Answer to: Can you reapply a libre sensor after it falls off?

[mattrix]

OK this is a report of a rather macabre experiment I conducted ... it is not for the squeamish.

A while ago I pulled an applicator apart because ... that's what one does. The applicator has an insertion needle that guides the sensor filament under your skin.
So when my sensor fell off I still had the applicator lying around. I extracted the injection needle from it (in future I would also use the needle holder) and after a wash in isopropyl I inserted it into the little hole on top of the sensor and pushed the filament into the groove on the needle. A good shove into your arm and bob's your uncle.

After about 20 min it started to provide readings. So it was operating, that is not to say that it worked.

As this was the first time I tried this I positioned the sensor so that I could see what I was doing. As you know you usually apply sensors from the side, but my head doesn't turn like that. So it turns out I positioned it poorly and it bled. I've had sensors that have bled before, and they never worked properly.

If you have 3 arms or someone to assist I'm sure it could be better positioned and be brought back to life.

 

[Bill_St]

The issue with washing in IPA is that the filament and/or the grooved needle, may be coated in anti inflammatory to reduce insertion trauma. Yet it is necessary to combat infection.

 

[Lakeslover]

When the sensor restarted did you check against a blood sugar meter to see if it was accurate? I’d worry that the readings might be out. How long did it work for? I’ve had one inserted normally that bled quite a lot, but it didn’t affect the accuracy.

I usually insert my sensors in front of a mirror so that I can see what I’m doing.

Not something I fancy trying myself I have to say. I’ll just keep reporting to Abbott and getting replacements from them for the odd one (once in the last couple of years) that comes off.

 

[Jaylee]

OK this is a report of a rather macabre experiment I conducted ... it is not for the squeamish.

A while ago I pulled an applicator apart because ... that's what one does. The applicator has an insertion needle that guides the sensor filament under your skin.
So when my sensor fell off I still had the applicator lying around. I extracted the injection needle from it (in future I would also use the needle holder) and after a wash in isopropyl I inserted it into the little hole on top of the sensor and pushed the filament into the groove on the needle. A good shove into your arm and bob's your uncle.

After about 20 min it started to provide readings. So it was operating, that is not to say that it worked.

As this was the first time I tried this I positioned the sensor so that I could see what I was doing. As you know you usually apply sensors from the side, but my head doesn't turn like that. So it turns out I positioned it poorly and it bled. I've had sensors that have bled before, and they never worked properly.

If you have 3 arms or someone to assist I'm sure it could be better positioned and be brought back to life.

Hi,

Well they do say “a bleeder is a reader.” Which is my experience too.
My guess Is the Libre was already activated & probably took the 20 minutes to chop sense into interstitial readings after the ordeal of dropping off?

I’d have to admit I’d write off the sensor if it came off.
I have had a couple come a little loose. But I just keep an eye on the situation along with more meter back up.

One thing puzzles me.
What did you use to restick the body of the sensor?

 

[mattrix]

As I said,

So it was operating, that is not to say that it worked.

It worked about as well as any other bleeder I have had, in that it read low. But it kept working until I gave up and took it off, about 6 hours.
I've never found these to be particularly accurate, and never accurate for the whole 14 days.

What did you use to restick the body of the sensor?

It had enough sticky left to hold it in place and then I put a compression bandage over it.

 

[mattrix]

I’ll just keep reporting to Abbott and getting replacements from them for the odd one (once in the last couple of years) that comes off.

I often lose them with a day or 2 to go, but this one had 6 days to go.
I think our customer care is in Singapore, and tends not to be very helpful.

A bleeder is not covered as it wasn't applied properly, or so I was told.
I did ring them for this one and they want me to send it back for inspection before sending a replacement. I'm guessing just to make sure I actually had a sensor.

 

[Jaylee]

It had enough sticky left to hold it in place and then I put a compression bandage over it.

Makes sense.
I’ve still got an armband “guardian” holder for the old Bubblan mini Bluetooth bridge. (Back in the days of Libre 1.) That I used it save the sensor from more trauma if incase an edge comes up?

 

[Zilsniggy]

I often lose them with a day or 2 to go, but this one had 6 days to go.
I think our customer care is in Singapore, and tends not to be very helpful.

A bleeder is not covered as it wasn't applied properly, or so I was told.
I did ring them for this one and they want me to send it back for inspection before sending a replacement. I'm guessing just to make sure I actually had a sensor.

They can easily tell if you had a sensor from the serial number, whether it was activated and when, plus the error code it transmitted when it stopped. That can be found in your reader…….

 

[Jaylee]

They can easily tell if you had a sensor from the serial number, whether it was activated and when, plus the error code it transmitted when it stopped. That can be found in your reader…….

I’ve only had 1 sensor fail to date. (On the 8th day?)
From memory.
When I rang Abbott I was asked to open the phone app, go into “about” then read of the sensor & status code.
It gives the current & last 2 sensors?

It was a long time ago with the libre 2. (Not the plus.)

 

[Gandolf]

Can't so I find the Libra 2+ any better than the libra 2 for reliability, as for accuracy results have little comparison to my finger prick meter which is calibrated regularly. I suffer a 60 - 75% failure rate, either the sensors fall off or I get a sensor error message usually within a day or two of application. my last one lasted less than 8 hours before sensor error message came up. Seriously considering giving up on CGM.

 

[Antje77]

OK this is a report of a rather macabre experiment I conducted ... it is not for the squeamish.

A while ago I pulled an applicator apart because ... that's what one does. The applicator has an insertion needle that guides the sensor filament under your skin.
So when my sensor fell off I still had the applicator lying around. I extracted the injection needle from it (in future I would also use the needle holder) and after a wash in isopropyl I inserted it into the little hole on top of the sensor and pushed the filament into the groove on the needle. A good shove into your arm and bob's your uncle.

After about 20 min it started to provide readings. So it was operating, that is not to say that it worked.

As this was the first time I tried this I positioned the sensor so that I could see what I was doing. As you know you usually apply sensors from the side, but my head doesn't turn like that. So it turns out I positioned it poorly and it bled. I've had sensors that have bled before, and they never worked properly.

If you have 3 arms or someone to assist I'm sure it could be better positioned and be brought back to life.

I sometimes lose sensors, usually during the last few days despite using an overpatch. I'm happy with that despite it being annoying and always happening at the wrong time because it means a replaced sensor, building up a stack as extra or to give away beside my funded sensors.
I'm also curious and not prone at all to infections (knocks wood), nor scared of needles, and I'll give this a try next time I lose a sensor.
Disclaimer: Don't try this at home, I'm known for doing things that aren't advised at all.

 

[Jaylee]

I sometimes lose sensors, usually during the last few days despite using an overpatch. I'm happy with that despite it being annoying and always happening at the wrong time because it means a replaced sensor, building up a stack as extra or to give away beside my funded sensors.
I'm also curious and not prone at all to infections (knocks wood), nor scared of needles, and I'll give this a try next time I lose a sensor.
Disclaimer: Don't try this at home, I'm known for doing things that aren't advised at all.

To be fair.. I couldn’t be doing with the faff? Go back to old skool if the sensor failed? Carry my meter. (Keep it close.)
But then. I’ve also been known to deal with my condition that isn’t in the “handbook.”

I’m hoping the sensor works. For @mattrix . But be mindful of if it don’t.

 

[Antje77]

To be fair.. I couldn’t be doing with the faff? Go back to old skool if the sensor failed? Carry my meter. (Keep it close.)
But then. I’ve also been known to deal with my condition that isn’t in the “handbook.”

Ah, but I would do it out of curiousity to see if it works, not out of necessity. I like a bit of out of the box experimenting, even if it's not advised.
I'm never far from my meter and teststrips though, even on the most boring days with an apparently perfectly functioning sensor.