Abbotts Lifestyle Libre 2

[glucose kid]

Hi all, I was fortunate to get a free trial of the Lifestyle Libre 2. (I'm Type 2) I found it absolutely eye opening, it allowed me to know exactly what my blood sugar was doing and enabled me to adjust my diet to reduce it if my B/S was either rising or falling with out going to the trouble of continually having to prick my finger. Which meant I had far greater control of my B/S.
At my last Diabetic review I explained how it had helped me control my blood sugar much more effectively. But explained as a pensioner I was unable to afford £50+ every two weeks to continue with this method of monitoring.
I was told that it was not generally available on the NHS and it was only prescribed under specific criteria.
What a shame that such an effective method of control is not available generally unless you are able to pay for them. Has anybody else experienced this and any suggestions of how to obtain it for free or a significantly lower price?

 

[Rachox]

It is a shame and so short sighted. I’m sure type 2s who use this to their advantage will be saving the NHS future costs of treating diabetic complications.

 

[Jo123]

I'm just on a free trial of the libre 2 and I've found it very inaccurate when checking it against a finger prick tester.
The only thing it's helped is with showing me which meals have the highest spikes. So I'll test these with my monitor. Mine reads lower consistently. so I think the risk is I'll have a very unpleasant surprise if I relied on it solely.
I'm quite happy to fund testing strips as I think these are considered more accurate.

 

[Ushthetaff]

I’ve never understood the hoops people have had to jump through to get the libre system , at the end of the day it helps with better control which results in less complications which results in less spending for the nhs , or am I looking at it too basically ? Personally I’m T1 so luckily I’ve had it on prescription .the difference it’s made to me is incredible ,just hope seeing sense is the taken option

 

[Carole03]

Hi all, I was fortunate to get a free trial of the Lifestyle Libre 2. (I'm Type 2) I found it absolutely eye opening, it allowed me to know exactly what my blood sugar was doing and enabled me to adjust my diet to reduce it if my B/S was either rising or falling with out going to the trouble of continually having to prick my finger. Which meant I had far greater control of my B/S.
At my last Diabetic review I explained how it had helped me control my blood sugar much more effectively. But explained as a pensioner I was unable to afford £50+ every two weeks to continue with this method of monitoring.
I was told that it was not generally available on the NHS and it was only prescribed under specific criteria.
What a shame that such an effective method of control is not available generally unless you are able to pay for them. Has anybody else experienced this and any suggestions of how to obtain it for free or a significantly lower price?

I too self fund for a continuous monitor as trying so hard to reduce BS. I have neuropathy of thigh and hips. It would be so wonderful if on NHS!

 

[MrMarshymellow]

I've asked friends to order them for me. Naturally you will end up running out but it's good to continue it for free while you can. Bends the rules but they want the data anyway! About to go onto my 3rd sensor.

 

[glucose kid]

That's a brilliant idea, never thought of that. Do you use both partners?

 

[MrMarshymellow]

The one I’m having an affair with or the product?

 

[Rosie9876]

I'm just on a free trial of the libre 2 and I've found it very inaccurate when checking it against a finger prick tester.
The only thing it's helped is with showing me which meals have the highest spikes. So I'll test these with my monitor. Mine reads lower consistently. so I think the risk is I'll have a very unpleasant surprise if I relied on it solely.
I'm quite happy to fund testing strips as I think these are considered more accurate.

I've been on a Freestyle libre 2 plus for 11 days. I can't check it against finger prick, as I didn't get the hang of it, so worry about reports of inaccuracy. I know readings are delayed compared with finger prick, but if you take that into account, by how much is it inaccurate, so that I can calculate what the accurate figured are likely to be? TIA

 

[Antje77]

I've been on a Freestyle libre 2 plus for 11 days. I can't check it against finger prick, as I didn't get the hang of it, so worry about reports of inaccuracy. I know readings are delayed compared with finger prick, but if you take that into account, by how much is it inaccurate, so that I can calculate what the accurate figured are likely to be? TIA

It's different for different people. And not all sensors are the same either.
While sensors are wonderful to find patterns, especially around food, they are not the same as a fingerprick.
According to your profile you are on metformin only, this means you do not have to worry about lows.

What kind of numbers do you see on your sensor, and what do you want to do with the information the sensor gives you?

Would you like some tips about finger pricking?

 

[Rosie9876]

It's different for different people. And not all sensors are the same either.
While sensors are wonderful to find patterns, especially around food, they are not the same as a fingerprick.
According to your profile you are on metformin only, this means you do not have to worry about lows.

What kind of numbers do you see on your sensor, and what do you want to do with the information the sensor gives you?

Would you like some tips about finger pricking?

 

[Rosie9876]

I tried the tips, including the sides of my finger tips and couldn't get enough blood and kept getting error messages. I was very naive about controlling diabetes until urgent surgery was cancelled in October because my A1c was 88. I've been on a quick learning curve. My A1c was 50 mid February and I'm having surgery shortly. So finger prick not urgent now, but I'd like to know, especially as twice my reading was 3.9 with a down arrow and alert.

 

[lessci]

Once you run out of people to order the free trial for you Dexcom also run a similar scheme - start all over again with them