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Type 1 Help! Understanding Libre Readings

J

Jumar

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Good morning from Canada
New to this group, hope to get some
Help on better understanding of lag readings when using the fee style Libre. We just started my son (T1) on it last week and are finding it confusing re treatment options when he reads high or low. Often when we follow up a test with the BG meter there is a 4-5 point difference. Not sure if we can trust this sensor! I understand the lag info given in the manuals - and it’s probably just learning the language of this new sensor— any advise..? Much appreciated.
 
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Hi @Jumar ,

Welcome to the forum..

I don't use a Libre myself. But I'll tag in a couple quite adept at the tech involved.. @Scott-C @tim2000s
 
Hi @Jumar, if you are seeing 4-5mmol/l differences, then you need to contact Abbott customer services about the Sensor as that's a large difference.
 
When you say you just started with the LIbre, how long ago was it inserted?
Our bodies are not keen on having a foreign body stabbed into them. Some bodies are quite accommodating whereas some take up to 48 hours to get used to their new best friend. In the meantime our body fights back and the results form the Libre are worthless until the sensor and the arm have bonded.
Some people are less sensitive to foreign bodies and only take a few hours to settle down. Other people wear two sensors for the 48 hours of "handover" to get the new one to settle in.
Hence my question - if the sensor has only been in place for 24 hours, it may be your son's arm hasn't made friends with it yet.
If it's been there for longer than 48 hours, I agree with @tim2000s: there is something wrong with the sensor and you need to get in touch with Abbott.
 
Hi, @Jumar , you've maybe just been unlucky with this particular sensor. Out of the 30 or so I've used, I've only had 2 which were so far out that I couldn't trust them. Abbott replaced them without any fuss, so worth giving their helpline a call.

They'll normally expect you to do a scan then wait a while to do a bg test while you're on the phone to compare, so keep your son nearby.

They'll also likely ask you for some system details, so click the cog-wheel at top right of the reader screen and have a quick skim through Settings/System Status just to familiarise yourself with where stuff is, but they'll talk you through it anyway.

Asuming this was just a one-off glitchy sensor, you and your son will learn a lot from them!

By the way, I note this was your first post - welcome to the club!
 
Very
 
Scott-C, Very helpful. Thanks very much. This product just came out in Canada we waited an hour and a half on hold! Lol, but got good service once we got through to someone
 
Thank you Tim. We started last Thursday. The readings varied mostly in the first 24 hours, but yes seemed to settle more. Still getting variations and wouldn’t trust it yet to base treatment decisions on. We need to learn the new language of the sensor I think . So far we are finding the recording data useful but not the snap shot readings.
 
The recommendation I was given was absolutely do not use the Libre snap shot readings to determine insulin doses. I know some people do but this is not the recommendation.
However, in my opinion, using it only for snapshot readings is just like using a smart phone for making phone calls. The power in the Libre is in the history and trends.
 
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