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Cost Of Dexcom G6 And Freestyle Libre

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DeeJay2018

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I'm curious. I have spent an hour or two browsing this and other related websites today in the hope I would find some useful information about Low Carb plans for Type 1's. I did okay I guess but I think it blatantly obvious for anyone thinking of going this route then regular testing is an absolute must, in my opinion.

Then I got onto these new, to me, monitoring systems as I thought they would help - until I discovered the price. 'Chuff my buffers' said Thomas, I thought the Freestyle was dear enough at almost £60 per (dubious) sensor until I called Dexcom about their G6 system. The very pleasant girl on the phone told me £160 per month - every month!! Almost £2000 a year!! And in response to 'why so expensive' she assured me that this was cheaper than the previous model, politely delivered in a tone that hinted I should be grateful.

Is it just me (and it could easily be) or are some large, probably American, companies taking the urine because they know we'd like to manage our condition better or because they know the NHS may well adopt their systems?

Having read many of the comments about these on this site I do wonder how so many people can afford them. I'm jealous as I can't!
 
Dexcom is more expensive than Libre ... but it offers more than a standard Libre as the Dexcom provides alerts.
I also found the G4 more accurate than the Libre but we are all different.

You should be able to get the Libre for less than £60. I believe, SuperDrug (and maybe Asda) have them for around £36. One of the reasons for the reduced cost is that, having type 1 diabetes, you do not have to pay VAT.
 
Thanks for the reply - sounds like you've had both types then.

I apologise as I should have stated that I thought the Freestyle meter was quite a reasonable price but I still have to wonder why their sensors are as expensive as a new meter though.

It's the first time in 30 years as a diabetic I actually feel that some unscrupulous company is actually trying to take advantage or profit from my inherited 'condition'. Bless them, one can only wish them well!
 
The Libra can be supplied by your diabetologist free fo charge and the you need a prescription for 2 sensors a month. Most of the health boards will require you to go on a trainig course (lasts about 2 hours). If they do not approve your use and funding you may not be able to get the sensors on prescription in which case allow about £60 a month for them. Current NICE advice is for use in Type1 where the patients is testing at least 8 times a day..I am a type 2 and unusually am about to be given one as i am having a mjor problem with very bad hypos and no warning signs.
 
kelvin45 said:
I am a type 2 and unusually am about to be given one as i am having a mjor problem with very bad hypos and no warning signs.
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That's really tough (the hypos not the libre prescription). Are you going to get kitted out with one of the after market libre devices so that you can turn it into an alarmed system? I would have thought that a dexcom would be the way to go for someone with zero hypo awareness...
 
kelvin45 said:
Current NICE advice is for use in Type1 where the patients is testing at least 8 times a day.
Click to expand...
Just to make this clear - it isn't NICE advice. It was a paper put together by a specific CCG that has since been reused around the country. NICE has not made any recommendations on the Libre.
 
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