Issues with Freestyle Libre

[Teasdel]

I've found that the sensors don't stay on the full 14 days. The last one dropped off my arm after 8 days. Am very careful when dressing and undressing. Have enquired to the Libre website but have had no reply. Will now try Opsite tape. Thanks.

 

[hooha]

HI lapwing - if you are a recent type 2 why not try the Newcastle diet ? Google guardian newspaper uk richard doughty how i reversed my type 2 diabetes. It worked for me. No meds, no diabetes although my lazy [ ? ] old fashioned [ ? ] uk GP did not recommend it, tried to discourage me [ this is a common situation ] and I had to get on myself, research it, do it and then phone him up . He listened to my slightly angry notification that i had FIXED MYSELF WITHOUT ANY HELP OR ADVICE FROM HIM, then just after a bit of silence came up with ' Congratulations' So watch out for negativity agents and do your study. good luck

 

[EllieM]

T1 since 1970 (living in the UK then!)

Hi, I was an early Australian adopter of freestyle libre (June 2016) and have used it continuously since then (up to a period of about one month ago). I adored this device for the first 6 months but now have I have two issues
1) Since January 2017 I have been having some bad reactions to the sensor glue (see image) - skin is raw and irritated when I remove the sensor. Abbott have suggested I contact a dermatologist - my diabetic specialist and nurse are unable to help.
2) The big one - the last 4 sensors have all under read drastically (eg blood sugar is 5 and libre reader is LO, bs 7 and libre 4), which means it is zero use for night time hypos. Abbott have sent me a couple of replacement sensors but they don't appear to be any better.

I am wondering if the skin irritation has somehow caused my body to respond inaccurately to the reader, whether I've just been very unlucky with (so many) faulty sensors, or whether I should try to get Abbott to replace my meter...?

Any advice gratefully received, though Abbott are really good about replacing sensors they're not very open to discussing any issues (eg has the glue changed or is it just a facet of a T1 diabetic's compromised autoimmune system).

ps managed to knock off a couple of sensors near the end of the 14 days, but not a big issue.

 

[RFSMarch]

You are not alone - I am out for work in Singapore and I have just had my THIRD sensor die before its time and this one had a very similar weal left under the sensor and over the top where the tegaderm layer was.

I don't know if it means I am allergic to the skintac, the tegarderm and/or the glue but the last two sensors in particular, the area at the top under the tegaderm has itched from time to time, something fierce.

I have switched to the other arm with the spare- thankfully this one was just 2 days before expiry - the other died 6 days before and Abbott sent me a new one. I think I might only use the tegaderm film when I am going to the gym + pool/steamroom/sauna as I had one just fall off my arm the first time I went, with only 7 hours of life left, and the new one which was on place was lifting off hence the tegaderm.

I don't think it would be the greatest idea to transport a manky sensor back to the UK though, and as i can't really call them from here, I think chalk this one down to bad luck but it read super low all day and that was after having a jacket potato with cheese and beans, a caramel waffle at Starbucks and then a plate of pasta in the media centre!

I usually take my blood pressure on my left arm but as I am not doing that while I am out here, I think it won't matter too much and I think just swap arms for now to give the other time to heal.

 

[AlexMagd]

I've just started using my third sensor and this one seems to be running about 1.0 below my finger prices- have been lucky previously with both only giving me 0.5 below. Will see how it goes but the variation is annoying - at least it's still within a reasonable amount!

With regards keeping them attached I use tegaderm platers

 

[EllieM]

So, I'm posting again after Abbott have sent me a new meter. 3 of the last 4 sensors have under read drastically (eg reading LO when actual blood sugar is 7!), the fourth was bad for first 4 days but then OK. So far the new reader isn't looking that much better (4.1 for a bs of 6.9), but I'm hoping it will improve after the initial 24 hours. I'm thinking it's probably my body, but I'd like to understand why it worked so well for 6 to 8 months and now reads so badly... Not sure I entirely believe in worn out arm/arms but could an allergic reaction to the glue extend down to the interior of my arm and affect the readings?

Has anyone had any luck on getting Abbott to tell them what's in the glue?

 

[etmsreec]

I'm glad I'm not the only one with issues with the Libre system.
My first two sensors were great, once they'd had about 24 hours to settle down.
Then one came off after I'd been swimming (making me nervous about going to the pool when I've got one on.)
The next sensor was showing LO when my capillary blood was still at 6. It was also reading higher than it should have been.
The sensor that I'm wearing now told me that my glucose leve was 17.4 earlier today. When I did a capillary blood test, it was only 13.4.
For the first two or three sensors, I was impressed and hoping that I'd be able to improve my control with using the Libre. Even buying the sensors myself was worth it. Now, I'm reconsidering as the later sensors seem hopeless. I need accurate results all the time, not just when the sensor feels like it. There's no point in using the system if it's "sometimes accurate", as one is unable to determine when those "sometimes" periods might be.

 

[Melanie_T]

In over 20 sensors, I haven't had a single one that was off by a lot, or fluctuating. Usually they are about 0.5 low, nothing to write home about. I calibrate with finger pricks and check unusual readings as well, apart from that the Libre system works perfectly for me.

The skin issues are something I have had at first, but have found ways to avoid them.

First, I wash with a washcloth until the skin turns slightly red. I let that dry completely and then use the alcohol swabs that come with the sensor, again letting it dry. After that I apply the sensor. I don't reuse a site for a month, moving up and down the arm to the least recently used site.

To remove, I pull the sensor off the glue pad rather than pulling the glue off my skin. That allows me to carefully roll the glue pad off my skin after the sensor is gone. With this method, I barely get any red spot and no long term irritation.

 

[DanO97]

I have just started my 6th sensor 48 hours ago and I'm experiencing major inaccuracies, despite being applied in the specified location, I have never seen before. At first I thought this may just be a part of the 24 hr period if bedding in, however the sensor is continuously reading +3-7 above a blood test, of which I have now carried out about 20 comparisons to try and figure this puzzle out. Has anyone else suffered sensors with such large inaccuracies? Thanks.

 

[TuviaDror]

I have used 5 sensors since November.
Have 'calibrated' each one against finger prick tests using Freestyle Neo strips in the Libre.

Sensor 1 tested consistently 0.5-6 mmol/l lower than the prick test
Sensor 2 tested consistently 0.3-5 mmol/l lower than the prick test
Sensor 3 tested consistently within 0.1-2 mmol/l of the prick test
Sensor 4 tested consistently 1-1.2 mmol/l lower than the prick test
Sensor 5 tested consistently 0.1-2 mmol/l higher than the prick test

I was happy with all of those (I know I am not on insulin, but all but sensor 4 were well within a comparable 15% +/- range expected from prick testing meters, and even no 4 was highly consistent).

All 5 sensors were less accurate within the first 2 days and the last 2 days of use.

Am quite sure that I will hit a dodgy sensor soon, but so far I am DELIGHTED with the Libre and go into a minor period of mourning when I remove a sensor. I am limiting myself to 1 sensor every 3 weeks, to prevent total dependency.

I am wearing them, as intended, on the back of my arm, which is 'well padded', and nowadays I apply the sensor 48 hrs before activation since that seems to help with accuracy early in the sensor's life.

I actually had similar issues- i reported them in a post called "f
Freestyle Libre sensor Serious inaccuracies- Help us improve this!"
Perhaps use Glimp. It should help...

 

[Matin]

I have used 5 sensors since November.
Have 'calibrated' each one against finger prick tests using Freestyle Neo strips in the Libre.

Sensor 1 tested consistently 0.5-6 mmol/l lower than the prick test
Sensor 2 tested consistently 0.3-5 mmol/l lower than the prick test
Sensor 3 tested consistently within 0.1-2 mmol/l of the prick test
Sensor 4 tested consistently 1-1.2 mmol/l lower than the prick test
Sensor 5 tested consistently 0.1-2 mmol/l higher than the prick test

I was happy with all of those (I know I am not on insulin, but all but sensor 4 were well within a comparable 15% +/- range expected from prick testing meters, and even no 4 was highly consistent).

All 5 sensors were less accurate within the first 2 days and the last 2 days of use.

Am quite sure that I will hit a dodgy sensor soon, but so far I am DELIGHTED with the Libre and go into a minor period of mourning when I remove a sensor. I am limiting myself to 1 sensor every 3 weeks, to prevent total dependency.

I am wearing them, as intended, on the back of my arm, which is 'well padded', and nowadays I apply the sensor 48 hrs before activation since that seems to help with accuracy early in the sensor's life.

I am in Toronto, Canada. First time I saw freestyle libre. I bought one sensor and reader and installed in the back of my hand. Normally I use ONE TOUCH ULTRA. I was frightened, the reading I get 5.4mmol in freestyle libre, at the same time reading in ONE TOUCH ULTRA is 7.8. I checked one touch ultra with control solution. It is within range. I am hypoglycemic and use insulin. I am afraid

 

[Bluetit1802]

I am in Toronto, Canada. First time I saw freestyle libre. I bought one sensor and reader and installed in the back of my hand. Normally I use ONE TOUCH ULTRA. I was frightened, the reading I get 5.4mmol in freestyle libre, at the same time reading in ONE TOUCH ULTRA is 7.8. I checked one touch ultra with control solution. It is within range. I am hypoglycemic and use insulin. I am afraid

Is there a good reason why you put the sensor on the back of your hand? The manufacturers advise it should be on the back of your arm between shoulder and elbow.

 

[macbob]

There are very often significant differences in readings from the same sensor when scanned with the Abbot reader and my phone running Xdrip+ (with Xdrip being by far the more accurate of the 2). I believe that this is because you cannot calibrate the Abbot reader whereas you can Xdrip. I use a Blucon Nightrider to communicate with my phone via bluetooth and this lets me use the phone's alarm when my sugar level falls to a level which I set - this is wonderful for me because it means I can sleep soundly knowing that the alarm will wake me if I start going low. I am a long term type 1 and have recently lost my hypo symptoms so I also use bluetooth earbuds and set Xdrip to speak changes in my sugar levels as I go about my daily routine. One last point about Xdrip is that it also extends the life of a sensor - this is because although the sensor still works the Abbot reader runs a timer from the time of insertion and will not respond to it after that time is up - Xdrip has no such restriction so it continues to read from the sensor until it eventually dies! Hope this is helpful for some of you.

 

[tinyroman]

While on the subject of issues, I am having quite severe pain at the sensor site after three days of using my 9th. Tonight I’ll have to take it off if I want to sleep, and will phone the company for a replacement, as I’m self-funded.
But another thing is worrying me; for the last few weeks I’ve had increasing pains up both arms to the shoulders. I don’t know if this due to sudden arthritis or the sensors. Has anyone had anything similar?
Later.
I took the sensor off. Found a slight kink about 2mm from the end, so I assume that was causing the site pain. At least I know now.
Thanks for listening

 

[Matin]

I am wearing freestyle libre, When sugar goes higher, it reads more than the meter with strips. To day morning after eating I read 10.9 but in one touch ultra2 it is 8.5

 

[Knikki]

I am wearing freestyle libre, When sugar goes higher, it reads more than the meter with strips. To day morning after eating I read 10.9 but in one touch ultra2 it is 8.5

Yep they do that. Seems that between 4 and 10 they work rather well but go outside its optimal range and things can be "interesting" I have it where Libre says 15.8 bloods say 10.3 also where Libre has said LO everything else say between 4.5 & 5.5.

What your seeing is not uncommon.

 

[ChrisJ_SLH]

Yep they do that. Seems that between 4 and 10 they work rather well but go outside its optimal range and things can be "interesting" I have it where Libre says 15.8 bloods say 10.3 also where Libre has said LO everything else say between 4.5 & 5.5.

What your seeing is not uncommon.

I would totally agree with this. 'In target range', the accuracy is pretty good. At the extremes it becomes somewhat pessimistic.

I'm double scanning at the minute with the Libre app and GLIMP. GLIMP is much more linear in its results and correlates very well to the my Accu-Chek mobile meter.

 

[Glucobabu]

Im

Yep they do that. Seems that between 4 and 10 they work rather well but go outside its optimal range and things can be "interesting" I have it where Libre says 15.8 bloods say 10.3 also where Libre has said LO everything else say between 4.5 & 5.5.

What your seeing is not uncommon.

I started my 2 month trial with Libre last week, initiated by my diabetic clinic at the hospital.
I have found it incredibly useful although I have noticed the disparity in lower readings. I was told that because of its very nature there is a 20 minutes lag. Often half an hour after the arrow points level you suffer a hypo! I am constantly doing blood tests to double check Libre. Despite this I love the convenience of using it and am sure I will get better at using it effectively. I have been told that if doesn’t significantly improve my overall control they will not be prescribing it for me. That would be a shame because as a pensioner I could never afford to fund the sensors myself.

 

[Knikki]

Im

I started my 2 month trial with Libre last week, initiated by my diabetic clinic at the hospital.
I have found it incredibly useful although I have noticed the disparity in lower readings. I was told that because of its very nature there is a 20 minutes lag. Often half an hour after the arrow points level you suffer a hypo! I am constantly doing blood tests to double check Libre. Despite this I love the convenience of using it and am sure I will get better at using it effectively. I have been told that if doesn’t significantly improve my overall control they will not be prescribing it for me. That would be a shame because as a pensioner I could never afford to fund the sensors myself.

20 minute lag???? Hmmm not sure about that, 10 yes would agree with that from what others have said and my own observations.

Libres can be a useful tool, especially for trends, you will learn a lot about how the combination of food and insulin can change your levels over the course of the day.

Hope it all works out for you.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

I would totally agree with this. 'In target range', the accuracy is pretty good. At the extremes it becomes somewhat pessimistic.

I'm double scanning at the minute with the Libre app and GLIMP. GLIMP is much more linear in its results and correlates very well to the my Accu-Chek mobile meter.

Can I please check with you how I use both Apps at once?

I have Glimp installed but a quick test didn't deem to read anything.

Do I have to stop LibreLink to use Glimp?

Edit: just used "Force Stop" and scanned to check and LibreLink was still in there and read the sensor.