Experience of libre

Hattonma

Well-Known Member
Messages
80
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Morning everyone. I was just wondering if anyone out there has any experience of using libre and how it benefits there control.

Contemplating buying one in an effort to get my levels down. Frankly the costs will mean that I can't afford to use it all the time but a few adhoc 2 week cycles might help me understand what's going on

I also have my honeymoon coming up and wonder if this will take away some of my usual holiday worries.

Does anyone know how swimming affects it
 

Specsquee

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Type 1
From what i have seen you can shower and bathe with it on. If your swimming in a pool or salt water i do not know if the chemicals or salt can muck it up.
 

tim2000s

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
8,934
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Other
From what i have seen you can shower and bathe with it on. If your swimming in a pool or salt water i do not know if the chemicals or salt can muck it up.
From those who have used it, they don't!
 
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isjoberg

Well-Known Member
Messages
268
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I managed to capsize a boat in a filthy river and it kept working just fine! I think the only issue may be is if you are diving in deep water, but should be fine in a pool etc
 

steve_p6

Well-Known Member
Messages
418
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Morning everyone. I was just wondering if anyone out there has any experience of using libre and how it benefits there control.

Contemplating buying one in an effort to get my levels down. Frankly the costs will mean that I can't afford to use it all the time but a few adhoc 2 week cycles might help me understand what's going on

I also have my honeymoon coming up and wonder if this will take away some of my usual holiday worries.

Does anyone know how swimming affects it
Plenty of people here and the libre facebook group will tell you how much it has opened their eyes to what happens between BG tests and how it helps you to learn and manage food/insulin/exercise and your diabetes just being random.

Word of caution buy a roll of eg Kinesiology tape for first couple of sensors to prevent you knocking it off.
 

Hattonma

Well-Known Member
Messages
80
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi guys thanks for the replies. I think I am going to take the plunge and go for it. I have a lot of unanswered questions about my overall sugar level movements and I am hopeful this will fill in those remaining blanks.

@steve_p6 thanks for the tip. My fiancé has a ton of the stuff that she uses for running so will put it to use
 
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paulliljeros

Well-Known Member
Messages
417
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Other
I have a lot of unanswered questions about my overall sugar level movements and I am hopeful this will fill in those remaining blanks.
I haven't used the libre, but do use the Dexcom. I think you will find it will also answer questions you didn't know you had! The American author of one of the books discussing CGM quoted the Amazing Grace "I once was blind but now I see" and for me, this typifies perfectly the transformation from pre to post CGM. I wouldn't be without mine now.
 

slip

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,523
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Word of Caution: Once you buy one or two you'll want more..............!

It is so much easier to test, you can almost test without thinking about it, the number of times I have flashed the sensor, looked at the result and put it down and then 5mins later realize I didn't actually take note of it and then scan again - you'll soon be scanning 30 times a day! (Which just isn't an issue!).

At first you'll see the graphs and wonder how you're still alive with all the ups and downs that you probably weren't aware of before hand, you'll soon flatten those peaks and troughs out and gain better knowledge, understanding and ultimately control.
 
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tim2000s

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Retired Moderator
Messages
8,934
Type of diabetes
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As this is a Libre thread, if you have 2 minutes spare here is a petition to get flash glucose monitoring (the Libre) debated in Parliament for getting it on the NHS. I'm aware this is probably a shot in the dark but am thinking the more awareness people have about demand the better! https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/124259
This was the response to the last petition:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/107435

NICE has found that, in some cases, continuous glucose monitoring can have benefit but generally it is not more effective than current methods of self monitoring. NICE keeps all guidance under review.

Read the response in full
Preventing diabetes and promoting the best possible care for people with diabetes is a key priority for this Government. We are working hard to improve outcomes and quality of life for those living with diabetes or those who will develop it in the coming years. Once a patient has been diagnosed with diabetes, it is vital to ensure they can manage their condition as effectively as possible.

NHS England is working with other organisations to help promote services that are integrated around patients’ needs across all settings; and is implementing a 'customer service platform' to allow patients with diabetes to self-manage through booking their own appointments, managing their prescriptions, monitoring the care they have received and being able to view their personal health records.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that provides guidance on the prevention and treatment of ill health and the promotion of good health and social care. NICE’s guidance is based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and is developed through wide consultation with stakeholders.

It is for NHS commissioners to decide whether to make continuous glucose monitoring devices available to their local populations.

In August 2015, NICE published guidelines which recommend that such devices should not be made routinely available to people with Type 1 diabetes unless they are willing to commit to using them at least 70% of the time and to calibrate them as needed (as well as meeting certain other criteria). NICE’s guideline on the diagnosis and management Type 1 diabetes in adults (NG17) is available at:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng18.

NICE will next consider updating this guidance in 2 years’ time. In the meantime, NICE is considering setting up a standing update committee for diabetes, which would enable a more rapid update of discrete areas of the diabetes guidelines, as and when new relevant evidence is published. NICE will confirm whether they are proceeding with this in due course.

As one way of incentivising improvements to diabetes services, NHS England has introduced the Best Practice Tariff for paediatric diabetes which provides an annual payment for the treatment of every child and young person under the age of 19 with diabetes, providing 13 standards of care are met.

One of these standards is to ensure that each young person has received a structured education programme, tailored to their and their family’s needs, both at the time of initial diagnosis and ongoing updates throughout their attendance at the paediatric diabetes clinic.

Department of Health



Please do not sign another petition on this topic. The best that will happen is that they will respond like this. The worst is that it will impede the ability to get these products on the NHS.

Until NICE has reviewed the product and all of the evidence that that they are of benefit, nothing further will happen to get these on the NHS. It is a well known and well trodden path. That's the way it works in the UK. All the petitions in the world will not change that.
 

Medusa41

Well-Known Member
Messages
423
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
@Hattonma - Hi! I bought one in Feb & find it very useful. As it tracks the sleeping period - I could see I had at least 3 hypos during the night that I wasn't aware of. I have recently got a pump but am planning to use the Libre for 2 weeks then not for the following 2. (Mainly for cost). As @slip said - you'll be scanning loads - that's the fab thing & the fact you can scan through clothes! I've swum in mine - no probs. HTH
 

richyb

Well-Known Member
Messages
346
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Cold weather
i have recently got one and just finished my second sensor. They are good but sensors can sometimes be not too accurate. my first was good until it got to 10 days use. my second brilliant until it stopped at 14 days. Worth haveing i think as once you are sorted you can just use a new sensor when needed. I test in bed if i wake without even turning light on.
 

Hattonma

Well-Known Member
Messages
80
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Thanks everyone for the replies. Well I have taken the plunge and ordered it so look forward to getting hold and having a look what is really going on in there. While I know it isn't a cure I am positive that it can give me the information to make informed changes probably for the first time in 31 years of having this

I just wish it wasn't so expensive....
 
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Hattonma

Well-Known Member
Messages
80
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Morning everyone. My libre arrived yesterday as I have fitted this morning. Excited to see the outcomes coming up.

Maybe a stupid question but my biggest worry is it coming off. If it does come lose does it come off completely? Just worried about it dropping off
 

Hirstygirl

Well-Known Member
Messages
110
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hiya if it comes loose it will stop working the reader will keep telling you each time you try to scan to try again in 10 mins, then it will fail.

I am on my 3rd sensor now and have tried the latest one on my stomach as the last two came off my arms way too easily lol

This one is currently on day 9 the readings have been good so far and it's still on!!! I cover with kinesiology tape as already suggested but I also cover the sensor with a piece of paper before applying tape, as the tape comes loose after around 3 days. So when u need to remove tape there is nothing sticky on the sensor and no chance of ripping it out. Hope that makes sense
 

iHs

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,595
Someone posted on the Dexcom threads about using a small piece of clingfilm over the ttransmitter before applying tegaderm so presume this might be ok with the Libre
 
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Kroe

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 1
It's been life changing for me! Seeing how the insulin works terrified me at first as its not as fast acting as you'd think but it being my hba1c down from 57 to 49 in the space of 4 months. It made me start thinking a lot more 'like a pancreas'! Now we just need to get it on the nhs!