3 Faulty Libre Sensors in as many days!

[Paulaah]

Hello all, I don’t post much but I’m an avid reader and I pick up such a lot of information from all of you experts.

I’m having a really hard time with my type 1 after having 10 years of no real problems and a good quality of life and good hBA1cs and blood sugars.

I’ve hit my 50s and think I’m peri menopausal so that could be contributing, plus I went too far down the line with the Bernstein model that my consultant says I’ve messed up my metabolism- Krebs cycle to be specific. Too many ketones when in normal range.

Anyway, that’s not the reason for my post . On top of my difficult to manage diabetes, my kit keeps letting me down. I’ve phone Abbott 3 times in two days to report faulty sensors. They are replacing them all which is very good of them, but it messes with my control even more because you get to depend on them. Obviously I realise we always have blood tests to fall back on, but that’s not always the point.

For example, on Sunday my new sensor (which is applied 24 hours before to acclimatise) was working fine at home, and the minute I set out to walk the dog it did constant “sensor error”. So I had to keep stopping to do blood tests because I can drop severely when walking. After that, it just got less and less accurate until the flash reading was 4 mmol different to my blood. Even in a fasting time!

Then I’ve had one that kept telling me I was hypo when I was nowhere near, and then another one that failed after 2 hours and caused a really hard lump under my skin. It really does mess with your head, and your control.

Can anybody else relate to this or is it just me? When I get a good one, they are amazing and a brilliant tool.

I’ve attached another one from my stock this afternoon and so far it’s looking promising, but it’s been all consuming for 3 days! I’m just a bit fed up!

 

[Marie 2]

When they first came out with the Libre 2 here, 3 wouldn't start up and the 4th one did but failed within 30 minutes or so. They didn't ask for them to be returned like they usually do, I think probably because it was a widespread problem they already knew about. Recently I had 3 more fail, they wouldn't start up after warmup. When I pulled them off all of them had the cannula bent so I think the inserters might have been faulty? In those cases because I just wear the LIbres for swimming, it didn't affect me.

What does affect me is I have been having more issues with pod/site failing with my Omnipod. But not total failure, just an absorption issue. That drives me up a wall, I get alerts when I go too high and if I don't know a reason when I am higher than I should be at, I change them out easy. But obviously you keep going higher until the new dose of insulin can kick in, plus you don't always know how much insulin you actually got while it wasn't working completely right and it takes extra to come down when you are too high.

And that messes with my head because I have really good control, and the only reason I have "too highs" is because of tech failures/absorption issues.

Our tech is amazingly helpful............. but it can also be very aggravating!

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @Paulaah Sorry to hear about your libre issues, they all can be replaced but that doesn't help when dealing with multiple failures which nothing can be done about, just always keep your meter at hand as a back up is all you can do. You could also try asking your team if they would let you have the Dexcom instead, this is now more widely available in the NHS and based on the issues you've had, they may change you. It is a much more reliable system, in 4 years i've only had 3 sensors fail, although it's a rocky 24 hour settling in, I can get clarity data which helps with my decision making process in regards to dosage changes and seeing patterns with my control, worth a shot.

Also extended sympathy with peri, I am too and it's a horrible experience, night sweats, control issues, brain fog, as if we didn't have enough on our plates !

 

[Paulaah]

Thanks to you both for your replies. At least I’m not alone.

I’m not on a pump but, Marie, that sounds just awful when it’s nothing down to what you are doing and it’s a double tech failure.

Juicyj- thanks for the dexcom suggestion and heads up. I’ve floated it past my consultant but I really push it. So that’s probably my next step. I’m not having night sweats yet, but definitely brain fog, irregular cycles, and erratic blood sugars. I’m on a physical and emotional rollercoaster with it all. Trying to keep my chin up.

Thanks so much for your replies.

 

[Marie 2]

Right about the time menopause started to hit is the same time my blood sugars started going haywire. And a very stressful year altogether. I never had sleep issues before menopause and menopause hit with a vengeance after a couple of years of being mildly annoying.

Menopause
The things most useful
-A fan by the couch that has a remote control for easier on off on off on off …
-A freezer at work that you can either put your body next too when you open the door or step into.
-An understanding husband that knows you could hate him at any minute and get over it in another couple of minutes
-A car with a hot air vent you can make your husband sit in front of on a hot day, and not move for at least 15 minutes to get an understanding of why you can get so irritable in seconds
-An A/C in the bedroom with a remote control you can crank up for the few minutes when you wake up drenched in sweat from being hot, then a light blanket for the possible freeze after
-The ability to have a sink you can splash a ton of cold water on your face to cool off whether at work or at home. With the possibility of carrying a water bottle with you to pour over your head when it’s hot outside and you are running errands

And lots of chocolate…

I’m sure I can think of a few other things given time, but I think you get the picture...…then add blood sugar issues!
It was years ago, and I still remember it well…

 

[AutisticMum]

Thanks to you both for your replies. At least I’m not alone.

I’m not on a pump but, Marie, that sounds just awful when it’s nothing down to what you are doing and it’s a double tech failure.

Juicyj- thanks for the dexcom suggestion and heads up. I’ve floated it past my consultant but I really push it. So that’s probably my next step. I’m not having night sweats yet, but definitely brain fog, irregular cycles, and erratic blood sugars. I’m on a physical and emotional rollercoaster with it all. Trying to keep my chin up.

Thanks so much for your replies.

I've switched to Dexcom following that problem. I have also realized I'm allergic to Libre