Anyone having big reliability issues with Freestyle Libre 2 Plus sensors?

[Introverted_And_Proud]

I've been having reading variation issues between my sensors and my meter for a while now, both when I was using the Libre 2 and the Libre 2+. Both readings stay within 1-2mmol of each other for the first week or so (the variation being more common with high readings rather than normal or low ones). Then usually around the 8 day mark, the sensor readings start to stray over 2mmol for all ranges, often claiming my readings to be much lower than they actually are. I'm normally changing sensors every week rather than two.

Over the past week, however, I've noticed the issue has been getting increasingly worse. Got a new batch of sensors from my chemist. Sensor no.1 worked for the first couple of hours after activation, but I suffered a hypo within one hour of my dinner. Treated the hypo and my meter reported my blood sugars were rising after fifteen minutes, but for some reason, my sensor did not follow it even with the lag. Even when my levels were stable again, my sensor continued to read my levels 5-6mmol lower. Was forced to switch out to Sensor no.2, but that one didn't even last a day. From the moment of activation it, too, read 5-6mmol lower than my meter. Sensor no.3 did better and lasted 8 to 9 days, but the variation worsened fast and it wasn't following my levels very well at all. Currently on Sensor no.4 on day 11 and I'm once again preparing to swap to a new sensor tomorrow because this one has been reading between 1.5 - 2mmol under my meter and is taking longer than 20 minutes to catch up (which it never does). This started after /3 days/ when it had seemingly settled after 48 hours.

I'm hoping it's just a bad batch, because they all seem to have similar serial numbers. Though, I have noticed this only started happening around the time the UK heatwaves started. I know the heat can affect the adhesive, but is it possible the sensors themselves can go awry because of the high temperatures and terrible humidity? I am inside a lot and tried to stay in well ventilated rooms and avoid the sun anyways (not an outdoors person), but I wouldn't be surprised if the sensors can only withstand up to a certain temperature.

 

[Hobo1960]

I've been having reading variation issues between my sensors and my meter for a while now, both when I was using the Libre 2 and the Libre 2+. Both readings stay within 1-2mmol of each other for the first week or so (the variation being more common with high readings rather than normal or low ones). Then usually around the 8 day mark, the sensor readings start to stray over 2mmol for all ranges, often claiming my readings to be much lower than they actually are. I'm normally changing sensors every week rather than two.

Over the past week, however, I've noticed the issue has been getting increasingly worse. Got a new batch of sensors from my chemist. Sensor no.1 worked for the first couple of hours after activation, but I suffered a hypo within one hour of my dinner. Treated the hypo and my meter reported my blood sugars were rising after fifteen minutes, but for some reason, my sensor did not follow it even with the lag. Even when my levels were stable again, my sensor continued to read my levels 5-6mmol lower. Was forced to switch out to Sensor no.2, but that one didn't even last a day. From the moment of activation it, too, read 5-6mmol lower than my meter. Sensor no.3 did better and lasted 8 to 9 days, but the variation worsened fast and it wasn't following my levels very well at all. Currently on Sensor no.4 on day 11 and I'm once again preparing to swap to a new sensor tomorrow because this one has been reading between 1.5 - 2mmol under my meter and is taking longer than 20 minutes to catch up (which it never does). This started after /3 days/ when it had seemingly settled after 48 hours.

I'm hoping it's just a bad batch, because they all seem to have similar serial numbers. Though, I have noticed this only started happening around the time the UK heatwaves started. I know the heat can affect the adhesive, but is it possible the sensors themselves can go awry because of the high temperatures and terrible humidity? I am inside a lot and tried to stay in well ventilated rooms and avoid the sun anyways (not an outdoors person), but I wouldn't be surprised if the sensors can only withstand up to a certain temperature.

I wonder if dehydration affects the sensor. The sensors are used and licensed all over the world so I’d expect them to be able to cope with higher temperatures. You could be right, perhaps it’s a quality issue with certain batches? Perhaps some of us develop scar tissue around the sensor filament that produces errors as the scar tissue develops? I wish sensor manufacturers would share their statistics with us, they must know why the sensors are failing?

 

[grantg]

I wonder if dehydration affects the sensor. The sensors are used and licensed all over the world so I’d expect them to be able to cope with higher temperatures. You could be right, perhaps it’s a quality issue with certain batches? Perhaps some of us develop scar tissue around the sensor filament that produces errors as the scar tissue develops? I wish sensor manufacturers would share their statistics with us, they must know why the sensors are failing?

you may find the below interesting

How to Store the Sensor Kit:

Store the Sensor Kit between 36°F and 82°F. Storage outside of this range may cause inaccurate Sensor glucose readings.
If you suspect that the temperature may exceed 82°F (for example, in an un-airconditioned home in summer), you should refrigerate your Sensor Kit. Do not freeze your Sensor Kit.
Store your Sensor Kit in a cool, dry place. Do not store your Sensor Kit in a parked car on a hot day.
Store the Sensor Kit between 10-90% non-condensing humidity.

link to above: https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/safety-information.html
36 degrees F is 2.22 degrees C 82 degrees F is 27.78 degrees C


edit same page:

The Reader’s built-in meter is not for use on people who are dehydrated, hypotensive, in shock, or for individuals in hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state, with or without ketosis.

 

[Hobo1960]

you may find the below interesting



link to above: https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/safety-information.html
36 degrees F is 2.22 degrees C 82 degrees F is 27.78 degrees C


edit same page:

The operating temperature range is 10c to 45c. If temperature is outside this range E1 Error code or Reading Unavailable should come up. I guess that storage temperature could be critical when a new sensor is stored for a long time. Probably best not to leave one in the glovebox of a car for too long. I did that with a pack of Dextro tablets once and almost broke my Teeth. They’d gone rock hard.

 

[David J1]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

I have had some failures but on further enquiry, it is usually a software failure, not a sensor fault.

Try closing and logging on and. if that fails, delete the app and reload. That works for me. You will loose you data, so best to download that before deleting the app. If you are linked to a healthcare provider via Libre Link, their data is not lost.

 

[MadcowMoo]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

I have been using Freestyle Libre 2 for years and have just changed to Freestyle Libre 2 plus and I used to have major problems with them sticking but started using sensor cover stickers from Amazon which are also great if you go swimming alot it was mostly due to products I was using on my skin! I was also worried with the hot sun and using sunscreen because a couple came off both on the same day! I contacted Abbott and they sent 2 new ones out but when I was wearing a bikini I just put the sensor low on my stomach where I didn't put sunscreen and found it stayed out n had the added bonus of no white patch where under the sensor doesn't get the sun but you obviously you have to be aware that if your sensor isn't in a direct line of sight to your phone or reader you'll just have to scan it directly more regularly, hope this helps

 

[Introverted_And_Proud]

you may find the below interesting



link to above: https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/safety-information.html
36 degrees F is 2.22 degrees C 82 degrees F is 27.78 degrees C

27 degrees? Oof. Yeah. This is concerning. Where I live in the UK, we’ve been having temperatures go above this range occasionally in the late afternoon. I keep my sensors stored inside their boxes until I need to use them, which are kept inside a shoulder bag inside the wardrobe in my bedroom alongside some of my other diabetic supplies (barring insulin and test strips).

I thought they might have been fine in there because they were out of the way of the sunlight and whatnot, but now I’m wondering if it’s wise to keep them in there while the temperature is bad. Especially if this could be the reason why my last four sensors have been acting up. My bedroom does get pretty warm even with all the windows and the door open. Though, I’d rather not move them because that bag is an emergency bag I keep all my supplies together in just in case I need to leave my home at night for any reason (like if there was a fire, for example).

 

[MadcowMoo]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

I replied earlier n wrote sensor stickers but they are called sensor cover stickers that go around the edge of the libre to help keep them stuck on

 

[StewartH]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

Well I have had a few 'sensor error' notices. I make sure I have a spare sensor to ensure I can fit a replacement. I always call abbot support line and they have on all occasions sent me a replacement sensor. They also send a return postage pack so that they can learn from the sensor errors I guess.
So they are not faultless but the support is great. With the occasional breakdown they are still life changing for me.
The failure rate is no where near yours however so I think you should talk with support to work out why.

 

[Jasmin2000]

Out of interest, what do Abbott tell those of you having Libre 2+ fails and then calling the help desk? I've had 4 fails and three were on iPhone OS18.5 and I was told by help desk that it was due to iPhone incompatibility (after 8-9 days? Gimme a break) .

So being a scientist, I used Abbott's own reader for the last one and guess what - it failed after 8-9 days with readings below 2.7 whilst my glucometer was reading over 5.0. When I called Abbott and told them it was not an iPhone issue, they asked if I wanted a new reader!

This is a sensor issue and Abbott know it - Libre 2+ (at least in UK for at least 4 lots that I've had) are just defective.

 

[SimonP78]

I always use the reader to remove the accusation that there's an issue with my phone. They do, however, keep sending me new readers (I just received my 3rd), which may be because they've got a glut, but it also seems to indicate that they think there might be some issue with the hardware on my end. This must be due to my repeated Bluetooth failures rather than the calibration issues (I'm still confused as to the cause of these comms failures as it doesn't seem very widespread.)

I can't see any way they can point at the reader/phone being at fault if it's receiving data, but the data indicate a blood sugar that is much lower than reality. That's obviously the sensor itself!

 

[Hobo1960]

I asked Abbott for a list of error codes. Unfortunately, as expected, the list doesn’t include many of the various codes that appear in the Event log under Settings. I can only assume that codes not included probably refer to program events and expect that these are used by Abbott to identify what actually caused the failure. I’ve copied the list directly from the email that I received. I believe that the majority of us already knew the meaning of most of these error codes. I’ve now switched over to Dexcom One+.

As for the error messages:


New sensor starting up:

What it means: Sensor is not ready yet to read glucose.

What to do: Wait until the 60 Minutes sensor startup period has completed.


Scan time out:

What it means: The reader is not being held close enough to the sensor.

What to do: Bring the screen of the reader close to the sensor.


Sensor ended (ER3, 337):

What it means: The sensor life has ended.

What to do: Apply and start a new sensor.


Signal loss alarm:

What it means: The sensor has not automatically communicated with the reader in the last 20 minutes.

What to do:

1. Make sure the reader is within 6 M (20 ft) of the sensor.
2. Try scanning the sensor to get a glucose reading.
3. If the signal lost alarm shows again after scanning your sensor, contact customer service.


New sensor found:

What it means: You scanned a new sensor before your previous sensor had ended.

What to do: Your reader can only be used with one sensor at a time. If you start a new sensor, you will no longer be able to scan your old sensor. If you would like to begin using the new sensor, select yes.


Scan sensor (ER3, 335):

What it means: The reader was unable to communicate with the sensor.

What to do: Try scanning again;
Note: You may need to move away from your potential sources of electromagnetic interference.


Sensor error (ER3, 373):

What it means: The system is unable to provide a glucose reading.

What to do: Scan again in 10 minutes.


Glucose reading unavailable (ER3, 373):

What it means: Your sensor is too hot or too cold.

What to do: Move to a location where the temperature is appropriate and scan again in a few minutes.


Sensor already in use:

What it means: The sensor was started by another device.

What to do: Your reader can only be used with the sensor that it started. Scan the sensor again with the device that it started or apply and start a new sensor.


Check sensor (ER3, 366):

What it means: The sensor tip may not be under your skin.

What to do: Try to start your sensor again if the reader. If the reader still displays check sensor again, your sensor was not applied properly. Apply and start a new sensor.


Replace sensor (ER3, 365):

What it means: The system has detected a problem with your sensor.

What to do: Apply and start a new sensor.

 

[grantg]

I’ve now switched over to Dexcom One+.

hopefully you'll have less issues with the dexom one+. ps were you able to get it on prescription ok? gl

 

[Hobo1960]

hopefully you'll have less issues with the dexom one+. ps were you able to get it on prescription ok? gl

Yes, very easy to get on prescription. The Dexcom is slightly cheaper over a full year. If you decide to change to Dexcom just make sure you request 3 sensors a month as the sensor has a maximum life of 10 days. The Dexcom also comes with an overlay adhesive patch to increase its adhesion. I used to have to purchase these for the Freestyle. If you go on Dexcom’s website you can request a free 10 day trial, that’s what I did.

 

[Hobo1960]

So being a scientist, I used Abbott's own reader for the last one and guess what - it failed after 8-9 days with readings below 2.7 whilst my glucometer was reading over 5.0. When I called Abbott and told them it was not an iPhone issue, they asked if I wanted a new reader!

So did you become a “Mad Scientist”?