Anyone having big reliability issues with Freestyle Libre 2 Plus sensors?

[oconnorbp]

I had this problem when they first came into use, this might sound daft but are you placing it in the right area? Even now I sometimes place it incorrectly and it will start up but then fail.

 

[MonsterLC]

Well I am placing it in the same place as I did with Libre 1 sensors which I never had a problem with until I started using the LibreLink App

 

[Celestrium]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

I’ve been using them for several years. Most of them last the full length of 15 days, or 14 days on the older sensors. The only problem I get occasionally is either the sticky back fails and the sensor falls off, or I hit a door frame accidentally and it’s ripped off. I’ve had about two fail due to hardware failures. But, you can always get the sensor replaced if you inform Libre. They will just send you a new one. So mostly, they are extremely reliable.

 

[SimonP78]

I’ve been using them for several years. Most of them last the full length of 15 days, or 14 days on the older sensors. The only problem I get occasionally is either the sticky back fails and the sensor falls off, or I hit a door frame accidentally and it’s ripped off. I’ve had about two fail due to hardware failures. But, you can always get the sensor replaced if you inform Libre. They will just send you a new one. So mostly, they are extremely reliable.

What phone do you to communicate with the sensors, and how do you find the sensor values compare against finger prick tests?

 

[Addaia01]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

I had to stop using mine as three times a night the alarm sounded …. Thought ah! bSL needs checking….NO …. MSG said Signal Lost !!!!! So with already having to get up three time a night for the toilet due to the new Dapoglifazin drug for my CKD I was getting about an hours sleep a night! Now given up !!! Liver never answers my questions!

 

[Celestrium]

What phone do you to communicate with the sensors, and how do you find the sensor values compare against finger prick tests?

I’ve got an iPhone 16 Max Pro. I don’t bother with the finger pricks anymore because I found the sensors easily good enough. HbA1c Tests are pretty much spot on with what the Libre predicts. I’m about to go onto a close loop insulin pump so will be coming off Libres. It’s a shame because I found them to be very good but unfortunately my pump won’t support them and uses its own type of sensor.

 

[Lynne C J]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

Abbott are very good at replacing any sensors that fall off or fail before the expected end date. For the most part over the last year and now with the Libre 2 Plus they have been fine. I don't like the 15 days though, before they always ended on the same day I started them, now it's uncertain exactly when they are going to finish so you have to plan ahead.
Talk to Abbott, they are usually very helpful.

 

[SimonP78]

I’ve got an iPhone 16 Max Pro. I don’t bother with the finger pricks anymore because I found the sensors easily good enough. HbA1c Tests are pretty much spot on with what the Libre predicts. I’m about to go onto a close loop insulin pump so will be coming off Libres. It’s a shame because I found them to be very good but unfortunately my pump won’t support them and uses its own type of sensor.

Thanks, interesting (and I'm pleased) that they work well for you. Good luck with the pump/new sensor combo too.

 

[becca59]

@Addaia01 switch the signal alarms off. Did that years ago I know when the alarm goes off there is a specific reason.

 

[ppaul1952]

This is similar to what I see. It seems to be dependent on the sensor, or more probably on the sensor location. My working theory is that these ones are too close to the muscle (I don't have much fat on my arms so the available location is pretty small and I try to move it a bit between sensors to avoid aiming for exactly the same spot!)

I alternate between left and right arms and also upper and lower. So: 1) left arm, just below shoulder; 2) right arm, just below shoulder; 3)left arm, just above elbow; 4)right arm, just above elbow.
Thus, each general location has 8 weeks between use. So (even if I somehow manage to hit the exact same spot) plenty of recovery time.

 

[Polska_Gurom]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

Yeah it's like a gamble with them sometimes, I'd say nearly half of my sensors always have tons of sensor errors at inconvenient times. Maybe I'm doing something wrong idk

 

[MonsterLC]

As an update..... I have found a way of getting the "dead" sensor, 365 error, alive again.....I won't say how, because Abbott won't like it.
So I got a "dead" sensor, 365 error, replace sensor, today, it was within 24 hours of starting it up, I did "some steps" and then scanned the same "dead" sensor again..... and now the sensor works again. So this proves to me that there aren't problems with the sensor, it is the LibreLink App that doesn't work correctly. Unfortunately I have told Abbott several times that their LibreLink app has a fault, but I find Abbott are too arrogant to listen.

 

[SimonP78]

This is after the "Replace Sensor Message"?

I must admit that I've never tried as I tend to just get on and replace the sensor at this point (they are usually suffering from some other ailment so I'm happy to get an automatic replacement), though I could imaging that if the sensor itself starts working again (producing data and still within the 14/15 day lifespan) you can likely pair it with e.g. Juggluco even though the Librelink app has declared it dead and decided it's not interested in connecting again.

 

[Lesley's]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

Yes I’m self funding and have had 3 fall off I’ve today gone bk to finger pricking I’m type 2 on insulin

 

[ShandyT]

A T1 and been on Libre 2+ since it's release in April/May and only had a couple that have lasted a full 2 weeks, the reset keep being getting faults after about 5-7 days in, and Abbot kindly keeps replacing them, funnily enough they'd nearly perfected the Libre 2 and that was being nearly same as finger pricking, but the 2+'s they vary quite a lot between 2 - 8 sometimes, luckily the CGM is always lower than the actual blood tests.
Abbot reckons the 2+ and 2 should both be the same apart from the 2+ being more accurate
(LOL) and more resistant to coming loose (this is true), what I get sometimes in bed is
reading from CGM of '2.4' (I've given-up on the alarms from Libre as they seems to be inaccurate) so decide to go downstairs to do a blood test, which shows I'm 8.

Wondering if it's an age related things causing all the variations as I'm 68, I use it in conjunction with the mySugr app which has really helped by insulin dosage.

 

[SimonP78]

This is after the "Replace Sensor Message"?

I must admit that I've never tried as I tend to just get on and replace the sensor at this point (they are usually suffering from some other ailment so I'm happy to get an automatic replacement), though I could imaging that if the sensor itself starts working again (producing data and still within the 14/15 day lifespan) you can likely pair it with e.g. Juggluco even though the Librelink app has declared it dead and decided it's not interested in connecting again.

To answer myself, I had the replace sensor message this morning (after the sensor gave up producing data in the early hours) with the following codes reported when I scanned it (while it wasn't working):

49,130 (oldest)
Er0,2014
Er2,266
Er3,365,P
33 (newest)

(this are in chronological order but all from the same scan at 0914 this morning, i.e. the opposite way up to how it's displayed by the Libre2 Reader log view fwiw)

I was going to change the sensor after I'd had a shower, but then it started working again (talking to Juggluco), obviously it won't work with the Libre reader or app as it's already been marked as faulty by something in the log data.

 

[Is Vic There ?]

This is an interesting Post , I have read the responses and they seem to align with my findings over the last few months.
End of last week I put a New sensor in and it went through the 60 minutes countdown , when I tried to scan it gave a sensor error message and scan again in 10 minutes. I tried 3 times and after a further 30 minutes I got a message on the app that said the sensor had switched off for the safety of the patient it should be replaced !!
I never had this sort of problem with the Libre 2 and when I firts moved over to the Libre 2 plus I was get messages late at night telling me I was low but when I checked with blood meter the CGM was 2 to 3 points lower than the blood meter.
Of course I;m getting the latest sensor replaced by Abbotts but I am goint to start keeping records of the problems I experience with Libre 2 plus system.
I will continue to watch this Post out of interest and come back with an update in the coming months.

Sat 1AM 9th August 2025
1AM I was eoken by my sensor reader telling me my glusose level was 3.8 , I got out of bed and walked around then checked my level which said 5,6mmol. Decided to go back to bed as I was rather tired.
2AM My sensor was telling me I was 3.7 so I decided to go to the living room and test and my Blood Meter said 6.6
and my sensor reader now read 6.9 !!
This is the second occaision in recent months the Libre 2Plus has done this, The last time the sensor did this 2 Nights running so I had to change it.
Never had a problem like this with the standard Libre 2, Don't know what the changes are between Libre 2 and Libre 2 Plus but so far I would say that the previous Libre 2 was on the whole more reliable and had less problems.
Hoping this sensor will settle and that I do not get the same issue tonight as I have had no sleep since 1am this morning.

Sun 1AM 10th August 2025
2 AM woken by low sugar Alarm again on my freestyle reader. Reader says 3.8mmol with downward arrow, so I get out of bed and walk around. Ccheck Glucose with reader and get 6,7 of course after previous night I need sleep so badly I fall back to sleep. At 3AM my sensor wakens me again with a low reading of 3.8 , My Blood test was 6,9 --- 3 points
difference, I tested with reader several times and reader after 15mins got back to 5.7. I gave up with the sensor and removed, waited till morning to replace.

I have now used the 2 Plus sensors for 3 months and 50% of them have had problems. I hardly ever had problems with the Libre 2 sensor.

Sun 10:50AM 10th August2025
More than an hour ago I put a new sensor in my Arm and My Reader has had several attempts to read. The Reader now gives me a message saying the sensor is Faulty and to replace it !
As you can see, In my experience there is something wrong with the Libre 2 Plus Sensors. Of the last 7 Sensors less than 50% have worked !!

Sun 1pm 10th August 2025
I waited the Hour for the replacement and it would not scan the sensor the first two times saying that the sensor was doing Quality checks. Finally the Sensor gave a message saying it was shutting down for Patient safety .

The last two sensors that I used to replace the one I removed at 4am this morning were both supplied as replacement sensors direct from Abbotts. I also noticed these replacement Sensors were very easy to remove like the Glue on them was Faulty too.
It is now 13:30 on a Sunday Morning and I have now lost 3 Sensors, One that was giving me very low readings and destroying my sleep for the last 2 days. The next two I used as replacements both of which found themselves Faulty when running built in Quality checks.

I would suggest that based on the experience above and the various other reports on this thread, It's not a question of whether there is an issue with the Libre2 Plus sensor. We need to be reporting these issues to our Pharmasist and to our Medical GP's. There appears to be an issue with the Libre 2 Plus sensors.

Sunday 10th August 2025 14:44 - Finally I have logged 3 Faulty Sensors with Abbotts Today and Finally I have attached to my arm a Sensor that was supplied by Boots the Chemist that appears to be working.

CGM Log (how long do they last, why do they fail)

I thought it might be interesting/useful to log some information about how long my libre2s are lasting, and why they are failing. I assume it's not just me, but without more data it's quite hard to know. It might also be useful for those who self-fund to have a better understanding of how well...

forum.diabetes.org.uk

The Yellow Card Scheme
Concerned that so many people are experiencing issues with the Libre 2 Plus device and about the Quality control.
This week I will be sending back 3 Libre 2 Plus Sensors to Abbotts and something I noticed about the last 2 I removed from my arm was that the Sticky material was really poor.
It's been a bad week because I have lost many hours of sleep over the last few days with false Alarms that tell me I am low when I am not. This has got me to thinking I am just glad that it was not reading Higher when I was really lower.
Since switching to the Libre 2 Plus I believe that more than 50% of the sensors have been faulty.
Today I was made aware of the Yellow Card Scheme and wonder if perhaps we should be reporting these devices to the MHRA ?

Yellow Card | Making medicines and medical devices safer

MHRA Homepage for reporting of suspected side effects or adverse drug reactions to any medicines or vaccines, as well as medical device incidents

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

 

[SimonP78]

Of course I;m getting the latest sensor replaced by Abbotts but I am goint to start keeping records of the problems I experience with Libre 2 plus system.
I will continue to watch this Post out of interest and come back with an update in the coming months.

Please do keep a record, it would be interesting to see what other people find: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/cgm-log-how-long-do-they-last-why-do-they-fail.114108

 

[JasminDolly]

Thanks for the info about Dexcom One. I’ve just had a look at the NHS Formulary Guidance for my area and the Dexcom is listed, so thanks for that.

Out of interest, the annual cost to the NHS of the Dexcom One+ is £911.41 and the Freestyle Libre 2 Plus is £912.50 per year.

Well done on your hypo count. It would be impossible with my lifestyle not to have low blood sugar from time to time. I can go from sedentary to slogging my guts out in a matter of minutes. My hypo awareness is excellent and my low is quickly self treated. My diabetes is tightly controlled and with my regime I would be concerned if I didn’t have an occasional low as I’d start worrying about running my blood sugar too high. After 49 years things have changed a lot. When I was diagnosed in 1976, only hospitals had glucose meters and they were cumbersome and took several minutes to give a result. It wasn’t something that you could put in your back pocket. For the first few years I monitored my diabetes by using Clinitest tablets. Every morning I had to collect a urine sample, put 4 drops into a test tube and then add a tablet to it that caused the urine to boil and change colour. Blue indicated no sugar in the urine. Yellow 1% and Orange 2%. How times have changed! I must have been doing something right as I’m free of complications. When I was first diagnosed my consultant said “If you don’t control your diabetes, the diabetes will control you”. Those words have stayed with me me!

So funny remembering the tablets in the test tube ect I was also diagnosed around that time (1977) Unfortunately I have never been able to control my diabetes and have many complications. Getting back to problems with Libre 2 plus, my phone keeps losing signal I spoke to Abbott they explained that the phones I.O is higher than the sensors this is why it happens and they haven’t caught up yet and the only thing you can do is not update the software on the phone so the sensors can catch up which I’ve been doing. I’ve kept my O.S at 18.4 and they haven’t caught up yet. Maybe this was B.S that they told me?

 

[Hobo1960]

So funny remembering the tablets in the test tube ect I was also diagnosed around that time (1977) Unfortunately I have never been able to control my diabetes and have many complications. Getting back to problems with Libre 2 plus, my phone keeps losing signal I spoke to Abbott they explained that the phones I.O is higher than the sensors this is why it happens and they haven’t caught up yet and the only thing you can do is not update the software on the phone so the sensors can catch up which I’ve been doing. I’ve kept my O.S at 18.4 and they haven’t caught up yet. Maybe this was B.S that they told me?

I’ve recently switched over to Dexcom One+ and prefer it to Libre 2 Plus. I’m on iOS 18.5 with the Dexcom. I’ve always used the reader with libre sensors as I hate having to have a phone to hand. The reader is small enough to slip into a pocket.

Sorry to hear of your complications. Sometimes I’m guilty of forgetting how much easier things are for us now! No doubt you’ll remember the metal and glass syringes that we had to boil in a saucepan for 5 minutes and the blue plastic container for storing the syringe in surgical spirit. If you failed to pump all the spirit out before drawing up insulin you’d end up with a stinging injection. The syringes would get sloppy over time as the glass started to wear. Needle size was a lottery as the length was whatever the pharmacy had in stock. Some of them were a couple of inches long. We were only offered disposable syringes when the nhs started handing them out to drug addicts! I can’t ever remember being told not to inject too deep! Can you remember the booklet listing the carb content of different items sold in supermarkets etc? This was before we had nutrition values listed on the packaging.