Anyone having big reliability issues with Freestyle Libre 2 Plus sensors?

[JasminDolly]

I’ve recently switched over to Dexcom One+ and prefer it to Libre 2 Plus. I’m on iOS 18.5 with the Dexcom. I’ve always used the reader with libre sensors as I hate having to have a phone to hand. The reader is small enough to slip into a pocket.

Sorry to hear of your complications. Sometimes I’m guilty of forgetting how much easier things are for us now! No doubt you’ll remember the metal and glass syringes that we had to boil in a saucepan for 5 minutes and the blue plastic container for storing the syringe in surgical spirit. If you failed to pump all the spirit out before drawing up insulin you’d end up with a stinging injection. The syringes would get sloppy over time as the glass started to wear. Needle size was a lottery as the length was whatever the pharmacy had in stock. Some of them were a couple of inches long. We were only offered disposable syringes when the nhs started handing them out to drug addicts! I can’t ever remember being told not to inject too deep! Can you remember the booklet listing the carb content of different items sold in supermarkets etc? This was before we had nutrition values listed on the packaging.

Thank you for replying Yes I remember boiling the glass syringes but don’t remember a carb counting booklet. I will now investigate the Dexcom Have a good day

 

[Daffid from Notts]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

Yes ! I have had 3 sensors replaced in 6 weeks ! Thought I was doing well as my last 3 sensors went the full 15 days but I’ve just replaced one which is dropping the signal and the thing is it’s not recording the error ‘307’ which makes it difficult to get a replacement without this error being recorded.

 

[Westley]

As an update..... I have found a way of getting the "dead" sensor, 365 error, alive again.....I won't say how, because Abbott won't like it.

Please do tell! Abbott can't tell us off here!
I had one the other day that LL told me to replace after showing the readings paused message for an hour, and I thought I might be able to get Juggluco to keep reading it, but no dice.

 

[Jasmin2000]

If the screen with the "replace your sensor" picture hasn't appeared but the signal is lost and the screen blank I found on iPhone that a reboot works. And here's a bonus that Abbott should be paying me for - if you reboot your iPhone every 3-4 days you can get the full two weeks as opposed to the 6-9 days that Libre 2+ with iPhone OS 18.5 gives you.

 

[PSLpen]

114108

Unfortunately, I have started using Libre2+ and they fall off after about 4/5 days! I’ve bought som expensive waterproof plasters and restock it to save it falling off, there must be a better way!!

 

[Rosie9876]

Unfortunately, I have started using Libre2+ and they fall off after about 4/5 days! I’ve bought som expensive waterproof plasters and restock it to save it falling off, there must be a better way!!

I've been using the Libre 2 plus and only had one fall off. That was in early days and Abbott replaced it without fuss. I'm very careful to prepare for it, washing with plain soap, drying, applying alcohol and letting it dry, then placing it firmly on the exact spot. Maybe watch a "how to" video? I think there are specific compatible plasters. I hope you got those. Good luck.

 

[Glendog]

Having suffered through weeks of loss of sensor connection every 20- 30 mins 24/7, wildly fluctuating readings compared to finger prick testing and 'alarms not available' pop ups for no reason whatsoever as they are all turned on etc, I've taken my latest sensor off after a couple of days of 'use' and will not be using one ever again.

Back to just finger prick testing and reliability.

 

[Is Vic There ?]

Having suffered through weeks of loss of sensor connection every 20- 30 mins 24/7, wildly fluctuating readings compared to finger prick testing and 'alarms not available' pop ups for no reason whatsoever as they are all turned on etc, I've taken my latest sensor off after a couple of days of 'use' and will not be using one ever again.

Back to just finger prick testing and reliability.

Hi , Sorry to hear you have had an even worse time with the Libre2 Plus , so bad that you want to go back to the finger prick device. Please see my post on here where I suggest we might like to raise this as a Yellow card event with the MHRA. ! I hope this issue will be recognised by the Abbotts company and addressed soon.

 

[Hobo1960]

Having suffered through weeks of loss of sensor connection every 20- 30 mins 24/7, wildly fluctuating readings compared to finger prick testing and 'alarms not available' pop ups for no reason whatsoever as they are all turned on etc, I've taken my latest sensor off after a couple of days of 'use' and will not be using one ever again.

Back to just finger prick testing and reliability.

As an alternative you can ask to be prescribed the Dexcom One+ sensor. Like you, I had problems with Libre 2 Plus and was going to go back to a Glucose Meter. I’ve been using Dexcom One+ for an month and haven’t had any problems. The sensors have lasted the full 10 days and have been accurate. The only time I’ve lost connection is when I’ve forgotten my phone and walked out of range. When I switched over to Dexcom I had a call from the company asking me how I was getting on. The Dexcom also allows the user to re calibrate the sensor if there’s a mismatch between sensor reading and glucose meter. Accuracy for me has been very good so I haven’t had to do this!

 

[Is Vic There ?]

I'm insulin dependent with steroid induced DM2 and the accuracy, and reliability of both the app and Libre 2 sensor are quite appalling IMO.

I went through a period of 6 months where the sensors were either failing off or failing with different error codes for 2 out of every 3 applications. I am supposed to be moving to the 2 Plus but have so many libre 2 replacements to get though it will be a while off yet!.

Things have improved, but I recently went away without a spare (don't ever do this!). I had a hypo of 3.4, and in the confusion lightly tapped the sensor against a door frame (I'm visually impaired so this isn't unusual) then the sensor predictably failed with an 365 scan error code leaving me with the nightmare of being mid-hypo without any monitoring for the following 48 hours before I could get hold of a replacement!

The app is also wildly inaccurate, inconsistent and doesn't always support the most up-to-date versions of Android, alarms frequently fail and the software hasn't been updated for 9 months(!), I frequently experience hypos of 3.4-3.8 that don't even show up later on the daily graphs? This along with 34% lower results when compared to a traditional calibrated glucometer (when post-op in hospital) which even after a change of sensor were so concerning that nurses completely ignored my Libre results in favour of traditional finger prick testing.

I worked in medical supplies for nearly 30 years, Abbot were actually a supplier and I have contacted the NHS' MHRA about my experiences, given the huge cost of CGMs to the NHS their response was quite disappointing TBH.

Hi, If you look at more recent posts on this thread, I am considering contacting the MHRA but sad to hear that their response to you was disappointing. Do you have a case number with them and is it worth letting them know about the people on here and the increased number of reportings of issues with the Libre 2 Plus ?

 

[Hobo1960]

Hi, If you look at more recent posts on this thread, I am considering contacting the MHRA but sad to hear that their response to you was disappointing. Do you have a case number with them and is it worth letting them know about the people on here and the increased number of reportings of issues with the Libre 2 Plus ?

The final straw for me was the short life of the Libre 2 Plus sensors. I didn’t have any problems with Libre 2, but Libre 2 plus Sensors ended early with no warning. Yes, Abbott were good at replacing them, but I’d generally lost faith in them. A bit like buying a new car and finding it’s unreliable. Accuracy was sometimes an issue, particularly the very slow response when treating a low. In those circumstances I used a meter. In fairness to Abbott that’s what they recommend.

 

[Is Vic There ?]

Out of interest, what do Abbott tell those of you having Libre 2+ fails and then calling the help desk? I've had 4 fails and three were on iPhone OS18.5 and I was told by help desk that it was due to iPhone incompatibility (after 8-9 days? Gimme a break) .

So being a scientist, I used Abbott's own reader for the last one and guess what - it failed after 8-9 days with readings below 2.7 whilst my glucometer was reading over 5.0. When I called Abbott and told them it was not an iPhone issue, they asked if I wanted a new reader!

This is a sensor issue and Abbott know it - Libre 2+ (at least in UK for at least 4 lots that I've had) are just defective.

Hello , What has Abbotts told you ? Given that probably most Diabetics do not use this Forum I am guessing there are a lot more sensor failures than reported here. Personally I have had a 50%+ failure rate since going from Libre 2 to Libre 2 plus. I have also changed my phone to a more up to date phone and find the App does not work as well on the latest Android level. You will see I have a post on the forum where I tried to gather what phones do and do not work because Abbotts phone testing is well out of date and as I say does not work so well on the latest Android.

 

[becca59]

Been using the Libre 2+ for the last few months. Haven’t had any fall off. Haven’t had to remove any. 65 years old with an I phone mini working on 18.6 Have been using Libre for many years since the very basic model came out and had very few cause issues. Always replaced without any problem.
I’m a type 1 who wouldn’t be without this wonderful device. I inject insulin and eat from it without using hardly any test strips, as the match for levels is pretty accurate. My only problem with the new version is the 15 days replacement. Very inconvenient. I liked changing on the same day which fitted in with my lifestyle. A minor gripe in the scheme of things.
I am sorry so many of you are having problems but felt the need to redress the balance a little bit. At the end of the day it is a medical device and like with some medications they will not suit everyone. There are many common drugs that I am seriously allergic to that most people take without a second thought.

 

[Is Vic There ?]

Been using the Libre 2+ for the last few months. Haven’t had any fall off. Haven’t had to remove any. 65 years old with an I phone mini working on 18.6 Have been using Libre for many years since the very basic model came out and had very few cause issues. Always replaced without any problem.
I’m a type 1 who wouldn’t be without this wonderful device. I inject insulin and eat from it without using hardly any test strips, as the match for levels is pretty accurate. My only problem with the new version is the 15 days replacement. Very inconvenient. I liked changing on the same day which fitted in with my lifestyle. A minor gripe in the scheme of things.
I am sorry so many of you are having problems but felt the need to redress the balance a little bit. At the end of the day it is a medical device and like with some medications they will not suit everyone. There are many common drugs that I am seriously allergic to that most people take without a second thought.

Like you I am a great advocate of the Abbotts product and found the Libre 2 quite releiable so I am shocked with the failure rate I am experiencing. I am having to send Abbots 3 sensors back this week 2 of which were replacements that had sent me for previous failures. I have been experiencing a 50%plus level of failure and have written to Abbotts making them aware of this and the issues other people are facing.
I hope that they fix the problems soon and that they get the releiability level back to even better than we had with the Libre 2 so that we can all get back to benefitting from the CGM experience.

 

[Tracey P]

So I have been using Libre 2 for a while now and haven't had 1 sensor last 15 days. They have lasted between 8 hours and 11 days at best. I have found them very unreliable. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know why these sensors are so unreliable?

I have the same problem...I've had 5 fail in the last week...it's doing my head in and whilst Abbott will replace them it isn't helpful when 2 months supply gets used in less than a week! Never had this problem before the change to 2 plus!

 

[Is Vic There ?]

I have spoken with Abbotts today and made them very aware of the momentum and number of posts on this and other threads about the realiability of the New Libre2 Plus.
I have asked Abbotts to refer to this Forum and to consider stopping the issue of the Libre 2 Plus product and only issue the Original Libre 2 until the issues displayed with the Libre 2 Plus are addressed.
I also mentioned how out of date their support for the New Android phones is / the latest flavour of Android.
I am personally making my Doctors Practice and the MHRA aware of the issues happening for many people,
When I switched to a New up to date phone on Android 15 I have found that the App works but has many problems including very slow updates. I was grateful to Abbotts for sending me the Freestyle reader and would suggest you request this if you are switching to a new Android phone. I also have started a list of phones that people confirm the app will still run on.
Perhaps Abbotts should have their own portion of the Diabetes UK site so that we can help them address issues so they can help us.
It's always good to know we are not alone when we have issues with products we use and just as important everyone let's the manufacturer know what the issues are and just how much it is affecting our Health.
My HBA1C has greatly improved by using the Abbotts CGM which is why I am concerned that there are now serious issues being reported.
Let's Hope Abbotts now follow this through this Forum and we see some signs that they are addressing the issues.

 

[Rosie9876]

I'm finding the Libre 2 plus reliable. I did have a spate of 3 which failed just after activation and one which fell off at about Day 10, all of which were replaced without fuss. But otherwise they've been fine. I use a fairly old Android phone.

 

[Is Vic There ?]

I'm finding the Libre 2 plus reliable. I did have a spate of 3 which failed just after activation and one which fell off at about Day 10, all of which were replaced without fuss. But otherwise they've been fine. I use a fairly old Android phone.

Thanks Rosie, Hopefully Abbotts can figure out why many people are getting serious issues and other people not. Hopefully will stay this way for you.

 

[Jaylee]

Been using the Libre 2+ for the last few months. Haven’t had any fall off. Haven’t had to remove any. 65 years old with an I phone mini working on 18.6 Have been using Libre for many years since the very basic model came out and had very few cause issues. Always replaced without any problem.
I’m a type 1 who wouldn’t be without this wonderful device. I inject insulin and eat from it without using hardly any test strips, as the match for levels is pretty accurate. My only problem with the new version is the 15 days replacement. Very inconvenient. I liked changing on the same day which fitted in with my lifestyle. A minor gripe in the scheme of things.
I am sorry so many of you are having problems but felt the need to redress the balance a little bit. At the end of the day it is a medical device and like with some medications they will not suit everyone. There are many common drugs that I am seriously allergic to that most people take without a second thought.

I’ve been stress testing mine out in the field with an active job & the recent sun trap heat using Android phone.

So far..

I’m impressed. Better connectivity, no warnings. No scatty drop outs. Sticks like a limpit..
But I do clean the area with alcohol wipes before fitting.
(Even in a WiFi or BT saturated area where I know everyone & their dog has wireless switched on?)

 

[Fairygodmother]

Recently, reliability issues have begun occurring for me. It’s not the falling off but the changes in accuracy. The one I’m wearing right now worked quite well for a week but has started to differ wildly from bloods. If I’d assessed it on its first week’s performance and assumed it was good I’d be carrying out relatively risky tasks with bs below four when Libre was telling me fifteen mins lag later that I was above seven. Grrrrrr!