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Libre 2 Sensor

H

hobbo

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I am posting this for my wife who has been a Type 1 Insulin dependant diabetic for over 35 years.
About 12 months ago she started using the Libre 2 sensor
Problem 1 - all working Ok using her Samsung smart phone/app. Then Abbotts did an OS upgrade and app failed to work. Told by Abbott that problem was her older model phone so we upgraded to a new Samsung. Same problem. Abbotts sent a reader. We are now told that the new OS will only work on an I phone. This seems crazy. Is it true???

Problem 2 - the sensor falls off quite often before running its full 14 day course. Abbotts are good at replacing them but it is a hassle nevertheless. She is very careful and has tried using alcohol wipes and general washing first then letting skin air dry. She is not a sweaty person and does not do activity which might catch the sensor. Have read that 3M Cavilon Spray might help but their product info says that it only works for up to 72 hours. Any advice or suggestions??

hobbo
 
There are a couple of options which are frequently adopted by people who have silky skin (I have limpet skin so haven't tried them myself)
- you can get patches to put over the sensors. Some of these have "funky" patterns if you want to make a thing of them
- you can get 3-d printed holder on an elastic band to hold the sensor in place.
Both are available from eBay or Amazon.

Has your wife asked about Dexcom One. This is now supposed to be available to people with Type 1 as an alternative to Libre 2.
Unfortunately, the number of supported phones is les than that for Libre but it may work on your wife's Samsung.
 
Hi. I can’t comment on the tech aspect, but I put a new tegaderm on every sensor which lasts the full 2 weeks. It’s a small square, and very very thin and transparent medical dressing and even though I am allergic to plasters and the sticky coverings InResponse mentioned, the tegaderm dressing never causes me a problem. Check out the reviews on Amazon. A lot of libre wearers use them. They are also good if you don’t want the fashion aspect but a lower key solution.
My only application advice would be not to stretch it too tight over the libre. Otherwise you will get a compression low. Just pop it on a gently tap round with your ring finger and then remove the paper bit.
 
I know people that have had problems with the Libre and their diabetes team put them on a Dexcom (a continuous glucose monitor, better all round than a Libre). So I’d get in touch with them if I were you
 
I can relate to the theory of when they did there upgrade it knocked my Samsung 21 ultra out from alarms i rang and rang them had a really bad night down to 2.1 rang my diabetis nurse told her exactly what was happening she got me upgraded to libre 3 .
What phone was your wife using ?
With regard to the sensor ive used the holders (off ebay) or sports tape but if using the tape dont put it tight but i also suffer with Hyperhidrosis
 
I had a lot of missed alarms when I changed to my Pixel 6 last July as my Samsung S10 was years old and the batterylife was dire, since the app was updated and configured better for Android 13 I haven't as many signal loss issues as I did before, they happen now and again.
I've had the sensor come off my arm a couple of times but that was my fault, most common in the summer in t-shirts when the sensor is less protected by clothing. I tried a few Amazon purchases to protect the sensor but found them uncomfortable so now resort to tube bandage from poundland and cut it into 8" lengths as it will shorten when stretched to go over your arm. I mainly use the tube bandage when I'm going into a jacuzzi as I lost a sensor in one once when I think the glue was dissolved by the chlorine in the water, after that incident I'm not taking any more chances. Sea water has been fine though.
 
I had the same problems, but after the latest Android update (samsung s22 phone) it works fine with libre 2 sensor, and even the alarms. You may have to upgrade to the latest android and or update the libre app too.

Regarding problem 2 the libre view sensor loses contact for short whiles almost every day. But if I wait 3-10 minutes it's usually works fine again. Thats just how it is.
 
Redvee said:
I've had the sensor come off my arm a couple of times but that was my fault, most common in the summer in t-shirts when the sensor is less protected by clothing.
Click to expand...
I've noticed a few Libres in the wild recently as they are more exposed with short/no sleeves and been surprised how low they are placed on the arm.
Mine have always been placed high on my arm and as far back as I can get without putting it in my arm pit. Once I got used it it being there when dressing, I have never knocked one off and it is protected by a t-shirt sleeve (and less visible).
The only reason I can think of placing the sensors lower is if you have very limited flexibility.
 
Iphones are useless as you need to keep the application live to receive alarms "I have an iphone 3rd gen SE" Prior to that I had an honor X7 that had enormous battery capacity. Sensors are quite sticky and I have never lost one but there are libre adhesive pads which resolve the issue.
 
My sensor is sometimes low sometimes high always on the back of my arm. I can only use one arm due to a medical problem which is why I move the position around. I over it with tegaderm which usually lasts the full 2 weeks.
 
My arms get too sore due to other medical conditions, if I don't move sensors around. Skin tac keeps it on, and personally I couldn't care less who sees me wearing one, but I know other people don't want it on show, which I respect.
 
I have to contest that iphones are useless, as i am currently using an iphone 8. The applicstion runs fine in the background and alarms and readings are mostly available.

With my former i phone SE 2nd gen I had a technical issue after a while, as its internal NFC chip stopped working completely, i suspect due to heavy use (scanning). Apple was not kind enough to replace it unfortunately.

But overall libre systems work fine with iphones in my experience. With preference for libre 3 which has really been working perfectly on my iphone 8. Libre 3 also doesnt require the daily scanning so is lighter for the shaky apple nfc chip.
 
I should have checked before I bought it but my new car will only work with carplay "Its a MINI" The battery in the 2022 iPhone SE is 1,624 mAh the battery in the honor was 5000mAh High Capacity Battery. I'm sure you appreciate the difference
 
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