Freestyle Libre 3

sgm14 said:

I don't have any insight into the internal decisions made by the NHS, but one possibility may simply be, that this is temporary and is related to bureaucracy and tenders and contracts. For example a search for NHS Glucose Monitoring tenders thows up this link which talks about CGMs. Now the Libre2 is not normally consider a CGM and hence may not covered by that tender.

So it also possible that the NHS have a tender to cover insulin pumps and related accessories which is separate from the tender that covers flash monitoring devices (I am thinking that CGM's may, in general, be more expensive than Flash monitoring, hence it makes sense to separate them).

So, they must have an existing contract with Abbott to supply sensors and that contract may actually specify that the sensors should be Libre 2s and hence it can not be changed to Libre 3s until the contract has expired and the tender renewed. (The contract in the link is for two years, so it is possible they Libre2 contract is also for two years, which means there is probably another year to go)

Of course, all this is total speculation on my part.

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DavidDK said:

Thanks Kevin Bell.

I understand the differences between Type 1 and Type 2, but I have never understood the attitude of successive governments concerning why Type 1s are more deserving if getting technology to manage their diabetes and Type 2s are somehow less deserving, because if a delusional perception Type 2s have brought diabetes on themselves.

HM government's main aim

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DavidDK said:

Thanks sgm14 and counsellorneil.

I believe a statement should be issued imminently by the NHS about eligibility because I think access to the Libre 3 is supposed to start from 1 April 2022.

From the information leaked on the internet so far, yes it seems that the NHS want to integrate use of the Libre 3 with use of pumps.

And that is absolutely fine, provided patients want that.

I'm not ready yet to have to have to wear a pump. I just want what our brother and sister diabetics in Germany have had for the last year: access to a continuous glucose monitor proper with a sensor that is significantly smaller than the current Libre 1 and Libre 2 sensors, with a significantly better failure rate than the Libre 2 and significantly more accurate than the Libre 2 (being able to self-calibrate would be nice!), which provides readings directly to a smartphone or smartwatch every minute, allowing me to make treatment decisions.

My understanding (which may be incorrect) when the Libre 3 was put out into the world as a concept was that it would be "future proofed" to some extent. So going forward users would be able to access new functions, such as being able to connect the Libre 3 to a pump so insulin can be delivered; or being able to get readings sent directly to a smartwatch (which interests me); or the Libre 3 having the ability to communicate with smart insulin pens to keep a record of how much insulin a user has taken, how much insulin a user currently has left "on board" and perhaps dosing suggestions.

However, because the Freestyle Libre is a "closed system," unlocking such features (assuming they exist at all) is dependent entirely on the manufacturer (working with other commercial partners as necessary).

If access (via the NHS) to a Libre 3 is going to be conditional on wearing an insulin pump that would be overly restrictive in my opinion.

I'm hoping access won't be that restrictive.

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