- Messages
- 4,573
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
I have just finished my 14 days free trial of the Libre 2, my first experience of a “CGM” so I thought I would write some notes for future reference. I have included them here in the unlikely event that someone else might find them of interest.
I should point out that I am a diet only controlled Type 2 on a moderate low carb diet of about 75g per day. A lot of the capability of the Libre, to record insulin doses, set alarms for hypos etc. were not relevant for me.
Sensor
The application was straightforward and completely painless. Any sensation of the probe entering my arm was masked by the pressure of the applicator and the loud click of the spring.
I thought I had reached round far enough to put the sensor on the back of my arm but it ended up on the side. Looking in a mirror at the time would have been a good idea.
I decided against any covering as I wasn’t going to be engaging in any sports or have bare arms. I didn’t have any problem with knocking the sensor, except once as I brushed against a doorway but nothing happened; possibly saved by the sweatshirt I was wearing.
I didn’t risk a bath for the 14 days, but I did have a shower every morning with no problem. I am a restless sleeper turning from one side to the other, but no problem and no spurious pressure lows despite having the sensor on the side of my arm.
Software
I loaded LibreLink onto my Sony Xperia XZ1 and LibreView onto my PC without any problem. The data was automatically shared between them; I didn’t have to do anything except sign on. The data doesn’t appear on LibreView until the first 5 days have elapsed to make the calculations meaningful. There is third party software and various physical add-ons available but for my limited purposes, the basic set up was more than adequate.
I didn’t set the alarms as I didn’t need them and also it meant I could turn my phone Bluetooth off. I scanned the sensor every time there was a point of interest, before meals, an hour after, two hours after etc. to get a precise number. If there was some way to magnify the vertical scale of the graph then I could have scanned less often.
Results
Most of the results were as I suspected they would be from finger pricking. However it was reassuring to have my assumptions confirmed.
I get a peak 1 hour after starting eating, and the level is usually back to less than 1 mmol/L above the starting point after 2 hours. The exception is with low GI foods, like lentils, where the peak is later but not so high, however the duration is longer. One thing I did discover, that I had missed with finger pricking, was the effect of carbs at breakfast time was much greater than later in the day. I usually have a slice of Burgen Soya and Linseed toast with my bacon and egg. I get back to less than 2 mmol/L rise after 2 hours but the peak was the highest I recorded, over 10 on one occasion. I can have 25g or so of carbs with my dinner without a problem but 12g of carbs at breakfast was too much.
Accuracy
I did some concurrent finger pricks but the difference between the finger prick and the Libre wasn’t consistent. My BG is pretty much a flat line at 6.1 overnight so I did a finger prick test in the middle of the night as it would eliminate a delay in readings and it was 5.0mm/L I don’t know what to conclude from that. LibreLink predicted my HbA1c as 38 which is exactly what it was last time it was tested.
Conclusion
For someone like me an occasional investment in a sensor might be useful but I wouldn’t gain much from regular use. For a Type 1, or anyone on Insulin it should automatically be available on prescription to anyone who wants it, the alarms and the aids to control seem to me to be essential. I would also suggest that say 2 sensors could be prescribed to a suitable Type 2, on diagnosis or soon after, to be able to see how their diet is affecting their BG and convince them what they need to do about it.
I should point out that I am a diet only controlled Type 2 on a moderate low carb diet of about 75g per day. A lot of the capability of the Libre, to record insulin doses, set alarms for hypos etc. were not relevant for me.
Sensor
The application was straightforward and completely painless. Any sensation of the probe entering my arm was masked by the pressure of the applicator and the loud click of the spring.
I thought I had reached round far enough to put the sensor on the back of my arm but it ended up on the side. Looking in a mirror at the time would have been a good idea.
I decided against any covering as I wasn’t going to be engaging in any sports or have bare arms. I didn’t have any problem with knocking the sensor, except once as I brushed against a doorway but nothing happened; possibly saved by the sweatshirt I was wearing.
I didn’t risk a bath for the 14 days, but I did have a shower every morning with no problem. I am a restless sleeper turning from one side to the other, but no problem and no spurious pressure lows despite having the sensor on the side of my arm.
Software
I loaded LibreLink onto my Sony Xperia XZ1 and LibreView onto my PC without any problem. The data was automatically shared between them; I didn’t have to do anything except sign on. The data doesn’t appear on LibreView until the first 5 days have elapsed to make the calculations meaningful. There is third party software and various physical add-ons available but for my limited purposes, the basic set up was more than adequate.
I didn’t set the alarms as I didn’t need them and also it meant I could turn my phone Bluetooth off. I scanned the sensor every time there was a point of interest, before meals, an hour after, two hours after etc. to get a precise number. If there was some way to magnify the vertical scale of the graph then I could have scanned less often.
Results
Most of the results were as I suspected they would be from finger pricking. However it was reassuring to have my assumptions confirmed.
I get a peak 1 hour after starting eating, and the level is usually back to less than 1 mmol/L above the starting point after 2 hours. The exception is with low GI foods, like lentils, where the peak is later but not so high, however the duration is longer. One thing I did discover, that I had missed with finger pricking, was the effect of carbs at breakfast time was much greater than later in the day. I usually have a slice of Burgen Soya and Linseed toast with my bacon and egg. I get back to less than 2 mmol/L rise after 2 hours but the peak was the highest I recorded, over 10 on one occasion. I can have 25g or so of carbs with my dinner without a problem but 12g of carbs at breakfast was too much.
Accuracy
I did some concurrent finger pricks but the difference between the finger prick and the Libre wasn’t consistent. My BG is pretty much a flat line at 6.1 overnight so I did a finger prick test in the middle of the night as it would eliminate a delay in readings and it was 5.0mm/L I don’t know what to conclude from that. LibreLink predicted my HbA1c as 38 which is exactly what it was last time it was tested.
Conclusion
For someone like me an occasional investment in a sensor might be useful but I wouldn’t gain much from regular use. For a Type 1, or anyone on Insulin it should automatically be available on prescription to anyone who wants it, the alarms and the aids to control seem to me to be essential. I would also suggest that say 2 sensors could be prescribed to a suitable Type 2, on diagnosis or soon after, to be able to see how their diet is affecting their BG and convince them what they need to do about it.
