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FREESTYLE LIBRE ON SALE!!!!

Sorry I should have mentioned they did send a replacement sensor with the new scanner.
 
What a pain. At least they're guaranteed three years so no way can they not replace.
 
Well, I called Abbott and they are sending a new reader and sensor. Now the thing shouldn't have broken in the first place, but I'll live.

Whilst going through the checks with the guy on the phone (Adam) we checked some details in the System Status log. I noted that I have used 185 test strips with the Libre in three months, as opposed to the 200 plus per month I was using prior to the Libre. I am clearly checking my blood sugar a lot less with fingerpricks than I was.

Now here's the other anomaly... and I don't know where it has come from. I noticed that at my last scan that I wasn't feeling dapper, with slight high blood sugar feelings. The scan was showing 6.6 and had been for an hour. It was abnormally flat. So I blood tested, with a different device, and I see that the test shows 9.1. That's a good 38% away. Now I'm asking myself, is that a sensor issue and will I see a great big contact dermatitis rash on replacing it, or is it a reader interpreting the data error? Prior to last night, when I identified the blood test issue, this pairing for the three days it has been together has been incredibly accurate with blood test results.

Time to go through the rigmarole of testing every hour and comparing to the scanner result, but something is clearly not quite right.

EDIT: Or maybe it was finger contamination, as a subsequent test on a different finger has me right where I should be...
 
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Glad new reader on its way. I've got very fussy abt finger contamination, bec Libre strip tests so easy to screw up. I was a lot more casual using my XT.
 
Yes the Libre teststrips suck (a lot of blood). Maybe it's to make you buy new sensors.

Current sensor was out 2 mmol 6.1 (BGM 8.0) yesterday-evening. Still device is kinda helpful, noticing fast falling or raising glucose levels. Accuracy up for improvements as well as skin comfort. Maybe 14 days is just too long to cover your skin with this?
 
Hill28 said:
Yes the Libre teststrips suck (a lot of blood). Maybe it's to make you buy new sensors.
Click to expand...

I think it's just that they are an old design - they seem to have reused the Optium Neo strips rather than the Insulinx strips which were much more blood efficient.
 
Andy_P said:
I've got some Cavilon coming as recommended by a previous poster on this forum. I will be trying this and will post the results.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000HY6T7M/ref=pe_385721_37038051_TE_3p_dp_1
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That's my next angle of attack. Let my 3 current sites heal, then try the Cavilion. Failing that Insert the sensor over the top of Opsite.

I just wish that I didn't have an issue with the sensors/opsite falling off anyway, I'm starting to feel at a loss as to how to make this work.

Did anyone else with bad skin reactions manage to get a replacement sensor in the post?, I feel a bit swindled at 6 days out of the last sensor even if it did fall off mainly due to the skin irritation.
 
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smidge said:
To be honest, I think we're pretty close to a recall notice being issued. I've seen test meters recalled for far less inaccuracy than the Libre is showing on occasions. I think the skin allergic reactions that now seem fairly widespread across the internet might well be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

To put this in perspective, I woke in the early hours this morning with an awful headache and felt like I had a migraine starting. I grabbed the Libre out of habit and scanned at 3.9 and a horizontal arrow - a level I would definitely correct overnight, but not one I would hurry with or worry about unduly. I just didn't feel well though so I got my Mobile and did a BG test - 1.9! I drank half a mixer can of Coke very quickly and was OK, but that could have been serious. At a genuine 3.9 I might have just gone for some slower acting carb and gone back to sleep - especially as I thought it was the start of a migraine. Really, as much as I like the Libre, I don't think missing a hypo like that makes it fit for purpose. I've been testing a lot more today than I have recently, because I just don't trust the Libre to give accurate readings when it matters. I know I'll rebuild confidence in it in time, but how many times can this happen before it gets a recall notice? When it's good it's really good, but overall it is just too random to rely on.

On a more positive note, I seem to have stopped the awful itching I've had for the last few days on the site of sensor number 4 and started visible healing the site of sensor number 5. While I was up dealing with the hypo this morning, the itchiness was very bad, so I diluted some hydrogen peroxide and applied to the sensor sites on some cotton wool. The itchiness stopped almost instantly and hasn't returned at all today. I can only assume it has properly cleansed the area of any remaining adhesive residue and killed any bacteria or infection. Obviously, I can't clean under sensor number 6 so it doesn't solve th problem, but it at least seems to alleviate the symptoms.

Smidge
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I'm leaning towards the same opinion. As much as I like and want to support Abbott I've missed two very low Hypo's over Xmas (1.9 and 1.6) That I under appreciated and under corrected due to my Libre showing a flat trend at 3.8. I'm due to start driving lessons soon and I can't trust fudges like that so it's back to blood sticks for now. I'm also pretty sure the skin irritation is more widespread than it appears there's a surprising amount of people on this thread alone that all had the same reactions at the same time. When I spoke to Abbott they were very candid which was not like my previous experience with them. They pretty much said we won't continue this discussion until I see the doctor first to confirm Contact Dermatitis even though that had led to a sensor falling off 6 days in (it took the top layer of my skin with it) leaving an open weeping circle, That's actually pretty dangerous for an uncontrolled diabetic.
 
@Sideburnt At 3.8 on the Libre, I'm surprised you hadn't tested with Test Strips. Having had a conversation with @smidge about this previously, I have been testing when my BS falls into what would be considered Hypo territory, ignoring the arrow. It's already pretty well documented (and in the stuff that Abbott puts in the manual) that at extremes it may not be that accurate.
 
Does anyone have experience wih the Dexcom G4? Is it the same as the Freestyle Libre? Maybe it has less skin irritation?
Or are there any other alternatives to the FL?
As I think I am next getting a slight burnlike feeling under my sensor..
 
I'm a Dexcom user and from reading the forums it's clear that some people do have skin irritation problems.
Personally I've been fine except for some recent itching which seems to be related to the extra Hypatape I used rather than the Dexcom.
 
tim2000s said:
@Sideburnt At 3.8 on the Libre, I'm surprised you hadn't tested with Test Strips. Having had a conversation with @smidge about this previously, I have been testing when my BS falls into what would be considered Hypo territory, ignoring the arrow. It's already pretty well documented (and in the stuff that Abbott puts in the manual) that at extremes it may not be that accurate.
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Well to be honest, the 3.8 readings only popped onto my radar after the hypo's had run their course and I'd treated them. I get really odd sudden drop offs in BG sometimes, usually on an empty stomach but not always, and mostly when going from inactive to a bit more so. But I can drop 3mmol/l in 15 minutes easily and with no insulin onboard either, by the time I react and take glucose onboard the freestyle still shows the dip but not the full extent of it if at all. I've even got a custom note I can add tot he freestyle reader to indicate an extreme low captured on a finger prick, but not shown on my freestyle. If in doubt I always follow up with a finger stick check, but we undetected lows like that so close together I get pretty hypo unaware.

For example I took a walk today at lunch and was feeling perfectly fine at 2.2, I'd usually notice this level way beforehand but since it dropped so fast and since I've had two very lows recently I felt fine. I miss trend data hugely. I really hope to find a way of getting the Libre working for me, reaction free once my arms have healed.
 
Sideburnt said:
...Did anyone else with bad skin reactions manage to get a replacement sensor in the post?.
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When I reported a reaction to my last two I received replacements within a week for both even though I didn't ask. I haven't seen the doctor but have a routine appointment on Wednesday so will see what he says.

I had the bad weeping and it took 7 days to stop fully. The 15th December when the first with mild irritation came off and 20th December was when the other came off. First one nearly there but second will take time, even though I'm using a steroid cream. Same as you I am waiting for both to clear then try a barrier cream. Someone just pasted on FB that Abbott say not to put anything between the skin and sensor. Doubt they would refund me for the 4 sensors I have sitting here and the reader.
 
Maybe some sensors scan wrongly because of wound exudate that could occur when you hit something while inserting the sensor. I can't imagine there is such a big difference between the sensors theirselves, but rather between the insertionspots and settling of the sensors..
 
Hill28 said:
Maybe some sensors scan wrongly because of wound exudate that could occur when you hit something while inserting the sensor. I can't imagine there is such a big difference between the sensors theirselves, but rather between the insertionspots and settling of the sensors..
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could it be the applicator mechanism maybe? Mine was in the same spot as this one (other arm) and is so far so good
 
Emmotha said:
could it be the applicator mechanism maybe? Mine was in the same spot as this one (other arm) and is so far so good
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Don't know, perhaps you can compare it with Insulin injections: sometimes you hit a small blood vessel which can make the insulin slower, faster or less effective, without the needle or insulin being defect.

Maybe it's just the same with inserting the sensors..not that it would be a good thing always having the chance of messing up a 60-euro- sensor during insertion..

Whatever causes all the problems, let's hope Abbot can fix at least some of them..
 
Constantly about 1 to 2 mmol lower than actual glucose level on my third sensor, with 5 days to go. At least the trends are right.. Just trying to keep Libre on 5 or 6 mmol so glucose level will still be under 8...

Can't wait for improvements...
 
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