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Libre problems

Old_Dave

Well-Known Member
Messages
52
Location
Stilton, Cambridgeshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Last year I was given a Libre to try.
A wonderful piece of kit thought I until my BG went low and stayed low but the Libre kept on telling me my BG was fine. I am lucky in that I do not find it difficult to recognise low BG so I started finger pricking at the same time and found that the Libre was reading high compared to the finger pricks.
I really loved the access the Libre gave me and was probably testing more than twice than when I was finger pricking and the records were also great.
I recently found somebody else that had a Libre patch on and when I asked one of the things she said was that it was not accurate and that finger pricking was the answer.
Has anybody else found problems with their system because use of Libre and continuing to finger prick just does not make sense.
 
I have been on the Libre for a while now. I have found them VERY accurate. I still finger prick for my food to bolus. If I am very high it can be a bit out BUT usually within 15%. Plus I finger prick for driving as the DVLA has not approved it as yet
 
I have been using the Libre for over 12 months now and find it to be very comparable to finger prick results although occasionally may be 5 or 10 minutes behind.
In my opinion you have to weigh up the positives and the negatives and make up your own mind but for me it is the best thing since sliced bread, as the saying goes
 
There is a delay and inaccuracies....its just the way the tech is at the minute.........everyone will need to adapt its use to suit their specific needs whether its to adjust basal doses, avoid highs/lows or even just to give the fingers a break....
 
That's sad because I was reading about the Libre and thought about getting one, hate blood letting.
 
Do you finger prick for food as @porl69 does?
 
After my first try of the Libre meter which enable led mo to get better control within the 14 days but GP said NO to my request because the Devon CCG, at the time of asking a big NO; however there stance has changed and will allow hospital consultants to prescribe and then only for 6 months at a time under certain conditions?
 
It seems that many people work fine with the Libre (or is it the other way around?).
However, there are others, like me, who find the Libre and other CGMs very inaccurate. As @novorapidboi26 mentions, there is a delay which may be part of my problem because my BG changes quite fast especially when I exercise (8 to hypo in 20 minutes).

After a lot of frustration, I have realised that although the values are out for me, they still approximately, go in the right direction which makes a Libre very useful for detecting trends such as which foods spike when and how fast my BG plummets when I exercise.

From day 1, I was recommended not to use it to bolus from as you need something more accurate.
 
UNfort
SueJB said:
That's sad because I was reading about the Libre and thought about getting one, hate blood letting.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, even with the Libre, you will need to continue with some blood letting.
As I previously mentioned, it is not recommended to use to bolus from (although I have read and heard from people who do) and it is not accepted by the DVLA as a BG reading before driving.
However, your blood letting should be reduced with the Libre.
 
Thanks @helensaramay. So if you don't use it for bolus and before driving, it's difficult to see the use except for testing to see how food affects you after you've eaten. Perhaps I'm just not with it.
 
Ignore the other reply please. I should read everything and then reply.
 
SueJB said:
Thanks @helensaramay. So if you don't use it for bolus and before driving, it's difficult to see the use except for testing to see how food affects you after you've eaten. Perhaps I'm just not with it.
Click to expand...
It's not you ....
I too was confused about the value of something which is not accurate enough for bolusing. I think the value is to learn how food (and activities) affect your BG, understand trends (to see if your basal is stable all the time, for example) and to give you peace of mind (if the Libre says your BG is ok between meals you probably don't need to prick your finger to check. Many people continuously check their BG for this last reason.
 
Brilliant and thanks for being patient
 
SueJB said:
Do you finger prick for food as @porl69 does?
Click to expand...
I finger prick prior to all injections which is currently 4 times a day. These are coincidental with meal times and bed time. I do recognise that there will be a difference in reading which may also be associated with time but the case in point was over a few hours with me eating jelly babies like there was no tomorrow. I got the impression from the lady I spoke to, and her mum, that the differences were more than just a delayed response. As I stated I thought the technology was brilliant but the accuracy much less so.
 
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