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Libre question

BrianTheElder

BrianTheElder

Well-Known Member
Messages
574
Location
Surrey, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Snide people
In Zoe Harcombe's blog this week, she commented on her and her husband's use of a Libre cgm that they each had on trial for 2 weeks.
She had several interesting insights on her discoveries and concluded that every UK citizen should have a loan of a Libre for 4 weeks to discover their susceptibility to various foods and their diabetic status.
I think that may be a bit much for the NHS, but I can afford a machine, so I looked at the website. I was a bit surprised to see that you have to go on a list to register to be notified when you are permitted to buy one. I can only think that is so they can keep up with the demand for sensors.
Which started me thinking - is it a good idea or morally acceptable to buy a machine anyway when they are in short supply?
I have heard about self-funding, but that is not the issue that concerns me, rather whether supply should go to those most in need first.
Does anyone think it would be a good idea to set up a loan system for the monitors? The sensors are very expensive, but if you only need a couple for a trial, that is not so critical or so wasteful of resources.
 
A discussion with a DSN a year or so back was interesting. I was talking about Dexcom CGM and we got talking about the Libre.
She was part of a team implementing the use of libre for diabetics. Biggest problem the team faced was educating users what the information given actually meant. These were diabetics who it would be hoped had a basic understanding of BS levels.
I dread to think the mayhem and panic that would ensue if every person was given access to a libre.
 
You need to make sure that your phone is compatible with the freestyle, otherwise you do need the reader. I was self funding. My DN took pity on me because as a T2 I don't qualify, she wrote me a prescription just for the time I am on steroids. I am forever in her debt.

You do need to be able to interpret the readings. You do have to remember the timelag and insert that into your equations.

You do need to fingerprick if you are under 4 as the freestyle is notoriously inaccurate under 4 and over 8. Sleeping on it can give a false reading. I am not sure that general practictioners know all its little foibles. As I am not T1, I don't know what training is given out.
 
And now CGM has given us a new metric Time In Range expressed as the a percentage of the time your blood sugars are in range.
 
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