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Faulty Libre 2 Plus sensors?

Davidden

Well-Known Member
Messages
48
I have been using Libre 2 Plus sensors for some time now, with very few problems. About 6 months ago I had to get one replaced as the "probe" bent on application, but other than that they have worked well. Yes, I get frustrated when I get unexpected spikes, but on the whole it has made me a bit more careful with my food intake, and I know what to avoid (or take in moderation!). About a month ago my new sensor started showing extremely low readings - my averages plummeted and I had several "hypos", which I did not believe, and which fingerpricks showed were false readings! I felt fine throughout so put it down to a faulty sensor. The next one fell off the first night! Never had that before, but contacted Abbot for a replacement, and popped on my spare (I get 2 at a time from my pharmacy). That also didn't stick very well so I ordered a pack of adhesive patches from Amazon, and used a sticking plaster till they arrived.
This sensor has been given abnormally high readings! I have hardly been in range since starting it, when I am usually well over 90% in range with out of range readings occasionally after food, and last night it went over 12 shortly after midnight (4 hours since food, which was a pear!) and stayed up there, rising to 14.7 before breakfast! Again, I feel fine, so put this down to another faulty sensor. So wondered what others here have experienced like this? We are supposed to monitor our blood sugars and alter our food intake (and for some of us our insulin intake!) based on these dubious readings. (I have had to resort to using my old fingerprick monitor as the new Contour one has given up the ghost, as well - replaced the batteries and it has remained dead, so am waiting for a replacement for that, too!)
I have my next review this coming Friday, so hopefully the nurse can shed some light on this, but at the moment I have no faith in the Libre 2 Plus!
 
Hi
Old type 1 here and have had issues with the sensors.
I check my sensor reading ( with a finger prick test) once a day for peace of mind because of the lack of accuracy.
I only do this when i have no fast acting insulin on board and not eaten recently or been on the move physically.
If in doubt always test with a finger prick (assuming you have one).
I was diagnozed in the 1970s when all we could do was test our urine so i don't get phased much but the Libre can test even my patience as when its working properly its magnificent.

I wish you well
Tony
 
Hello, same here lots of false readings with Libra2 , just a few weeks ago I was bieng woken and alarms in the daytime teling me Bm was as low as 2 but feeling high? and yes Libra 2 was saying 2, 2.5, 3 etc but actual BM was above 10. so i replaced it and then get one that actualy never managed to give anything except the " wait 10 mins then try again message". As you say tony, its still better than the old testube, tablet and urin test! and when its working properly its magnificent. Good luck with your review Davidden. 42YearsLater
 
Whenever I get a really unusual reading I do test with a fingerprick, and it is usually between 4 and 6 units higher than the CGM (which I have been told is "normal"!), though sometimes a bit lower on really high readings. I woke with the CGM reading 3.2 a few weeks ago, and a fingerprick said 10.7, which I also felt was a bit high after 10 hours since food! As long as I feel OK (well at 73, with arthritis, and after surgery - last time in April this year - for cancer, as well as can be expected, but always happy with my lot!) I never worry too much. A positive attitude is better than any medicine - well, almost!
 
Here Here, one day soon glucose responsive insulin will be available, although back in 1979 i was told there will proberbly be a cure within 10 years,Im still waiting, but I am sure it is a realistic hope now, keep up the fight!
 
I am also a long term sensor user in my late 70's , over the last few months i have been having problems with my libre2 plus sensors. in this last month I have had three replacements, 1 staye on for 4 days , the second fell off after4 hours, the third gave readings so low they would not register, I have never had these problems before , except for the occasional time I have loosened the sensor with a Bra strap or knocked them against a dooer frame.
 
Yes that’s exactly what has been happening to me Libre took details over the phone and sent me pronto two new sensors the same happened with the first one and would not register on my iPhone the second one worked I have now nearly used as many faulty sensors as ones that actually worked.
I cannot understand why they stop after 4/5 day’s.?Male 77.
 
Not sure if the really hot weather we have been having plays havoc with the sensors - not the blood glucose levels as I lived in South America (Peru and Brazil) when I first went on insulin, but fingerpricking - maybe sweat causing it? After the one sensor that recorded incredibly low, then one that fell off after 24 hours, then 2 that recorded high (with no logical reason other than I had a cold!), I am now back on one that I think, again, is registering a little low! It is great for my averages, though! My 90 day is all green bar one (18.00 - 21.00), and my 7 day, 5 days into the new sensor, is also in that range, too, but the 30 and 60 are almost all orange! I feel fine, which is always my guidance, but frustrating, and I have stared using sensor plasters to keep it attached, though they don't last the full 15 days! I might add that I am almost carb-free, diet-wise.
Have by diabetic nurse review this coming Saturday so I will voice my concerns with the CGM, but do not really want to go back to multiple daily finger stabbing!
 
it may well be the hot weather we are experiencing at the moment, I have just had another sensor this week that started giving abnormal readings eg 4.6 when my meter showed 20.5 and 3.9 when meter showed 17.9. I use skin tac wipes as well as plasters that keeps the sensor on for longer . I have coped with my diabetes for more than sixty years so like you i do not relish going back to sore finger tips
 
Sensor woes continue. This new sensor - a week old - keeps recording lows, which fingerpricking disputes! Today when I got up the meter said 3.0, but fingerprick 9.6 (the 3.0 has now vanished from the record!), then 15 minutes ago 3.4, compared to 8.5! I can accept a couple of points different, but not 5 or 6! I have now had 8 false lows in the past week, and 20 in the last 90 - all false as the others were during my previous "dud" sensor! Fortunately I am on a fixed slow release insulin (Toujeo) so am not panicking and injecting more, or eating sweet things, to compensate, but not easy to control your sugar intake when the sensors are inaccurate. The past 4, as far as I know, have been faulty - 2 reading high, and 2 reading low. Hope the diabetic nurse on Saturday can throw some light, and ease my concerns. I am not unduly worried, nor given to stressing over anything, as I am confident my diet is pretty good, but I do eat a lot of fruit (fructose!), but have been doing that for years as I lived in South America with easy access to garden-grown fruit, and snack on nuts instead of biscuits, crisps, etc. Had a little rice earlier this week - no spike on the sensor - but haven't had bread, potatoes, pasta, etc. for months!
 
Some months ago, my wife started a trial with Libre 2. She has Type 2 Diabetes and uses insulin. I am worried about the number of alarm readings that she is getting; mainly low at night but also high. The number of faulty sensors also seems high. They fall off, separate pins from pads, last a couple of days and need replacement. Sometimes the sensors last 15 days, but not often enough. I would want better quality control from something that is costing £50 or more a month. If my phone or laptop had as many faults, it would be replaced or I would get my money back with the first month. Is anyone monitoring the reliability of the Libre 2 sensors?
 
If she contacts Abbott when a sensor is faulty they will replace it for her.

Lows at night which are not apparent on a blood sugar meter are often what we call compression lows due to sleeping on the sensor. An easy way to tell is if the sensor reading comes back up quickly once she moves.

I have been using the libre 2+ for over a year now with only one failure.
 
I, too, share concerns about the quality control of the newer Libre 2 Plus sensors.

First off, I applaud Abbott for their no-quibble replacements! No problems, whether it fell off or was giving faulty readings or none at all - Abbott have always replaced the failed sensors promptly.

But since they went from Libre 2 to Libre 2 Plus, I have serious concerns about the stickiness of the attachment (or lack of!), faulty readings, and various other times when they simply lose signal even when the phone is next to my arm! I have of course relayed my concerns to them, but never with any acknowledgement that there's problems, nor any encouraging statements to say they're looking to improve the product.

Recently I had 2 sensors fall off my arm within 30 minutes of applying, even though I'd cleansed the skin, dried it, made sure it was attached initially, and then they simply fell off! Granted, I have greasy skin anyway, but I have found that these Libre 2 Plus sensors either stay on for a few minutes, or the full 15 days?! Only accidental knocks or catching in a T-shirt when taking it off cause failure after more than a few days.

So come on Abbott - at least acknowledge that these newer versions are not as good the previous Libre 2 sensors, and do something about it!!
 
It must be something to do with skin type I think.

I find the 2+ is much better for sticking than the 2. I used to have to cover the 2 with a patch (I used Tegaderm) to make it stick on the full 14 days. But the 2+ sticks to me very well, without a patch I haven’t lost a single one.
 
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