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Best place to buy a Libre 2 sensor

IanBish

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,229
Location
Cardiff
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi, I took the plunge, and finally applied my free trial sensor yesterday. It was quite an eye-opener. For example, I had a free pint at the pub for my birthday, and while I was drinking it there was quite a large spike, which didn't last long. That explains why my finger prick tests at home, after a couple of pints, showed a fairly normal reading.

Anyway, where's the best place (well, cheapest, really) to get another one? Or should I go for a Libre 3 or a Dexcom G7? Any advice would be welcome. Thanks.
 
IanBish said:
Anyway, where's the best place (well, cheapest, really) to get another one?
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In France, with any pharmacie.
You'll just need friends visiting France to bring them back for you.

Otherwise, ordering directly from Abbott like you did with your free trial is the way to go, I think.
 
Hi,

When I was self funding. The Asda pharmacy (UK.) did them. I even had them VAT exempt.
Libre 3 to the best of my knowledge in the UK are not available.

Though, a colleague’s pumping 4YO son was prescribed one, after issues with Dexcom.
 
IanBish said:
I ordered a couple from Abbott, and ticked the VAT exemption box. Thanks.
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Abbott certainly seems to be the cheapest in the UK.
I shall be watching your progress with the sensor with interest. I am loving mine.
 
I'm quite a fan too. It stayed on in bed last night. We'll see how it behaves in the shower tomorrow. Here is my first full day. I've no idea what the first peak was about as I was asleep at 12:30am, the second peak is presumably the dawn phenomenon, and the third, lower peak was my only meal of the day, about 7:00pm
 
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Nice! I wish my graph was as smooth. I assume the low readings around midnight were as a result of you sleeping on that arm.
 
IanBish said:
We'll see how it behaves in the shower tomorrow
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Some of us find that sensor report false highs in the shower.

It is definitely worth familiarising yourself with the limitations of CGMs such as compression lows and insertion traumas.
 
aylalake said:
Nice! I wish my graph was as smooth. I assume the low readings around midnight were as a result of you sleeping on that arm.
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In Response said:
Some of us find that sensor report false highs in the shower.
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Like I said, @aylalake, I didn't eat until the evening, and then it was only a chicken (with the skin on). I didn't know that pressure on the arm could cause a high.

I'll be jumping in the shower shortly, so I'll bear that in mind. Thanks @In Response.
 
IanBish said:
I didn't know that pressure on the arm could cause a high.
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I am not sure if that is a "typo" - pressure on the sensor can cause a false low not high - hence the term "compression low".
These are most common at night when you lie on your arm in your sleep.
 
In Response said:
I am not sure if that is a "typo" - pressure on the sensor can cause a false low not high - hence the term "compression low".
These are most common at night when you lie on your arm in your sleep.
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Well it's certainly not a "hypo" (!) It did dip to just over 3 this morning at about 1:30am, so I guess that's when I laid on it.

Also, I'm beautifully refreshed after my shower, and there's no sign of the sensor detaching.
 
IanBish said:
I didn't know that pressure on the arm could cause a high.
Click to expand...
It can cause a LOW reading. I note from your message above you had a dip around 1:30am, so yes, probably a compression low.
 
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