Constant Freestyle L2 failures

[PJFCDE]

Hello!

For years I've had absolutely no problems with FL/L2, but over the last 8 months I've been getting more and more regular 'sensor failures', including 2 in a row after just a couple of days/less than a day's use.
Nothing about how I apply, or where I apply has changed (top + back of each arm, using a different arm each fortnight), has changed, and yet this has become a regular thing.

The sensor will out of nowhere drop below 4 (incorrectly) and then eventually just 'fail'. I've spoken with Abbott, with a nurse there, with their customer service team (who are really helpful but don't know the answer) and I feel like I'm going a bit insane.

Has anyone else been having similar issues?

 

[CheeseSeaker]

Morning @PJFCDE - Not had any increase in problems - been running the L2s (and L1s) for years and nothing different over the last few months (all working ok, occasionally get a failed startup (bent teflon needle when inserted) but once they start then keep going for the 14 days (accuracy at start and end can be off, but that normal).

Sorry I can't help. My paranoia would suggest going to a different pharmacy (to try) in case there is something to do with supply chain and storage - but I'm grasping at straws there....

 

[PJFCDE]

Thanks for replying - I'll try your pharmacy suggestion because at this point nothing else makes sense!

 

[TheSecretCarbAddict]

I have found that some of my Libre 2 and 2+ sensors haven't lasted the full advertised time. Actually, 2 out of 2 Libre 2+ never made to 15 days, on my 3rd one now, and I'm keen to see if it lasts.

Abbott is usually very good at replacements, but that does not lessen the frustration.

I'm also now trialling Dexcom ONE+ alongside Libre 2 and Libre 2+. Will post my findings on the forum at some point soon.

Edit: Just to add, I'm T2 with no critical dependence on CGM apart from tracking my BG patterns.

 

[EBe66]

I have somewhat of the same experience. I started with the Libre 2 early 2021 and had no problems at all. Then at a certain moment, can't remember when, one sensor after the other started to fail prematurely. Mostly a couple a days before they would expire. Because I have to self fund them eventually I just stopped wearing them.
Because I doubted a recent hba1c test and just know my bg can't be alright atm I started again. Of the last 3 sensors 2 failed early. One 3 days before expiration and an other a week before.
The most annoying I find is that most of the time mine fail by first reporting lower and lower values over a couple days before failing completely so I am fooled into believing my bg is doing great (type II)
On the other hand I like/want to wear them because they keep me "honest" .
But just like you, I don't have a clue why this happens. Wear them at same location don't do anything different then when I started etc. frustrating.
Also had several occasions where I did not get a replacement.

 

[SimonP78]

I've just had a run of 4 failures with one in the middle that just about worked until the bitter end (calibration was still off, but I set my hypo alerts to minimum value and carried out for a while as I didn't want to replace yet another sensor - sore arms),

My failures were half and half severe underreading (so much so that I could no longer run at a normal level without the sensor saying I was hypo, not useful) vs complete Bluetooth failure (no overnight alarms, not useful).

My arms were not impressed.

 

[PatsyB]

mine keeps saying sensor failure but are normally very good must admit it can be frustrating so have to carry my finger pricker with me now

 

[Hopeful34]

Anyone on insulin or taking tablets that can cause hypo's, should always carry a blood test meter and finger picker with them, as sensors can fail, and may not be accurate below 4 and above 10. If you're driving you have to have one in the car with you.

 

[PatsyB]

Yes am sure we all know this as there is always one in my bag, but if our walking one has to carry one also just in case

 

[Ipodlistener]

If you're a Android user? I'd suggest using Juggluco. Hardly ever have any dramas. Now other than using librelink to start a sensor. With Juggluco you don't have to scan to upload data to Libreview. It does it automatically anytime you open the app. Value is shown on a smartwatch if setup. Talks your value at set times if you want/ need it. Been a user of L2 since 02/2022 and Juggluco 12/2022

 

[SimonP78]

If you're a Android user? I'd suggest using Juggluco. Hardly ever have any dramas. Now other than using librelink to start a sensor. With Juggluco you don't have to scan to upload data to Libreview. It does it automatically anytime you open the app. Value is shown on a smartwatch if setup. Talks your value at set times if you want/ need it. Been a user of L2 since 02/2022 and Juggluco 12/2022

I also use Juggluco along with XDrip+ (the latter allowing me to look at the data more easily and to calibrate to make some sensors continue to be useful despite having quite large offsets), unfortunately this doesn't solve the issue of failed Bluetooth (for which I had my old MiaoMiao2, which I've annoyingly managed to lose), nor those sensors which go so far out of calibration that XDrip+ refuses to provide a large enough calibration (because the minimum raw sensor value would then be above hypo level, so you'd not get an alert.)

 

[CheeseSeaker]

unfortunately this doesn't solve the issue of failed Bluetooth (for which I had my old MiaoMiao2, which I've annoyingly managed to lose)

I do the same when the BT fails - I have 2 MM2s and an MM3 (the MM3 I find is unreliable and flashing the bios to update has so far proved 'challenging')

If you look to replace the MM - go with a MM2 rather than 3 would be my recommendation (but hope you find it)

 

[becca59]

Luckily still not having any issues with mine.

 

[Melgar]

I had a streak of Libre failures. I wondered whether there was a bad batch out there.

 

[SimonP78]

I do the same when the BT fails - I have 2 MM2s and an MM3 (the MM3 I find is unreliable and flashing the bios to update has so far proved 'challenging')

If you look to replace the MM - go with a MM2 rather than 3 would be my recommendation (but hope you find it)

Unfortunately I had a run of not needing the MM2 from the start of the year, and I remember thinking I should put it somewhere safer than just lying in the cupboard where all my other diabetic odds and sods go (test strips, needles, etc.) as there's a fair bit of turn-over and I didn't want it to fall out/get lost.

So I'm wracking my brain trying to work out what safe place I would have put it in. Not ideal.

It looks like MM2s are no longer in production unfortunately. I'm assuming that as the libre2 is now Bluetooth enabled it's killed their business model, which is a shame. The actual hardware components aren't very expensive nor all that complex, I suppose I could hack something together, but waterproofing will be a bit of a faff unless I can find a donor device which is already integrated (Bangle.js perhaps, not sure if it has NFC though. The Puck.js does, but not waterproof, but might work as a prototype device.....)

 

[trek]

Hello!

For years I've had absolutely no problems with FL/L2, but over the last 8 months I've been getting more and more regular 'sensor failures', including 2 in a row after just a couple of days/less than a day's use.
Nothing about how I apply, or where I apply has changed (top + back of each arm, using a different arm each fortnight), has changed, and yet this has become a regular thing.

The sensor will out of nowhere drop below 4 (incorrectly) and then eventually just 'fail'. I've spoken with Abbott, with a nurse there, with their customer service team (who are really helpful but don't know the answer) and I feel like I'm going a bit insane.

Has anyone else been having similar issues?

Yes, I have been having exactly the same problem. Very few sensors last the full 14 days.

 

[Angela64]

Well, my diabetes nurse has got me a months trial in Libre 2 to see ‘exactly’ what my BG is doing. I’m still finger pricking as I don’t believe the readings on the Libre, finger test is lot lower I certainly won’t be buying Libre and maybe will get Dexcom

 

[CheeseSeaker]

Well, my diabetes nurse has got me a months trial in Libre 2 to see ‘exactly’ what my BG is doing. I’m still finger pricking as I don’t believe the readings on the Libre, finger test is lot lower I certainly won’t be buying Libre and maybe will get Dexcom

There are a couple of things worth knowing with CGM.

BG 'will mostly' be different from BG (usually 15-20 mins behind as the glucose molecules that are attached to the red blood cells don't migrate through to the interstitial fluid as quickly - hence the delay).

The L2 and Dex One don't allow calibration (at the start of a CGM being inserted, there is a thing called 'insertion trauma' where the body reacts to the sensor being injected under the skin, this improves after 2-4 days when the sensor becomes most accurate - the middle bit of its life). Towards the end of its life, the body is healing round the sensor - and this can cause a drop in accuracy. Calibration allows me to off set the readings from a BG test and make them mor accurate (you need software on your phone in addition to the Dex One or L2 standard stuff though.

One way to make the CGM more accurate is to insert it 24-48 hours before it's started - not possible with the Dex One though.

In tests the Libre 2 and Dexcom One come out very similar for accuracy - thought the One seems to be slightly ahead

Comparing Dexcom’s One with Libre2 | Diabettech - Diabetes and Technology

Having had the Libre2 fall off during the first few hours of the "Six of the Best" test, I decided to run One Vs Libre2 (the two cost neutral options on the NHS Drug Tariff) head to head against one another. In this case, I used the Librelink software to scan the Libre2 at allotted

www.diabettech.com

We all find some CGMs work better for us than the other - been using L2s for years and know all the hacks to make them work for me. Would be a long journey to get there with the Dex One (though interested to try a parallel run)

Wouldn't go back to BG tests (they are needed to calibrate though) - they can't tell me whats going on for a full 24 hour run (and certainly wouldn't let me run an artificial pancreas - thats awesome after 50 years of having to think about what I eat)

hth

 

[Pam*]

Mine usually last 14 days but in the last 6 months I have had 2 FL2 that said 'Sensor Ended' after just one day. I contacted Abbot and they sent me replacements. The replacements seem to arrive much more promptly now.

 

[silkydee1]

I have had the same problem with my libre 2 sensors. 4 have failed in the past 3 months.