• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

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

I haven't any problems with the libre 2 plus so far. Lasts the full fifteen days and sticks on well , too well sometimes!
It has saved my fingers no end. Wouldn't want to be without it now. Aren't we lucky to get it on the NHS !!!
 
Dexcom also has complaints NHS seen to prefer libre at least in my area ,. Same idea with news rarer to hear good things, bad things such as complaints usually heard a lot louder alongside if something is used more frequent. It would be interesting to see direct comparison of both on same person wearing both for a good few months, to see if it's across the board or just hear due to sheer number of users . Despite quirks and limitations love the libre even thou this time around it's reading approx 1 mmol under fingerpricks

One mmol is nothing and well with in tolerances. I have two blood glucose monitors that show that much apart both tested with solution for accuracy.
 
My pharmacist has now issued a yellow card about Libre 2 plus because of the issues with sensors not working. This is dangerous and Abbott don’t seem to be responding
 
One mmol is nothing and well with in tolerances. I have two blood glucose monitors that show that much apart both tested with solution for accuracy.
I've just done 3 fingerprick tests on the same meter within 2 min of each other. One came up 5.6, the other 2 as 7.7. Libre says 6.8.
Frustrating.
 
Perhaps you newly diagnosed may think this is not good enough but i'me sure i'me not the only old git on here who's thinking you don't know how lucky you are and should feel blessed that you have such a good tool for managing your diabetes , go back to the chemistry set and peeing in a test tube, but even then I don't think we moaned about it ,and we're still here , please be grateful .
 
This is due to incompatibility with IOS 26, Abbott have not updated their software. Has anyone tried Dexcom?
This is not true, at least for me. Yes I am now using Dexcoms but I was using Libre 2 plus’s on iOS 26 on my iPhone 14 Pro before I swapped without problems. Incidentally I swapped for price and the ability to view my readings on my Apple Watch not reliability.
 
This is not true, at least for me. Yes I am now using Dexcoms but I was using Libre 2 plus’s on iOS 26 on my iPhone 14 Pro before I swapped without problems. Incidentally I swapped for price and the ability to view my readings on my Apple Watch not reliability.
That’s interesting as Abbott don’t list IOS 26 as compatible
 
My Libre 2 plus sensor is giving wildly inaccurate low results - I've finally turned off the low alarm as it was going off regularly. For instance a reading of 3.3 on the sensor was 5.8 on a fingerstick. I'm not sure what to do next as Abbott don't seem to be addressing the issue.
Hi my Libre 2 plus give me very low inaccurate reading too compare to finger pricking . I am self funded and kidney transplant patients. My Gp won’t give me prescription to buy sensor she said it’s only for the type 1 diabetes patients. Yeh libre 2plus is definitely not very reliable.
 
I have been using the 2 for about3years. The sensors stay on almost always. I use skin prep pads before application and a cover pad is I’m working out or bathing. On the rare occasion a sensor falls off you can call Abott and they will replace it.
I’ve been using libra for years. Switch to libra plus has been horrible. 5 of the last 8 sensors have failed from attachment. Initially it looks right but after the 60 min it says to restart sensor and it sends me into a never ending loop and never starts up. Very frustrated. When they work it’s great but a failure rate of over 50% is unacceptable.
 
I have written various updates on here and I do realise how amazing the advent of the CGM is to the average diabetic ( if indeed there is an average user). I have always tried to monitor and manage my Diabetes situation carefully and the CGM has been the best upgrade to my toolkit for managing my diabetes. Trying to maintain my blood sugar levels between two numbers 4 & 10 can be a real challenge at times but my HBA1C has improved greatly since being on the Freestyle Libre 2 sensors. However, when there was a change from Libre2 to the Libre plus version I have found that I get problems that I never experienced with Libre 2.
I have returned numerous sensors to Abbotts because they either stop working or fall out of my arm. But I have also had problems like a recent sensor where the Sensor was reading 3.5 above the blood sensor.
Whilst the CGM is a great peice of tech when it is working it needs to be more stable and reliable to help me manage my diabetes more accurately within the lower and upper limits. Readings that greatly differ from blood glucose readings are not helpful and as an insulin user I am aware how potentionally dangerous it is if the CGM is telling you that your numbers are higher than they actually are. i.e your alarm may not go off when needed.
After a year of living with the Libre 2 Plus I would say that there are far more issues that I ever experiencxed with the older Libre system. I am having to monitor not just my blood levels but the accuracy and reliability of the sensor.
I have tried reaching out to Abbotts and asked them to read the comments on this forum, I have offered to help by feeding back my experiences and I notice others have offered this too. I do wish that Abbotts would engage with us to help improve the Libre 2 Plus for the benefit of the Diabetic who is truly trying to benefit from what could be a better product if it were more reliable and accurate.
Let's hope that Abbotts will work work closer with their customers in 2026.
Best Wishes for the coming year everyone.

Victor
 
This might just be coincidence, but I feel that the Libre 2 Plus units are particularly sensitive to position. Where the Libre 2s I could stick anywhere on my arm almost, the Libre 2 Plus units have only consistently worked for me if I have located them right around my arm well away from my bicep muscle and lower than before. Less convenient for a manual zap with my phone but fewer failures.

Along with @Is Vic There ? 's comment above. I've recently had a sensor where, according to it, I was having a low glucose event for over 50% of the day. I was less than 1% over the previous 6 months! Finger prick tests showed I was actually fine. After 9 days wiating for it to settle down I switched it out and immediately I was in the 'normal' band again and have been ever since. These things are great at understanding the effect food and exercise behaviours have on your levels, but not necessarily yet the tool you should rely on 100%.
 
Agreed that the 2+ seems to be less reliable than the 2.
I'm trying out a dexcom 1+, with my last libre sensor still running. This morning my libre gave me a reading of 2.9 with a downward arrow; dexcom and a fingerprick gave 7.0...
It's been bizarre seeing libre telling me my bg is dropping, while the dexcom says it's going up.
E2a: bg currently 7.6 - libre is telling me 4.9 :banghead:
 
Last edited:
Very important to move the insertion location. Very easy to develop a hardened area of skin which will give lower blood flow thus lower readings. Perhaps this is one reason some see the plus as a downgrade. Longer use may same issue with the 2.
 
Very important to move the insertion location. Very easy to develop a hardened area of skin which will give lower blood flow thus lower readings. Perhaps this is one reason some see the plus as a downgrade. Longer use may same issue with the 2.
Hi,

I’m surprised by this.
I can appreciate over use of injections sites affect tissue & insulin absorbtion.

But regarding the Libre placement sites. I haven’t noticed any issue affecting the interstitial fluid layer under the skin. Which is what the probe reads to interpret BG levels.)

Do Abbot state this in the “handbook?”
 
It's interesting to read how this thread has progressed as I haven't contributed in about 6 months.

I clearly wasn't imagining the problems with the Libre 2+. I actually gave up on Abbott and moved onto the Dexcom one+ which while a better product unfortunately also has it's positives and negatives


Positives

These things stick and you get an over patch supplied f.o.c.

I can use these on my stomach. I gave huge issues placing CGMs into my arms (as they are so big).

You can calibrate the One + with a standard glucometers reading using the app.

I have had 3 sensors replaced in 6 months.I was having 3 libre 2+ sensors replaced every month!

I am more confident in the results after calibration, first 25 hours can be inconsistent).

The Bluetooth range of the Dexcom One +. Is considerably better than any of the Libres I have used.


Negatives

The Dexcom software is appalling, even worse than librelink. I tend to use GlucoDataMonitor instead.

The One+ is unreliable when used with Juggluco, constantly disconnecting.

I still have the same problems.inserting the One + in my arms (although the adhesion is definitely better)

Dexcom hardly support any recent Android phones and rarely the latest Android or IOS operating systems. I've actually had to use an old Xiaomi phone to connect to the One + and share the data through Clarity with my Razr 60 Ultra which is running GlucoDatahandler. As the Bluetooth range of the Dexcom is much better than the Libre I can pretty much forget about this around the house but do of course need to carry 2 handsets when going outside, so that's a little annoying!

Just like Abbot the support is pretty appalling and mostly in pidgin English.

The One+ life is 11 days as opposed to the Libre 2+ 15 days



I hope this helps someone who may be considering changing.

I do think the Dexcom is the far better CGM hardware, unfortunately Dexcom's software and phone support is appalling.compared to Abbot's Librelink.
 
Back
Top