Libre 2

Nixterjoe said:

so first time using Libre 2 CGM and I have very different readings to my finger prick tests monitor showing 8 finger prick showing 6 .. which one should I take notice of ? and is that normal :\

Click to expand...

Hey there, the blood tests are what matters, they give the more accurate and timely readings. There is latency involved in the CGM, but not as much as we suffered when I was diagnosed and using urine tests.
I use the CGM for seeing where I may be going and by keeping on top of that manage very well. Occasionally calibrating with my BGM and whenever I am certain that something may be quite wrong I also cover my derrier by checking using the trusted BGM.
By always having both available, is a great assistance in many ways.

Ashintheuk said:

I attended a seminar run by the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation charity near Coventry a few weeks ago. The people responsible for the rollout across the entire NHS of CGMs gave a talk (Professor Partha Kar and Dr Iain Cranston) and they stated that CGMs are a whole lot more reliable than traditional blood sugar monitors due to the strips ageing, and risk of contamination with the sample. The difference being that CGM sensor strips are constantly cleaning themselves.

Click to expand...

When you have different readings….if LibreLink is higher than finger prick reading,blood sugar is falling…..if LibreLink is lower than finger prick reading your blood sugar is rising. Differences show the trend.

Andy_Nash said:

The Libre readings have a lag time in reacting to changes in trend of blood sugars. So, for example, if your blood sugars are likely to have started increasing fairly rapidly at the time, the 8 could be where you actually were and the 6 where you would have been if that rapid increase hadn't started.

Click to expand...

As has been repeated many many times on this forum: "Interstitial fluid (what is read by CGMs) has a lag but Libre DOES NOT. Libre uses an algorithm which extrapolates the current trend to "predict" the current reading."

The only time this is an issue is if the trend changes in the last 15 minutes. It does not work as you have explained and has not done so since befroe Libre 2 was released.

I don't think the Libre would have been approved by Nice if it was not accurate enough and reliable to be used to take glucose levels reading. It use a different why off reading which anyone using the Libre would have to relearn how there body is efforted.

In Response said:

As has been repeated many many times on this forum: "Interstitial fluid (what is read by CGMs) has a lag but Libre DOES NOT. Libre uses an algorithm which extrapolates the current trend to "predict" the current reading."

The only time this is an issue is if the trend changes in the last 15 minutes. It does not work as you have explained and has not done so since befroe Libre 2 was released.

Click to expand...

Hi. I avoided mention of interstitial fluid or extrapolation for simplicity but very deliberately referred to the delay in reacting to changes in "trend" rather than "level", so I think it terms of practical meaning for users it is the same (ie if there's been a recent change in trend, it may not be featuring yet in your Libre readings).

Ashintheuk said:

I attended a seminar run by the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation charity near Coventry a few weeks ago. The people responsible for the rollout across the entire NHS of CGMs gave a talk (Professor Partha Kar and Dr Iain Cranston) and they stated that CGMs are a whole lot more reliable than traditional blood sugar monitors due to the strips ageing, and risk of contamination with the sample. The difference being that CGM sensor strips are constantly cleaning themselves.

Click to expand...

I finger prick using an ACCU-CHEK machine. No stripe necessary. Great machine

lespaul said:

I finger prick using an ACCU-CHEK machine. No stripe necessary. Great machine

Click to expand...

Indeed it is.. Even tells you when the cassette is due to expire.

I had the Libre for 2 weeks on a trial. Right until Day 14 it was excellent. On the last evening we'd been in a spa for 4 hours followed by a couple of beers and a low carb dinner. The app started complaining my bg was very low and dropping. Below 4. Then 2.1. I did feel a bit light headed. By the time I got home a few squares of Kendall Mint Cake later and I was seriously worried the diabetes SWAT team would be coming for my eyes any minute.

Finger prick test showed it was back up to 8.9. Phew. Libre was still at 3 so I removed it.

I think the device was freaked out by the sauna or something.

I'd use one again but maybe not a week I'm going to the spa!