FreeStyle Libre

[Nursingstudent_]

Hello everyone!

I don't have diabetes, but as you can see by my name I am a nursing student and I study in the Netherlands.
Currently, I am in my exam year and I have to do a research project about new innovations in the healthcare.
Since this forum is global I wanted to reach out to a broad group of diabetics to make a world map and mark all the countries it's used in.
My question is:

Do you use the FreeStyle Libre and which country are you from? Also, is your FreeStyle Libre reimbursed or do you pay everything yourself + what do you pay?

In The Netherlands, it's not reimbursed yet because of researches that are still going on. Users have to pay everything theirselves and the sensor costs €60 which you have to get twice a month and €20,- for 50 skintacs which are some sort of adhesives for the sensor to stick on the skin better.

I would really appreciate your help and thank you all so much in advance!

loves!

 

[himtoo]

Hi there @Nursingstudent_
welcome to the forum.

I will start you off in your research.
I live in Wales , I use the Libre intermittently , I pay for it myself , and sensors cost me £104 for 2 including the postage.

The Libre has recently become listed as an available item for prescription from our national health service ( November 1 , 2017 )

 

[db89]

Hello @Nursingstudent_

I live in the UK and have used one Libre sensor on a trial. If I continue using them I will have to fund them but simply cannot afford the price of them right now at around £50 per sensor.

 

[DeejayR]

Hi there @Nursingstudent_
welcome to the forum.
I use the Libre intermittently , I pay for it myself , and sensors cost me £104 for 2 including the postage.
The Libre has recently become listed as an available item for prescription form our hational health service ( November 1 , 2017 )

What @himtoo says except I'm in England and T2 so no chance of getting a Libre on prescription. I use one 4 times a year.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I live in England. I am a Type 2 and not on any drugs, so have zero chance of getting one on prescription (I can't even get glucose meters and test strips on prescription) so I have to self fund all my equipment. This means I can only use the Freestyle Libre part time due to cost. (approximately £52 each)

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Same answer as @Bluetit1802 except I seem to be wearing one more often than not wearing one.

 

[Fearless36]

I live in London, England and I am a Type 1 and whilst the legislation changed to allow them on prescription on 1st November, my area that i live in (which is pretty central) isn't funding them. I did a trial for one, and it was useful but it is too costly for me to afford on my own I'm afraid.

 

[novorapidboi26]

I live in London, England and I am a Type 1 and whilst the legislation changed to allow them on prescription on 1st November, my area that i live in (which is pretty central) isn't funding them. I did a trial for one, and it was useful but it is too costly for me to afford on my own I'm afraid.

Do you think the lack of funding where you are is down to the sheer volume of people that would potentially be looking to get one...?

I though London and the surrounding areas would have access to more cash....

 

[Bud1979]

I self funded the fs libre system for my daughter and I and it was great brought a big change in my both physically and mentally but I had to stop as it was too expensive £48 per Sensor each. I have been type 1 for some 40 years and this was the best thing to happen in my diabetes career. I’m in the sun kissed haven of Glasgow. I expect to face a struggle or possibly a flat refusal for this system, but there are more reasons to prescribe them to me than refuse me but it’s all down to a flawed human.

 

[novorapidboi26]

I self funded the fs libre system for my daughter and I and it was great brought a big change in my both physically and mentally but I had to stop as it was too expensive £48 per Sensor each. I have been type 1 for some 40 years and this was the best thing to happen in my diabetes career. I’m in the sun kissed haven of Glasgow. I expect to face a struggle or possibly a flat refusal for this system, but there are more reasons to prescribe them to me than refuse me but it’s all down to a flawed human.

Someone on Facebook said they had a prescribed libre for just under a year.......they were at Paisleys RAH.....so close.........

They cant seem to explain how that was possible, just that their requests, whatever they have been so far, are usually met without issue....

I am in Lanarkshire, and I am optimistic.....

 

[phoenix]

I live in France. I purchased a Libre when it first became available The cost of sensors for full time use was prohibitive so I restricted their use to times when they would be most useful (walking holidays in particular) At the end of August I was prescribed a Libre and 2 sensors a month and had to undergo 'training' ie talk to my specialist who hadn't know about it when I first acquired it,I'd taught her!. Strips however are now normally restricted to 100 a year . I am about to return to the UK, the area where I will live has said
"
01 November 2017

We recognise there has been increased interest in FreeStyle Libre® sensors since the announcement that they will be listed in the Drug Tariff from 1 November. It is important to note, however that the Drug Tariff is not a list of recommended products and a review process is still required at a national and local level to decide whether FreeStyle Libre® Sensors are included on the pan-Dorset formulary.

In line with evidence received so far, NHS Dorset CCG continues to not support the NHS prescribing of this product until a full cost and clinical effectiveness review is available or further national guidance, such as NICE technology appraisal is issued

(Just to add) This means I won't get sensors funded; as my first task is to persuade them to continue funding my o pump that won't bother me that much.
.
My reasons for not being that concerned at present is that my control is relatively good and I don't think I can justify the use of a Libre full time . It is useful to see daily variations, it helps adjust insulin dosing and timing but that doesn't need to be done every week. There are times such as when I walk 20-30Km a day on a walking holiday when its use is invaluable (as a means to be proactive before glucose levels get too low)

 

[Jkoko56]

I live in the UK and have been self-funding a Libre for about a year now. I use it for 2 weeks then finger prick for 1 week then back to the Libre which brings the cost down to below£1000 per year. I do vary this according to what is happening in my life eg holidays, the Christmas period etc
It has helped me reduce my HbA1c and particularly like the indication of whether my sugar levels are rising or falling which makes it easier to prevent hypos and anticipate highs.
I'm cautiously optimist about funding in the new year but I'll continue to self-fund if it's refused.

 

[mytype1.life]

Hello,

I live in the U.K and am self funding the Libre. After my last review with my Diabetes Nurse she was amazed at my results and said if i continue as I have the last couple of months I'd have the best HbA1c I've had my whole diabetic life (23 years).

I asked about funding and she advised me to write a letter to my consultant focusing on how much less I have to test my blood using test strips.

If I'm honest I was overwhelmed by this and it epitomises the focus is about money and budget not improving health or the results the Libre can help provide. I wrote my letter and asked again at my next appointment. My nurse said it was unlikely and would possibly only be approved for people who test over 12 times a day (which I wasn't previously).

I'm disheartened by this but I'm going to moan about it... I work full time and if I make a few sacrifices I'll be able to self-fund if I have to but this isn't the case for everyone.

I pay £50 per sensor which lasts 2 weeks.

 

[hodders]

Hello everyone!

I don't have diabetes, but as you can see by my name I am a nursing student and I study in the Netherlands.
Currently, I am in my exam year and I have to do a research project about new innovations in the healthcare.
Since this forum is global I wanted to reach out to a broad group of diabetics to make a world map and mark all the countries it's used in.
My question is:

Do you use the FreeStyle Libre and which country are you from? Also, is your FreeStyle Libre reimbursed or do you pay everything yourself + what do you pay?

In The Netherlands, it's not reimbursed yet because of researches that are still going on. Users have to pay everything theirselves and the sensor costs €60 which you have to get twice a month and €20,- for 50 skintacs which are some sort of adhesives for the sensor to stick on the skin better.

I would really appreciate your help and thank you all so much in advance!

loves!

 

[epicure_2002]

hi there,
i live in switzerland. my healthcare insurance finally is covering 100% of the cost of the freestyle libre sensors. although i have to pay the delivery cost myself! ( about 8 euros )

 

[Injector1]

Hello,

I pay £50 per sensor which lasts 2 weeks.

If I had to self fund my test strips it would easily cost me about £30 for 2 weeks. I do on average about 6 tests a day That's a box of strips every 9 days - the box costs about £23. That is honestly not a huge difference. And when you factor in the health benefits I would not be surprised if there would be a saving to the NHS.

 

[hodders]

I too live in the UK and like many I am sure was euphoric on learning that the nhs had approved the libre I had trialled it for free and purchased 1 additional sensor at a cost of £52. I found it amazingly liberating and pretty accurate. Life nearly felt back to normal I cannot afford though to fund more sensors.
As a result when learning from my consultant that Nottingham had refused to fund it, I almost burst into tears.
I am not sure why the nhs bothered to fund it if local areas aren't prepared to even consider it.
Good luck with your training.

 

[Diabeticliberty]

I live in England and have used Libre for about 3 years now continuously. I also self fund. I do not use skin tac or any other additional means to get the sensors to stick. I pay £96.00 per month. I don't feel Libre is particularly good and I have very significant issues with inconsistency of results. The thing is though the pads on the fingers on my left hand were almost destroyed prior to using it. On this basis alone it is worth it, at least it is for me.

 

[ratherbegliding]

Hi there,

I live in New Zealand where it only recently became available to purchase but it is not funded in any way.
Previously you needed to have an address (friend/relative) in either the UK or Australia to get the device and supplies delivered to.

I personally do not use it on the grounds of cost. Pricing is in line with the UK from memory.
Plus although I am T1D, I work hard to keep good control of my blood sugars as it's one of the conditions of maintaining my recreational pilots licence.

If/when my control deteriorated then I would invest the money and use it as a tool to regain stability and help get my blood sugars back to normal.

Good luck with your studies!

RBG

 

[Antje77]

I'm in the Netherlands and self-fund of course. I don't use skin-tack but Fixomul, it's the same as Tegaderm I believe and goes over your sensor. To my astonishment they put it on my presciption immediately when I asked.