Type 1 Advice please

[Buzz2102]

Hiah, this is our first time posting on here... our son was diagnosed type 1 diabetic 6 weeks ago. He also has dyspraxia and is finding monitoring his sugars difficult without assistance. What do people think of the freestyle libre? As we think this might be easier for him to manage independently, or is it too early days to swap from finger pricking? So confused on what to do for the best, as want him to have confidence when on his own that he can manage

 

[catapillar]

The libre won't be a swap from finger pricking, it will only be an addition to. Libre is not approved to make dosing decisions on, nor is it approved for driving.

Have you spoken to his DSN about dyspraxia? Might there be any modification to equipment that would make blood testing more manageable? you might want to discuss alternative site testing with your DSN.

 

[Buzz2102]

The libre won't be a swap from finger pricking, it will only be an addition to. Libre is not approved to make dosing decisions on, nor is it approved for driving.

Have you spoken to his DSN about dyspraxia? Might there be any modification to equipment that would make blood testing more manageable? you might want to discuss alternative site testing with your DSN.

Thanks I have mentioned he is finding it difficult, but she wants us to continue as it is early days. The problem is he is getting frustrated and angry having to prick two or three times every check, and then asking someone to squeeze his finger to get the blood out. He wants to be independent, but is finding it difficult with his dyspraxia

 

[Buzz2102]

Thanks I have mentioned he is finding it difficult, but she wants us to continue as it is early days. The problem is he is getting frustrated and angry having to prick two or three times every check, and then asking someone to squeeze his finger to get the blood out. He wants to be independent, but is finding it difficult with his dyspraxia

I was just trying to find alternatives for him, to increase his independence and confidence and came across the libre

 

[azure]

How old is your son @Buzz2102 ? Is it just the finger squeezing that's causing him problems?

Have you tried various finger prickers? On the right setting, he shouldn't have to squeeze too much to get enough blood. Also, he might find a different meter helpful. You could ask if his DSN has any he could try. The methods for applying the blood vary slightly so it's worth experimenting.

You'd still need to finger prick with the Libre as Catapillar has said, although you may be able to reduce the number of tests.

 

[Buzz2102]

He's 11 years old, thanks both, I shall ask about different finger prickers and meters... didn't realise that could may a difference.. sorry still so new to all this and there is so much to learn... I really appreciate both your feedback.. thanks

 

[Scott-C]

Hiah, this is our first time posting on here... our son was diagnosed type 1 diabetic 6 weeks ago. He also has dyspraxia and is finding monitoring his sugars difficult without assistance. What do people think of the freestyle libre? As we think this might be easier for him to manage independently, or is it too early days to swap from finger pricking? So confused on what to do for the best, as want him to have confidence when on his own that he can manage

Hi, buzz, I know nothing about dyspraxia apart from a quick google, so sorry if I've picked it up wrong, but am I right in thinking it's the dexterity aspects of it which is making things tricky, the "fiddly" nature of co-ordinating the pricking, squeezing, and lining up finger with strip?

If so, libre might be worth a look at.

The dimensions of the reader are 9cm high, 6cm wide, 1.5cm deep, like a very small phone. It gets switched on and off with one physical button on the front about 9mm across. The reader then gets held in the palm and then held up to the sensor which is on the back of the arm for a second or two. There's a bit of co-ordination involved, it needs to be quite close to the sensor to read it, pretty much right on top, but only for a second or two.

There's a start-up company at www.ambrosiasys.com bringing out a transmitter later this month called a blucon which is then put on top of the libre so that it will send readings automatically to a mobile every 5 minutes without a scan. However, the company has just appeared out of nowhere and no-one seems to know how it'll pan out.

There's other devices called dexcom and medtronic which will do that sort of stuff but they're more expensive (cue choruses if, oh no they're not, if you can extend the sensors!).

Although it's correct that neither those nor libre will do away with the need for pricking altogether, it seems to me that if the dsypraxia is meaning there's a realistic possibility of not being able to check at all if on his own, libre would mean he would at least be getting a reading, if his co-ordination would let him hold the reader up to his arm.

There's screeds of threads about how accurate the libre is, many do actually bolus from it, including me, but that's not a discussion for now.

 

[Scott-C]

I shall ask about different finger prickers and meters

Maybe have a look at the OneTouch Verio range:
http://www.onetouch.com/product-grid

Most test-strips have the little channel for sucking up the blood at the top of the strip, whereas these ones have the channel at the sides, blood can go in on either side, see pic below.

Sounds a trivial difference, and I didn't really notice it until I had occasion to use a different meter, but it makes a fair difference, in the sense that once you've got a spot of blood on your finger, you can push the meter, still in it's case, up against the finger, so they're kind of locked resting against each other providing a bit of stability, and then just slide the strip over till either side of the channel meets the blood.

If on the other hand, you've got a strip with the channel opening on the top, it can be more a case of "hovering"the strip over the blood spot in mid air, which can be trickier if there are co-ordination issues compared to the verio strips.

Also, your point about pricking two or three times, again don't know if that is because of the dsyspraxia but thought I'd just mention for the sake of ruling it out, that there's an adjustment wheel/button on most devices which controls how deep the lancet goes in, sometimes needs a bit of experimentation to find the best level. Thought I'd mention it, as there's been a surprising number of posts with people having difficulty getting blood and not realising they're on the softest level so it barely scratches them!

 

[Buzz2102]

Thank you everyone for your advice... it's mainly the squeeze of the finger that he's finding difficult, coordinating his fingers, usually ends up smearing the blood or not getting enough and then gets upset "I can't do this" which is starting to get him down. I do understand it's early days for him, but unfortunately I don't think this will improve "given time" due to his dyspraxia, and don't want him to lose heart at such an early stage. I will definately chat with dsn and ask about a different meter and stuff firstThank you everyone

 

[azure]

Don't be disheartened @Buzz2102 It's a technique and, like many things when you have dyspraxia, the ability to do it may improve over time.

You've had one meter suggestion above, and I'd like to,add the Freestyle Lite (a normal meter nothing to do with the Libre). It's very simple to use and, like the one above, blood is added to either side of the strip. Also, if there's not enough blood, then you can add more without messing the test up.

It may also help your son to choose an easy spot on his finger to prick. It can be fiddlier to squeeze in some places rather than others. Technique is also important, so perhaps you could let him practise on some 'extra' tests - ie not on tests where you're about to eat so he feels the pressure of time.

I find pricking my finger, then sliding the thumb of the opposite hand up the length of that finger till you can feel the finger pad 'squashing' is the best way to do. If you can, you could practise on yourself to get a good technique, then you can help him perfect his.