A new member, new year and a new Libre monitor :)

[jerrysimon]

First time post, not sure why I have not signed up here before.

Anyway some background, I am a type 1 diagnosed early 30s now 59. Overall control has been variable never perfect, but never terrible and no hospital admissions since diagnosis.

Amazing the changes I have seen in treatment and tech to support us. Probably DAFNE was the beginning of better control for me in 2003. I have always been a bit of a testing fanatic doing eight blood test most days. In Sep last year I saw a specialist nurse (after a gap of a few years) who helped me out with using the bolus caculator on my existing FreeStyle InsuLinnx meter As a result I have seen a step change in my blood sugar control finding nearly every reading remaining in single figures.

Anyway given my high testing rate the nurse thought it was worth applying for the new Libre. In my area it is quite a detracted process jumping through hoops, but seems I fit the criteria and I am picking one up next Monday

I must admit not doing 8 plus finger pricks a day sounds like a big step change for me! I know you still have to do blood tests sometimes.

I have done the on line training and watch a few youtube videos and read quite a bit but had a couple of questions for any users here :

1. I read different things but after applying the patch is it just 1 hour before you can take readings ?
2. I have an iPhone 7 fortunately so hope to us the app and have signed up to LibreView to upload results for clinicians etc.
3. Does the App have a bolus calculator or do you have to use another app or the supplied monitor ?
4. I do sometimes have an alergic reaction to plasters and have some concern that I might react to the sticky patch given it stays on for 14 days ?

Anyway that is my starter for ten, I am sure I will be back for more info. Thanks in advance.

 

[Antje77]

Hi @jerrysimon , and welcome

1. Yes. But many of us find that it's more accurate after a day. You could choose to wait 24 hours between applying and activating the sensor. After activating it it takes an hour before you can start taking readings.
2. Not sure what your question is, but for me the phone app (Android, not Apple) works just fine, as does Libreview. Never had a reader because I self-fund.
3. No bolus calculator in app or reader. Which for me didn't make a difference, as I've never had a meter with a bolus calculator but I can imagine suddenly having to do without may be hard.
4. Wait and see. If you do get a reaction, there's lots of tricks to be found.

(5. Some of us like to use a patch over our sensor to prevent from losing it, others find it stays nicely attatched by itself.)

 

[jerrysimon]

Thanks for the welcome and quick reply. Point 2 wasn't a question sorry just a statement that I will have the option to use a phone or the monitor.

The bolus calculator has a been a bit of a step strange for me, as it also enabled me to record all my carbs and insulin doses in the meter for download and sending off to the nurse. I had been trying to calc doeses and recording by writing in a book and this was always ornerous in the past. Of course it seems with the Libre this is one step further automatically uploading for the specialists teams.

Funding for the Libre seems very variable across the the country and having to self fund must be challenging for many I am sure. To be honest I was surprised I was funded. That said intially its only for 8 months and will then be reviewed for a further 12 months and an anual review afterwards. Looking on line the patches are not cheap.

Thanks for the tips about ensuring you don't lose the patch.

 

[Antje77]

The bolus calculator has a been a bit of a step strange for me, as it also enabled me to record all my carbs and insulin doses in the meter for download and sending off to the nurse.

The logging insulin and carbs is very easily done in the app, and will be visible in Libreview So it's only the deciding on dosage you need to find a solution for.

Funding for the Libre seems very variable across the the country and having to self fund must be challenging for many I am sure.

Not only in your country, I'm from the Netherlands
Stupid thing is, I can now get them funded, but politics suddenly moved quicker than anticipated so I still have a hoard of sensors to last me almost 6 months... They are cheaper in France, so I've sent everyone I knew who planned to visit France on a sensor-hunt. Seemed wise at the moment, and at least it was great fun But still a waste of money.

 

[Alexandra100]

I still have a hoard of sensors to last me almost 6 months

Sell them on Ebay? Or here, except I expect that is not allowed.

 

[Antje77]

Sell them on Ebay? Or here, except I expect that is not allowed.

Nope, not allowed. And I won't. What's done is done. And while, technically, I won't do anything wrong in selling the sensors I bought myself, it certainly feels wrong. Besides, the second hand market is overflowing at the moment in the Netherlands because our government quite suddenly decided the Libre was going to be funded for everyone on insulin who needs to test at least 4 times a day. Pretty sure not all sensors sold are self funded, and I don't like it and I don't want to be associated with that, even if I did buy them..
I did give a sensor away to someone who needed it, though, and I might do so again.