• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

freestyle libre

E

emily deacon

Well-Known Member
Messages
142
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
hi guys,

quick question for anyone on the freestyle libre. i know the direct arrow down means your dropping fast, but i wanted to know if my blood sugars were between 8-6 with a straight arrow down, how bad is that? does this mean i’m pretty likely to go low? should i eat something before i get too low?
 
Hi @emily deacon Not an easy question to answer, have you got much quick acting insulin on board, when did you last bolus, how many carbs/insulin was taken ?

It's not wholly accurate and may level out at say 5.5mmol/l so keep a watchful eye, go with how you are feeling and if you're feeling a little bit shaky have 10g of glucose, but always trust your meter before you take any action.

I had a hypo yesterday at 2.6mmol/l whereas the libre was saying 4.8mmol/l so still a way off catching up with the meter..
 
Hi, the arrows are indicative, but they are not necessarily accurate. Even without any carb intake, the arrow might in 4-5 minutes change direction. Given that the libre gives you your glucose as it was 15 minutes ago, if you are low, you will probably know it before the libre tells you that you are low. Whenever uncertain, check with a conventional meter, is what i'd suggest.
 
Doesn't it depend on how much insulin you have on board?
If I was falling fast with a lot of insulin on board from that level, I would definitely eat something.
If I was falling fast with no insulin on board, I would not.
 
helensaramay said:
Doesn't it depend on how much insulin you have on board?
If I was falling fast with a lot of insulin on board from that level, I would definitely eat something.
If I was falling fast with no insulin on board, I would not.
Click to expand...

That my logic too.....so the arrows mean nothing, unless you're aware of IOB...
 
Hi justadad, how did you know/find out the Libre gives blood glucose which was 15 minutes ago??
The results from the meter and Libre are never the same.
 
novorapidboi26 said:
That's right, but not everyone, who uses Libre, is aware....
Click to expand...
You can set the scanner to tell you how much IOB you have, you get a little gingerbread man on the main screen that tells you how many active units and how long they have left. Quite handy!
 
Mel dCP said:
You can set the scanner to tell you how much IOB you have, you get a little gingerbread man on the main screen that tells you how many active units and how long they have left. Quite handy!
Click to expand...
And why isn't that in the app? Poor show. It's the main reason I use mySugr alongside librelink. Scan with the app then type the reading into mySugr
 
nrcklam said:
Hi Mel dCP,

Forgive my ignorance, what does IOB stand for??
Click to expand...
Insulin on Board. What hasn't got used yet based on an algorithm using the values for carbs, what insulin you use (active time) and a few other things.

You need to be quite consistent with your record keeping for it to be trustworthy. I like it though. Often stops me adjusting unnecessarily.
 
I have never seen a little gingerbread man on my Freestyle Libre. Need your guidance.
 
barrym said:
And why isn't that in the app? Poor show. It's the main reason I use mySugr alongside librelink. Scan with the app then type the reading into mySugr
Click to expand...
I don’t use an app for scanning as my phone is too old! So no idea. It’s in the professional settings on the scanner, so maybe something we plebs aren’t supposed to set up ourselves... you can play around with ratios, timed targets and all sorts in there, you just need the code. I punch all my numbers into MySugr too, I really like the interface of that. I then upload my scanner onto LibreLink when I’m waiting for a new sensor to activate every other Thursday.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…