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Libre II sensor infection

T

Toy12ht

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I've been using the Libre 2 sensors for just over a year. I scrub clean the injection site with the supplied wipes. I also clean with hot soapy water before I clean with the wipes. Yet I'm still getting an infection at the needle site. The itchiness drives me crazy. Anyone else have this problem?
 
Yes! @Toy12ht a few weeks ago I had, what looked like a skin infection, swollen and blotchy. It played havoc with my reading too. They were about 2mmol/ls lower than my fingerprick readings. Not sure why that happened. Like you I’m always careful and clean the area thoroughly before inserting the sensor.
 
It sounds like an allergy to the adhesive. If it were me, I'd use Cavilon or Sorbaderm spray on your skin prior to inserting the Libre. I've also read of people applying something like Tegaderm prior to insertion, with a hole cut out for the needle to go through, but haven't tried that myself.
 
I had this happen two sensors in a row say 9 months ago, even took a phot of red marks and sent to Abbott…both also stopped working before 2 weeks was up, coming off as though glue failed. But I was aware of bad pricking and itching feeling the last weekish as though the ‘needle’ filament was moving in/ out of arm. On removal the filaments were bent. So my reaction was I believe from physical poking and pain response found it difficult to tell difference between itching and pain; perhaps got abit infected because of this movement…certainly red marks still the early a week later. Abbot not responded except with new sensors.
 
I agree with Hopeful34. Probably irritation from the adhesive, which can be intense.
 
I had this with Libre 2, I was allergic to the tape they use but then I also must have sensitive skin because the Tape from my Medtronic sensors does also itch but since I'm only wearing it for 7 days instead of 14 it seems to be a bit milder. I would agree with the suggestion from @Hopeful34 though!
 
I had to stop using the original libre because I became allergic to the sensor which also led to unusable readings.

Now with the dexcom I also get irritation but two applications of cavilon cream seems to keep my skin unirritated. I'd definitely recommend some sort of barrier cream to see if it helps.
 
It definitely doesn’t have anything todo with the adhesive. There is no skin discolouration or reaction. There is only infection at the needle site. Sort of like an infected pimple. I’ve showed my GP and he says he had a number of patients come in with infected needle sites. I’m just curious how many other people have the same. I’ve tried to reach out to Abbott but they aren’t interested. Has anyone had the same problem with other sensors?
 
Did your gp have any suggestions @Toy12ht If you haven't tried using Dexcom sensors I'd suggest asking to be moved to them, to see how you get on. It's always worth a go.
 
His first thought was the needle site wasn’t sterilised. I’ve spoken to a number of Type 1’s that use Liberty 2 and all of them have had problems. Now that is very general because all of us do things a little different. I’m going to speak to my local MP and see if any monitoring can be done post sensor purchase cause Abbots certainly not interested, they just want to sell more sensors. Diabetes Australia would have to be involved as well as the NDSS. I mean whether it’s your GP or endocrinologist. People are sticking things in their bodies and the gov subsidies it. We want the sensors to work with minimal harm. Ok that’s my rant….
 
Years ago I had problems with Libre and took to spraying Cavilon under which solved the problem. They changed the glue and I no longer need to do this. In fact apart from a shower before a new sensor I don’t use any sterilisation. In the Uk we no longer get a wipe in the box.
Interestingly though when I was having issues my hospital DN told me some people are allergic to the actual needle. It is coated in something. So in your case this might be the case.
 
You maybe right. I’m not having a reaction to the adhesives just to the needle. How many other people have the same reaction. My GP suggests quite a few.
 
Dear @Toy12ht

I had the same two times in the past. It wasnt any allergic reaction, but an infection like in your case. It began some days after my sensor was on and started to feel uncomfortable (pain) Didnt want to take it off right away because they are expensive. But when I did take it off i found red swollen skin infection.
In my case it was probably caused by swimming a lot (also on a city beach which might not have had the cleanest water) as I was on holiday in Spain both times.

A Spanish pharmacie gave me ‘Cuatrocrem’ . Said i had to put it on the infected skin twice a day. It cured the infection within 2/3 days.

Officially its only available in Spain but there could be some websites selling it internationally.

I have bought alcohol wipes and disinfect my skin now everytime before I place a sensor and also when I take it off. Also avoided the infected sensor spot for quite a while for new sensors. Good luck
 
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