Get your next Libre to Abbott now!

[Binary]

I will be talking to Asda again tomorrow but this time I will be armed with Abbott's Freestyle Libre System Pharmcy/Wholesaler Reimbursement FAQs and with the knowledge that Asda seem to have a set price of £44 based on a Libre google map that someone has setup:

www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=18YWninhSZDWY7Juv-iK4WiCiImmDSaMp&hl=en_GB&ll=51.742127717196325%2C-1.0344257056640345&z=8

Just received email from DPD so expecting libre's tomorrow. That should buy be enough time to convince a pharmacy to order them for me.

Just found out link was previous posted in thread Freestyle libre pharmacy trouble by NickC who created it, a great idea.

 

[NoKindOfSusie]

Does all of this mean that even if I can get the money together I couldn't actually GET one? Or you know, several.

And oh god @Binary I want one and I want it to look like that:

 

[Rokaab]

Does all of this mean that even if I can get the money together I couldn't actually GET one? Or you know, several.

I know I got two last week from my local Asda Pharmacy - and you can of course still order directly from Abbott (though by the looks of things you will have a hefty wait from them). So yes you can actually get them.

 

[NoKindOfSusie]

I know I got two last week from my local Asda Pharmacy - and you can of course still order directly from Abbott (though by the looks of things you will have a hefty wait from them). So yes you can actually get them.

How long is "hefty"

A week? Six months?

 

[JoeT1]

How long is "hefty"

A week? Six months?

It depends where you are really I think. I'm in Ireland and have waited no more than 6 days on 3 occasions I have ordered, and the last order took about 8 working days to get here because of the unexpected demand. I think they have opened up a new production line in order to be able to reach the demand for them. They will only be expanding as they are being rolled out across the UK and to young people in Ireland.

I find their Twitter team very responsive whenever I have a query, and customer service great any time I have had a problem. I know others have had different experiences.

 

[Scott-C]

In a few years time, we'll be saying, "Do you remember the 2018 Sensor Drought?"....

 

[Sibyl]

How long is "hefty"

A week? Six months?

I just received my order and it was just over three weeks from Abbott. Many folk are reporting faster service from local pharmacies and Asda has reportedly been charging slightly less than Abbott per sensor plus there’s no p&p of course. A friend in Poole, Dorset got her’s from Asda the next day and was charged £44 with her vat exemption.

 

[Fairygodmother]

How long is "hefty"

A week? Six months?

If you can get to an Asda with a pharmacy, I think most of them have one, then you can probably get the reader as well as the sensors from them more cheaply than direct from Abbott too.

It’s a really good tool to show you what’s happening with your blood sugars 24/7 and can help you to analyse and adjust doses. Beware that it’s a means to an end, not the end itself.

 

[NoKindOfSusie]

Can anyone think of any reason I shouldn't do it.

What I am specifically asking for is information that I can give to someone who might be willing to fund it, who has so far said they want a medical person to say it's OK, which is never going to happen.

 

[Rokaab]

Can anyone think of any reason I shouldn't do it.

No, I can't think of any reason not to use it (at least for myself).
I've found it incredibly useful, now I don't spike nearly so high after breakfast and I found out a number of other bits and pieces (like the fact I was right about not taking my Novorapid til after I'd eaten lunch and dinner cos often for myself it works far faster than the food kicks in - breakfast is a different kettle of fish entirely)
Also it shows my DN that the HBA1C certainly does not tell you everything (as it only shows the mean value and doesn't show the variance)

 

[Fairygodmother]

Can anyone think of any reason I shouldn't do it.

What I am specifically asking for is information that I can give to someone who might be willing to fund it, who has so far said they want a medical person to say it's OK, which is never going to happen.

I think it’s a great thing to have. I really missed it when the sensors were delayed and I’m really grateful to this site as it would’ve taken me longer to discover the Asda route without it.

It really helps in discovering what ratios work best (I’ve recently switched to a different basal) and how much time it takes for insulin to become active. It also helps to track the ways different kinds of carb and exercise affect blood sugars. I love the way that it’ll give me a rough idea of what my bs are doing as there’s and arrow that shows whether they’re rising, falling or even.

It may not always be as accurate as a meter, though, and since it uses interstitial fluids rather than blood it’s always 15 - 20 minutes retrograde of blood sugars.

I thought long and hard about the expense, decided I could manage to pay for a reader and a couple of sensors so it was worth trying it. I’ve now decided it’s something I don’t want to be without.

My levels aren’t as wonderful as the image @Binary posted! However, when I saw a Consultant a couple of weeks ago he cheerily said “You won’t get complications”.

 

[Binary]

Does all of this mean that even if I can get the money together I couldn't actually GET one? Or you know, several.

And oh god @Binary I want one and I want it to look like that:

Not many days are that good but then I am trying to manage an eight year old's bloods and his requirements do tend to change frequently. I have been told by his consultant that it should become a lot more stable by the time he is 20.

 

[Binary]

Can anyone think of any reason I shouldn't do it.

What I am specifically asking for is information that I can give to someone who might be willing to fund it, who has so far said they want a medical person to say it's OK, which is never going to happen.

Prior to the purchasing the libre my sons HbA1c were above 7.0%, since using the libre for approximately 2 years I believe (since they were approved for children) the HbA1c has been between 6.3% and 6.5%. On Monday the 5th March the HbA1c came back as 5.9%/41mmol.

Your potential sponsor of the libre, what do they want a medical person to actually say? That's it is ok for them to fund for you or that it is a product worth investing in. The NHS have approved it for prescription subject to local CCG's, what more do they want? Are they worried that you/someone may hold them responsible for any issues while that occur while using the libre? I imagine you could both sign a disclaimer if necessary.

My son has the app librelink that reads the sensors, he also the diasend app and his librelink account is set up to shared data with diasend. On my phone I have the diasend app and librelinkup. His librelink account is setup to allow access my librelinkup app to receive his bloods scans, the diasend tends to be 15 minute behind but will show me a similar chart to the libre.

Depending on who your potentially sponsor is they will probably want to see that it is worth investing in and continue to invest in. If it is an employee then I probably wouldn't want to share the data other then maybe my HbA1c which I am sure will come down with use of the libre. If it's a friend/relative you may be more willing to share the information.

 

[Deleted Account]

Can anyone think of any reason I shouldn't do it.

What I am specifically asking for is information that I can give to someone who might be willing to fund it, who has so far said they want a medical person to say it's OK, which is never going to happen.

Not a reason not to try it but I would suggest a hint of caution.
I tried the Libre (and the Dexcom) a couple of times and found the readings inconsistently different from finger prick readings.
As there is no way to calibrate the Libre (it is "factory calibrated"), I gave up.

In hindsight, I have decided the value of the Libre (and CGMs) for me is to see trends to work out when to take insulin or adjust my basal. I trust the Libre readings enough to know that after eating pasta, for example, my BG shoots up quickly so should take my insulin 30 minutes before eating. However, I do not trust it enough to use for a corrective dose. Therefore, for me, it is only useful occasionally (half a dozen times a year) rather than full time.

Many people have had better experience that I so I have come to the conclusion it is just my body and/or lifestyle which is Libre-incompatible.
But, based on my experience, I would recommend a trial of one sensor to find out if it suits you before investing in a bulk buy.

 

[becca59]

I love it. It is the bees knees!!

 

[EllieM]

But, based on my experience, I would recommend a trial of one sensor to find out if it suits you before investing in a bulk buy.

I would recommend this too. I self funded and it made a huge difference to my control for 8 months (particularly helpful at night because you can instantly check your level if you even briefly wake and if you don't you can see your level for last 8 hours when you wake in the morning). Unfortunately it no longer agrees with my body (I could cope with the allergy to the sensors but this is combined with readings that are now too inaccurate to be useful). If it still worked for me I would still be using it, but luckily most people don't seem to have my issue.

 

[Draco16]

Can anyone think of any reason I shouldn't do it.

What I am specifically asking for is information that I can give to someone who might be willing to fund it, who has so far said they want a medical person to say it's OK, which is never going to happen.

1. Is this person aware of other medical reasons why it might not be suitable for you? Is that what you’re hinting at? Otherwise it’s a freely available product on sale to the general public that requires no additional medical sign off. ie it is not prescription only, or a controlled substance, etc

2. Can you expand on why if this person insisted, you would not get medical sign off? As you say there is no chance, why? Why do they think it is not suitable for you eg are there other medical reasons?

(Because yes we can all tell you it’s great and go for it, but if there are other medical reasons that you, your friend, medics are aware of then you do need medical sign off)

Get this person to read this site and the generally glowing testimonials on the Libre. From what you’ve said i think specifically it would address your concerns around spikes between tests, help you learn to pre bolus, give you the confidence to exercise... and just generally help you manage and reduce your stress.

My one concern for you would be that you remain unaware of the target ranges, and so the Libre could stress you further when you realise it is just impossible (even for a non-diabetic) to spend all your time in the 5-7 range. The Libre can help you sit in the 4s btw, even better!

I found it life changing and I really hope you can get the Libre working for you.

 

[NoKindOfSusie]

1. Is this person aware of other medical reasons why it might not be suitable for you? Is that what you’re hinting at? Otherwise it’s a freely available product on sale to the general public that requires no additional medical sign off. ie it is not prescription only, or a controlled substance, etc

I am going to send you a private message, I hope that's OK.

 

[Rokaab]

My one concern for you would be that you remain unaware of the target ranges, and so the Libre could stress you further when you realise it is just impossible (even for a non-diabetic) to spend all your time in the 5-7 range.

I think this is a very important point to remember.
The libre will show you how imperfect you are (it shows spikes for non-diabetics as well) - you can of course learn whats going on and work out what works best for you but for the vast majority of T1's we can never ever stay in that very small range all the time.

 

[NoKindOfSusie]

I think this is a very important point to remember.
The libre will show you how imperfect you are (it shows spikes for non-diabetics as well) - you can of course learn whats going on and work out what works best for you but for the vast majority of T1's we can never ever stay in that very small range all the time.

I know that.

What I don't know is what the tolerance on that is.

If I am at 20 for a week that is dangerous. Apparently if I am at 7.5 for an hour, that isn't.

Somewhere between those two is a limit, a curve on a graph, nobody seems to know what it looks like.