Type 1 Freestyle Libre

I use the freestyle libre 2 with a reader provided by Abbot. Haven’t really had many problems and when I have they have been replaced by Abbot. I have also found their customer service agents to be very helpful whenever I’ve had problems or questions, maybe try giving them a call. I always keep the piece of the packing box that contains all of the relevant information for each sensor as customer service will ask for numbers from it. I understand many people prefer the Dexcom product but as a totally self funded user I go with the slightly less expensive option of Freestyle libre 2.

Use Libre 2 sensors on iPhone. Get the occasional no-read, but immediately follow with successful one. Never had issue with ending early though. (only trouble I have is dislodging the sensor on my arm myself knocking/catching on stuff, as opposed to sensor error as such...)

I get the constant errors when scanning as well and figure it's my phone or how I'm holding it. My last sensor was very erratic, especially in the first 36 hours where the readings were completely incorrect. When I removed it yesterday, because it was at the end of 14 days, I noticed that the "needle" was bent at almost a 90 degree angle. Maybe it had been bent the whole time and that's why it was so crazy in the first 36 hours? I don't how that could happen though. I put my current sensor on a day early but didn't activate it until I took the old sensor off (24 hours). So far the results it's giving seem to be very good, as in very close to finger prick tests.
Anyway, I don't find the scan errors a hassle really, I just change the angle of my phone and do it again. It's still quicker than a finger test. Also I'm trying not to scan as often anymore. When it was all new I was scanning every hour (or maybe more!) but the novelty has worn off hehehe. Despite the hiccups I love the Libre 2. Edit: yesterday I scanned just 10 times, 4 of those were pre-insulin so the scan not working sometimes doesn't really worry me at all. I might try using the libre 2 scanner thingy instead of my phone next time but that might be a hassle to download the data... I need to read more about it

As a daily reader of all posts, and an occasional libre user myself, there certainly seem to be an ever increasing and fairly recent ( few months) number of posts complaining about reliability and signal and alarm loss in particular.

Although Abbott seem good at replacing sensors for free, that's not reliable enough for users who need the alarms.

I haven't been keeping data or count of the posts, but know its enough for me to be putting off buying my next one.

Everyone should also report their issues to Abbott, and if receiving the Libre in UK on prescription, report it under the side effects red card system (there a link somewhere in a thread)

My main issue with the sensors over time has been their propensity to drop off early. The last one went the full distance and was more consistently reliable than many.

Like @MommaE I use the reader rather than my phone to scan and as a diet controlled type 2 I also don’t use the alarm function. I haven’t had any new problems - from my reading of recent posts most of them seem to relate to phone scanning/alarms.

There appear to be scan and alarm problems since the last Libreview and iOS updates - I have to scan multiple times sometimes and other times there's no 'buzz' but it has scanned (I don't use alarms) - Abbot are working on it apparently.

My first 4 or 5 Libre all failed/finished early from 2 to 11 days and after the first month I thought it was pretty rubbish - Abbot replaced them all; but since then (6 months on) they have all gone the full 14 days and only one was definitely reading too low and was painful, so I took it off!

I don't know if I was unlucky with a load of duffers to start with, or if it was the hot June weather, or if my body has just adjusted to the intruder, but the readings are now pretty reliable, and I could never go back to finger pricking. Report to Abbot but don't give up

Mrs HJG said:

There appear to be scan and alarm problems since the last Libreview and iOS updates - I have to scan multiple times sometimes and other times there's no 'buzz' but it has scanned (I don't use alarms) - Abbot are working on it apparently.

Click to expand...

I've also noticed that sometimes there is no buzz after a succesful scan and I'm using Android not iOS

MrsA2 said:

As a daily reader of all posts, and an occasional libre user myself, there certainly seem to be an ever increasing and fairly recent ( few months) number of posts complaining about reliability and signal and alarm loss in particular.

Although Abbott seem good at replacing sensors for free, that's not reliable enough for users who need the alarms.

I haven't been keeping data or count of the posts, but know its enough for me to be putting off buying my next one.

Everyone should also report their issues to Abbott, and if receiving the Libre in UK on prescription, report it under the side effects red card system (there a link somewhere in a thread)

Click to expand...

Hi,

Is this the “card system” you mentioned? https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

Personally, I’ve not experienced any issue. But I am using an older phone & find placing the sensor away from any muscle tissue helps with reliability on the interpretation of readings. Also making sure I’m hydrated helps.

Scanning? First rattle hold still till the second vibrate. Then it’s caught all the recent data from the sensor on the librelink app.

The failure to beep when taking a scan can be exceedingly annoying.

Jaylee said:

this the “card system” you mentioned? https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

Click to expand...

Yes, thank you