirm.
The prices online include VAT, tick the box to have this removed as a person with Diabetes doesn't pay VAT - this is a legal requirement
There are lots of videos on the freestyllibre website to help
Good luck

 

[arunkolathu_uk]

I have had Libre for 1 week now. The only thing that I have observed is that the fasting blood sugar is higher compared to the finger prick reading. Other than that Libre is accurate.