Type 1- Libre advice

[CDM9]

Hi guys

I know there’s been lots of posts re libre and have checked but this isn’t a regularly repeated post.

Quick brief background – T1 for 19 yrs, generally been okay lots of ups and downs last few years re readings, 56 HBA1C, but nothing too worrying occurred.

A recent routine eye test said possible maculopathy so went to see a specialist for further checks which have come back okay / very mild / non significant - so they are just monitoring for now.

Got libre 3 weeks ago. First 2 weeks seemed pretty spot on . I’m now doing low carb and after being T1 19 years recently changed from lantus to tresiba and novo rapid to Fiasp ( in stages may I add - I only changed novo once was happy with tresiba) .

This change of insulin’s was fully consultant ‘advice’. Tresiba does seem better as in when I’m not eating or eating low carb I’m flat/ stable and don’t need much insulin - Altho it appears to make me go down in the early hours (on the graph it’s a decline into low ish). Reduced background several units and still monitoring.

Anyhow , my recent new sensor started lifting after a bath ( my bad- went in a bath 2 hours after applying new sensor - but kept arm out) . Also, I started back hard core exercising again last week ( also use bandages to help libre stay secure as recommended) but I’ve app been LO last 24 hours up
And down between LO - 2.9- 4.1
Didn’t feel Low and got very diff results on old sensor eg 12 accu chek V 4.1 libre. Libre always seems to be lower ( which is interesting as usually from what I have read here, it’s the other way around ) .

Anyhow, now I’m wearing a new sensor on the other arm and it’s still reporting lower Readings - not as low as the the attached photos show but this is a new sensor . I’ve switched arms as removal of the previous sensor has shown needle was bent and arm is cut so that explains the previous readings - I think).

So my questions / thoughts are ..

Does anyone else find the libre showing low readings when not low?

Much lower then accu check for example 4.1 ( libre) V 12.3 ( accu check)

Are we actually been tricked into thinking we have lower readings when they are in fact higher ...

Does anything other than the bandage work when intensive exercise plays a part ?

Does the libre work on the thigh? I know it hasn’t been tested but I’m tempted .. summer is coming I’m a girl ...

Any better ideas to keep it secure when exercising?

Should I stop doing hardcore full on heavy sweaty kettle bell classes if my levels go from 7 To 13!!?? Joke - obviously I know my heart and waistline want me to continue still bloody annoying tho.

Please share your thoughts!! Sorry for long post and hope it makes sense!!!!

 

[CDM9]

 

[Juicyj]

Hi @CDM9 yes in answer to reporting lows I have exactly the same - Mum nr was reading at 3.7 when I woke this am but meter read 4.3, this is a regular thing. When you apply the sensor do the medicated clean on the underside of your arm, wait about 5-10 mins for the skin to dry, then pull your arm up as if you are flexing your muscle and apply the libre to the underside of your arm. As your exercising alot then get a 3m tegaderm plaster to cover the sensor, but don’t remove until the sensor needs to be removed otherwise it will pull it off.

 

[Bluey1]

Some of the sensors are better than others. Abbott's quality control seems to be very poor. I had 3 sensors fail out of 10. One fell off after 5 days, 2 failed one after 4 days the other after 1 day. On one occasion the Sensor read Lo test strip in the meter read Hi and and another meter (same brand and same batch of strips that were in date and well looked after) read 11. I wasn't recovering from a hypo that could explain the readings. It did do one thing, once I could se what was happening I relented and went to a pump - the best thing I have ever done! In Australia at least Abbott are not interested in replacing faulty devices, just in gathering the data.
My advice is get the Medtronic Enlite, they are cheaper (once you take into account the fail rate of the Libre), however they do tend to drift more than the Libre. Oh they really stay stuck on.

 

[Colin of Kent]

From what I've read on here previously, this does seem to be a common issue, maybe something to do with the fact that Libre isn't a 'proper' CGM.

Does anyone else experience a difference between the Libre reader and the Android app? I'm on my second sensor now, which I activated with the phone, and the readings are usually way off. The first sensor, which I used with the reader, was much closer to reality. Is there a difference in accuracy between app and reader, or is it just differences between sensors?

 

[barrym]

AFAIK, and from my experience there is no difference between the app and reader as it's purely a digital read and display. The conversion from interstitial to BG happens in the sensor.

YMMV I suppose, but I doubt it.

 

[jlarsson]

Mine are the same except for that ~+-0.5 difference due to time, the software stores the values in blocks that are continuously looped over and overwritten so the difference should only be which block it reads from, i.e the reader may read from block 5 while the app reads from block 6 if you scan them at the same time etc, hence the difference.

 

[Fairygodmother]

I’ve found the sensors vary in accuracy. The current one’s very close to my accu-check mobile, just 0.2 apart but others have been as much as 2 above. I’ve not experienced as wide a variation as you report @CDM9.
Sweat may compromise adhesion and possibly readings.
I do find that it can take 24 hours for the libre to settle in so I attach the new one a day before the old one expires and don’t activate it until the old one ends its useful life.

 

[Deleted Account]

maybe something to do with the fact that Libre isn't a 'proper' CGM.

My understanding is that the not "proper" CGM-ness of the Libre is about the lack of continuous reporting as it has no continuous transmitter: you have to wave your reader/phone over the sensor unless you attached a blutooth transmitter.
I did not think it had anything to do with the way it measured or the accuracy of the measurements.

 

[Copernicus]

I've had no problem with inaccurate readings with Libre and I have been using them for over 2 years now. I did have a couple just drop off abut now use a product called "Skin Tac" which is a medical adhesive. You apply it before fitting the sensor, let it dry to a tacky feel and them apply a sensor as normal. I have never had a sensor come loose or fall off since using this.

 

[22nw22]

View attachment 25896

Sensor gave me LO, BG meter probably didn’t, then I corrected a fake LO and made myself high. What bad luck.

 

[EllieM]

The libre worked perfectly for me for 8 months, then I developed an allergy to the sensor. Then the readings became progressively inaccurate, reading too low by amounts varying from 0 to 6mml/L. I had to stop using it. I have one sensor left, which I'm going to use soon, in the hope that my allergy may have died down and it may give me decent readings. I suspect the hope is vain, but given that I still have one sensor I might as well give it a try.