Freestyle libre sensors falling off

[Angela64]

Anyone had any reaction to the adhesive? I react to plasters. I was thinking of trying the sensors for a few months but I’d have to buy them and the adhesive could be a problem either way

 

[Angela64]

I was having the same problem with the 2 falling off. I found on Amazon some waterproof Libre 2 covers. They are cheap and you get lots. I put one over the sensor and it lasts about 7 days before starts to peel but I can do anything now and don’t lose my sensor

Would they be ok if you swim?

 

[Angela64]

I follow the same process every time with the Libre 2 sensors. They last for 14 days for about 70% of the time. The ones that last the full length of time are still stuck very firmly when I come to take them off.

In the very hot weather last year I lost 2 in 2 days (they just fell off). Sometimes I dislodge them on a door frame, if I lose my balance. I've lost a couple while gardening - they weren't knocked off so I assume the physical activity made me overheat. I'm post-menopausal and still overheat quite regularly.

We all have different chemistry, different skin types, different body heat, different hormones etc. Just because it works 100% for some people doesn't mean it will work 100% for others, so don't beat yourself up or feel that you're doing something wrong, even if others pile in to say that it works well for them.

I hate having to self-fund but these are an absolute necessity to me due to hypos that are unrelated to diabetes (ie pre-date T2D by 40 years). They're "prescribed" to me, ie my consultant wants me to use them, but the NHS won't fund them. So it's reassuring to know that Abbott have a no-quibble replacement policy.

Good luck, and don't be made to feel like a freak just because others say they don't have the same problem.

I met a lady who had to self fund but I think she said she set it against her tax. Might be worth looking into that

 

[markyj]

I have been using the freestyle libre since January 2019.
The sensors were great and most of them lasted the full 2 weeks on my arm.

I was upgraded to the libre 2 in March this year and since then, the sensors have been a nightmare.

I haven’t had a single sensor stay on my arm for the full 2 weeks since March.
Majority of them are only lasting 4 days.
My last sensor only lasted 1 day!

I haven’t changed my routine at all, I still do the same a activities yet the sensors seem to be getting worst.
I know you can contact Abbot and get replacements sent out and I’ve done that numerous times but I’m getting fed up having to constantly change my sensors and order new ones.

I noticed that when I go for a shower, the sensors start to peel off.
I have bought some Kinesiology tape of eBay however I feel after about 3 showers, the tape starts to come off and then the sensors falls off after this.

Can anyone recommend anything different to keep the sensor on?
Or has anyone got any tips on how to keep the sensors on?

Mine lasted a hour before falling off got to see diabetic specialist nurse next month to find out a alternative

 

[becca59]

There is a difficult balance here. When Libre originally started, many people had severe reactions to the glue-myself included. I thought I was going to have to stop wearing them but tried Cavillon underneath which helped. I no longer need to use this underneath as they have changed the glue. However I always have covered to prevent knocking off as I am very clumsy. Plus I swim 2-3 times a week for 45 mins at a time and there is no way they would stay on without. I feel this is a small price to pay for what in my opinion is a fantastic product. Something that I paid for myself for nearly three years but now get on prescription. Yes there are annoying glitches with it particularly at the moment, but we could still be dipping a stick in urine and be on fixed insulins with a very draconian food allowance. Paying for and sticking something over the top to prevent it coming off seems like a better deal to me.

 

[Goonergal]

Anyone had any reaction to the adhesive? I react to plasters. I was thinking of trying the sensors for a few months but I’d have to buy them and the adhesive could be a problem either way

I react to plasters, dressings and most things people on here suggest to keep the Libre attached, but not to the adhesive on the Libre.

I believe Abbott offer a money back guarantee on your first order and an allergic reaction would surely qualify.

 

[agwagw]

I have been using the freestyle libre since January 2019.
The sensors were great and most of them lasted the full 2 weeks on my arm.

I was upgraded to the libre 2 in March this year and since then, the sensors have been a nightmare.

I haven’t had a single sensor stay on my arm for the full 2 weeks since March.
Majority of them are only lasting 4 days.
My last sensor only lasted 1 day!

I haven’t changed my routine at all, I still do the same a activities yet the sensors seem to be getting worst.
I know you can contact Abbot and get replacements sent out and I’ve done that numerous times but I’m getting fed up having to constantly change my sensors and order new ones.

I noticed that when I go for a shower, the sensors start to peel off.
I have bought some Kinesiology tape of eBay however I feel after about 3 showers, the tape starts to come off and then the sensors falls off after this.

Can anyone recommend anything different to keep the sensor on?
Or has anyone got any tips on how to keep the sensors on?

Hi, I have found Libre 2 much the same as the Libre 1. I sleep on my right hand side, which sometimes causes a snagging when I have the sensor on that arm. I have lost a Libre 2 sensor in the night - never happens on the left arm - but I want to rotate the sites. Sometimes the sensor is loosened but not lost, so I can put some micropore tape on to save it. Each time it happens the adhesive disc stays on my arm - it detaches from the sensor itself.

Some skin wipes have moisturiser in them which would lower adhesion to the skin. I use the pure alcohol type that used to be supplied by Abbott. They are only £4 per 100 including postage:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reliject-Pre-injection-Wipes-x-100/dp/B006C5MWVW?pd_rd_w=uXYpA&content-id=amzn1.sym.e9c30756-181a-4068-ac3a-74afd7f110a2&pf_rd_p=e9c30756-181a-4068-ac3a-74afd7f110a2&pf_rd_r=EPANRCRYSB7SZ17T4AF3&pd_rd_wg=mHrdM&pd_rd_r=a144988a-05a4-4c47-b2a1-4b14a5dee237&pd_rd_i=B006C5MWVW&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_i

(other suppliers are no doubt available).

Hope this helps and apols if this has all been said by others.

 

[MarcosLee]

Have a look on Amazon for Libre Sensor covers, I cant post the link as this my 1st post in the forum so i'm not allowed. I also experienced them falling off as I'm a gardener so very physical job, these have solved my problems.

 

[plantae]

I use a breathable adhesive patch over the top of my sensor. I probably don't need to because the sensors, on me, stick like crazy. But the sensors are too expensive for me to risk it falling off. I may have a slight allergic reaction to the adhesive but it's not enough to make me stop using the patch. One thing I've noticed is that the advice varies from country to country. The libre website in Australia says to not use a cover/patch. The, I think, Canadian website says it's ok as long as you apply the cover the same day that you apply the sensor. This is what I do. My sensor on the first day of use is wildly inaccurate even though I apply it 12 hours before activating it. After that it's pretty good, confirmed by hospital capillary and venous tests -- it's within 0.1 mmol/L and I don't think you can beat that. It's just the first and last 24 hours that it's a bit weird. I have to use adhesive remover pads to get the silly things off and it usually takes a long time to get off which is why I say I probably don't even need the patch/pad/adhesive cover. But, yeah, I can't afford it falling off so I do.

 

[PatsyB]

Even though my android phone is next to me it keeps saying signal loss this is begining to irritate me as the phone is always by my side grrrr

 

[Andrew.bell10]

I have been using the Libre 2 monitors since April 2021 without any issues until the last month or so. Prior to this, my monitors would stay in place for the two week window and I would have to peel them off. However, in the last month, they are peeling away after two or three days and simply dropping off, which has caused me to start relying more on fingerpick testing again, sometimes I’ve had to swop monitors more than once a day, which is highly frustrating. To be fair to Abbot Labs, when I ring to complain they do send me replacements but I’ve rang them four times in the last four weeks, which I shouldn’t have to do. I’ve also bought a Freestyle Libre 2 sensor armband, which is very comfortable and highly recommended but these measures are causing me to lose faith in the Libre 2 monitors. Is this a problem I’m facing alone or are there other users experiencing similar issues?

 

[KD65]

I'm newly diagnosed, 2 months in now and have the Libre 2 Plus and I've seen patches advertised but I admit I'm really puzzled by the need. It's more or less a 2-person job to get the sensor off after 15 days and can be quite a painful exercise removing it, let alone any danger of it falling off sooner. I can only assume it must be different skin types, as I really can't see any need to protect the sensor from falling off myself, once it's stuck, it's stuck.

 

[becca59]

I'm newly diagnosed, 2 months in now and have the Libre 2 Plus and I've seen patches advertised but I admit I'm really puzzled by the need. It's more or less a 2-person job to get the sensor off after 15 days and can be quite a painful exercise removing it, let alone any danger of it falling off sooner. I can only assume it must be different skin types, as I really can't see any need to protect the sensor from falling off myself, once it's stuck, it's stuck.

Door handles, Young grandson, serious swimming.
Mine are invariably stuck like glue, but I have lost a couple and they do not stand up to seventy lengths of front crawl three times a week.