3 months using the Libre.
Month 1 HBA1C - 8.5%.
Month 2 HBA1C - 8%.
Month 3 HBA1C - 7.5%.
I hardly prick a finger anymore.
Things learned:
Fast Acting insulin takes at least 25 minutes to start working after injecting. For years my diabetes team said that I should inject just before my meal.
Blood sugar still rises after 4 hours of eating so its really important to test after 2 hours of eating. I was always told to test just before a meal and not after!!!! My team said the most important readings are pre prandial and not post!!!! This turns out to be total garbage.
Insight gained from the Libre has been amazing and without it, Id be none the wiser. I honestly believe that the NHS should seriously make this available to all type 1's.
Being able to test at any time..... I scan on average about 30 times a day now.
The up, down or stable arrow has been a huge help for me and I have managed to avoids highs and hypos.
I have learned what food and drinks to avoid and which are best.
Being able to see accurate graphs over 24 hours has been a huge help in identifying times of day where I need more or less insulin.
In general, the Libre has made life easier for me and brought my HBA1C down by 1.5%.
A 1% drop in HbA1c can result in a risk reduction of up to:
Retinopathy 38%
Nephropathy 28%
Neuropathy 28%
Cardiovascular event 57%
Surely if the above is true, then this would have a huge impact on the NHS if all type 1's had similar results from using the Libre?
The NHS only prescribe about 200 finger sticks per month which works out to about 6 tests per day. The average cost of 1 box of strips is about £14 to the NHS. - Roughly £60 to the NHS per month per type 1!
Testing 6 times a day is simply not enough for any type 1. This treatment provides very little insight if any at all.
I finger pricked for 14 years and NEVER had good control and it was not because I never took my condition serious. I did. I just never had the insight that the Libre has now provided.
My vision has improved. I no longer need my glasses all the time. I can even read my TV menu.
Neuropathy has gone.
I think my neuropathy only got worse in the last month because my control had improved, my BG became more stable. It was definately my nerves waking up. The addition of supplements also helped.
Without the insight provided by Libre, I probably would never have changed to a low carb, high protein, high fat diet.
I would never have seen the effect of full fats on my BG!
Having a more stable BG pattern - I feel healthier, have more energy, am happier.
I ALWAYS got flu between Nov - Jan. First year I have NOT had any colds or flu and its simply down to being in control.
My weight has also gone up so all in all... im happy.
I just wish the NHS would support us now and have the insight to realise that prescribing this will definately save them money in the long term and cut the risk of complications.
I read how much money it costs to treat 1 hypo in A&E. Imagine if all type 1's had a libre and could scan anywhere, anytime and see the arrow?
Insight = knowledge = power