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Libre glucose testing

D

dougscrewe

Active Member
Messages
29
I have just been to see the Diabetes Centre in Dorchester. They think i qualify for the Libre scanning glucose moniter. Anyone have this? I have been type 1 diabetic for 37 years and am not sure if this will benefit me. Any advice will be great. Thanks.
 
There are loads of YouTube videos about the Libre. I recommend taking a look there.
And anyone that prescribed the Libre without explaining how to get the most out of it doesn’t deserve to have that job so I hope you receive some education from your diabetes centre.

There are quite a few people on the forum who love their Libre but also some who don’t find it helps them.
 
 
Thank you. There are courses in May and June. I am a 54 year old so change is sometimes difficult. I suppose there are pros and cons but they suggested this as my blood levels are always on the slightly high levels. Do you have this?
 
Hi. Thank you. I need to be more open minded with what is available now. I think it will be beneficial and will go on the course. How does it work? Apparantly the disc is size of a £2 coin with a probe. Is that on your arm all the time? How is the probe inserted? Seems strange.
 
I also hate change (Im about 10 years younger than you), but I have found the libre awesome, it means I can actually see whats going on, whereas before I could only see snapshot values and I never did enough tests to get any useful data data anyway, but now I can see what its doing 24 hours a day. I've found it immensely useful - reduced my HbA1c down into the 40's - which I'd never have done without 24 hour info.
It's not always entirely accurate but it is definitely good for trends and seeing when you're unexpectedly skyrocketing.
I'm hoping to get one on prescription very soon, have to wait for it to be approved for me first (fingers crossed still)
 
 
Hi. Wow in the 40's. Thats fabulous. My last result was 64. I hate change but this sounds great. Do you still do finger tests to? It sounds very 23rd century! I think i will certainly try it. If it can bring my average blood levels down to where yours is i will be very happy.
 
@dougscrewe - take a look at this video: It shows you what the Libre looks like, how to put it on, what it does, etc.
My age is similar yours (I try not to use it as an excuse) and I understand far more if I see it which you can in this video.
 
Yes, I'd never have got to those numbers without it, before my best was a 53 and I'm sure that was entirely luck rather than judgement or skill - probably too many hypos.

Yes still have to finger prick, mainly cos the libre isn't always very accurate, for many it seems most accurate between 5 and 10ish, outside those ranges it can be somewhat hit and miss.
Though I am actually doing more finger pricks than I ever used to now, it's given me motivation to look after my diabetes (I realise that may be strange)
 
 
Well my best has been 54. Now back up to 64. Probably why this has been recommended for me. Looks like it the new and the old way of testing runs side by side. But your results gives me hope of bringing my levels down to a consistent low. I will definately give it a lot of thought to change my way of diabetic control. Never to late to change.
 
Hi, @dougscrewe , now that libre is slowly starting to be prescribed more, some official training videos for both patients and doctors have been produced by ABCD, in the link below, which explain how it works and how to interpret it, so maybe have a sketch at those, you don't need to register ir anything, just click the linked videos on this page:

https://abcd.care/dtn/education

I started using it about 3 yrs ago, was a bit meh about when I first heard about it but though will give it a shot. The first day I was wearing it, I scanned it, saw that my bg was getting low and dropping hard, checked my bg on meter to confirm, then had some sweets to raise. That would probably have been a messy hypo without the libre. Avoiding that hypo sold me on the idea, and I've been using it ever since.

As time went by and I got more used to it, I realised there was a lot of other things it could be used for to just gently steer bg levels, just by being able to see bg levels moving around.

If you're being offered it on script, I'd definitely say go for it.

Good luck!
 
 
Hi. Thank you for your link. I am sceptical but looking at new ways to get by blood glucose down. Maybe this is the way and will certainly think about it. If it cuts down on finger tests that will be a relief after 37 years.
 
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