Approved for Libre 2

[OHD_Foxy]

Hi all! Not really much of a thread but I wanted to share with some people that would understand my excitement. Just had an appointment with the specialist nurse and told them I had been thinking about getting a cgm or flash monitor as a student nurse it might make things easier and they said they could put me on a Libre 2 starting next week! I'm very excited to not have to do so much finger pricking

Does anyone have any experience with it and how it is to live with etc? I've got some information already but personal experiences would be interesting to hear about

Edit: I think I posted this in the wrong forum category, sorry!

 

[Deleted member 527103]

Great news.
The Libre is great IF YOU KNOW HOW TO USE THE DATA IT PROVIDES.

There are loads of threads about it on this forum which you can find via the Search function at the top right of each page.
I recommend watching the videos on the Libre website (https://progress.freestylediabetes.co.uk/) to understand how to interpret the data you get from Libre and then reviewing the threads on this forum to understand the limitations that Abbott don't mention.

 

[OHD_Foxy]

Hey! Thank you for the information. I was given the website to do some training on and then send the certificate to my nurse but I'll take a browse and see what others are saying too

 

[Seacrow]

For me, I have no hypo awareness, so the alarm is possibly lifesaving. Even the little stuff, though, checking bg and trend before popping out is now 10 seconds instead of drawing blood, applying it right, washing hands, stopping bleeding and still not knowing the trend, just the value at that point. It makes knowing what your bg is doing so much less of a hassle.
Downpoints. Sometimes I get a sensor that just won't stick. No chance of lasting the 14 days, so make sure you have some tape/plasters/tegaderm for if it gets loose.
Accidentally putting it on over 'broken' skin, scratches, psoriasis, eczema etc. produces absolutely excruciating itching. Double check your site, and because towards the back of the arm is recommended, you need a mirror.
Hope you get on well with it.
Edit to add. Its not legal for driving, still have to finger prick for that.

 

[Jaylee]

.
Edit to add. Its not legal for driving, still have to finger prick for that.

Hi,

I got some good news for you on that score...
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...ler-for-drivers-with-insulin-treated-diabetes
Though the requirement for "fitness to drive" is the licence holder must also be hypo awair.

I place mine inside the arm. Seems to work well for me regarding not knocking it & the "contortion act" with the scanning.
Though, hugs can be a potential peril.

 

[Daibell]

I've had mine for almost 4 weeks now; it's self-funded. It's an amazing product and has already helped me get my Basal adjusted which I had wildly wrong. To have a picture of what happens over many hours is a game changer. The alarms are really useful. I just use my mobile phone and not the Reader. I've had no problems so far with sensor sticking or skin irritation.

 

[OHD_Foxy]

Hi,

I got some good news for you on that score...
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...ler-for-drivers-with-insulin-treated-diabetes
Though the requirement for "fitness to drive" is the licence holder must also be hypo awair.

I place mine inside the arm. Seems to work well for me regarding not knocking it & the "contortion act" with the scanning.
Though, hugs can be a potential peril.

Yes, my nurse did say I could use it to check before driving, just to make sure that if it was a downward trend to have some carbs, common sense stuff (obviously). Also that the back of the arm is the only licensed place to put it, luckily I don't have a hard time reaching around there!

 

[Jaylee]

Yes, my nurse did say I could use it to check before driving, just to make sure that if it was a downward trend to have some carbs, common sense stuff (obviously). Also that the back of the arm is the only licensed place to put it, luckily I don't have a hard time reaching around there!

Hi,

I think it's great you've been approved for the Libre.
After 2.5 years of self funding I was recently approved for NHS funding.
My endo knew I wore inner arm & also used a Bluetooth bridge effectively making it a CGM with regards to the Libre 1?
But, you are correct that Abbott do advise placment on the back of the arm.

For me, the L2 seems more stable & acurate. What I have noticed are with lows below 3.5? After treatment the readings will take longer to to recover (a goo 30minutes) to what the meter might say, or even how you feel..
I use a third party app too, on my phone. The low alarm is triggered at 3.9mmol. It can go off when when I feel fine. The meter might concur I'm fine. But then a few minutes later. Hello, I feel low? I've learned to take that early alarm as que to pre-empt a low with a nudge up from a nominal amount of carb..
Pretty useful tool in a hectic work situation or doing a gig..

I still carry my meter. I'm not ready to hand the job over completely to this little white disc, just yet..

 

[Covlocks]

I've had mine for almost 4 weeks now; it's self-funded. It's an amazing product and has already helped me get my Basal adjusted which I had wildly wrong. To have a picture of what happens over many hours is a game changer. The alarms are really useful. I just use my mobile phone and not the Reader. I've had no problems so far with sensor sticking or skin irritation.

I was trying to find the costs from their website as my GP will not entertain anything outside of my supplied Jazz meter and 25 strips a month, therefore I don’t bother with it and use my Code Free all of the time.
Can you give me an idea of the self funded cost please.

 

[Lakeslover]

From Abbott directly via their website it is £48 (with a vat exemption for diabetes) a sensor which lasts 14 days.

 

[OHD_Foxy]

From Abbott directly via their website it is £48 (with a vat exemption for diabetes) a sensor which lasts 14 days.

Yeah this is why I wasn't self-funding, it's too much money for me on my student loans