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Libre replacement

Smiler99

Well-Known Member
How long should you replace your libre before the older one expires? I was never told by my diabetes team I read it on here I have been replacing 24 before
 
It’s a personal choice. Some people replace as the old one expires, others 24 or even 48 hours ahead. I my self do it 24 hours ahead. I find it settles in and is then more accurate and is ready to get going as the other dies.
 
I assume when you say 'replace' you mea 'attach' the new one, not start it and waste the time before the old one actually ends.

I put the new sensor on the other arm, 12 or 24 hours before the existing one stops. I then do a final scan a few minutes before it stops, then start the new sensor bang on the time the old one stops.

That way I get maximum time covered, and no waste.

Next time I switch arms.

Not really as complicated as I have made it sound:(,
 
Hi,

I have to admit. The 48 or 24 hours prior fitting for bedding in to start up that gets bandied about, i don't need to do...
If the sensor is about to stop whilst I'm busy? I may have one ready to go on the other arm for 2 or 4 hours..?
If still have to wait an hour whilst the new one starts & is ready tof read. (Which funny enough was an hour into my shift this morning?
But on the whole, they take to me & work from the off..

Just find your own balance. :)
 
Hi,

I have to admit. The 48 or 24 hours prior fitting for bedding in to start up that gets bandied about, i don't need to do...
If the sensor is about to stop whilst I'm busy? I may have one ready to go on the other arm for 2 or 4 hours..?
If still have to wait an hour whilst the new one starts & is ready tof read. (Which funny enough was an hour into my shift this morning?
But on the whole, they take to me & work from the off..

Just find your own balance. :)
I habeen trying 24 hours it works mostly but I get the odd one that plays up going to try 48 hours but your right find your own balance
 
I habeen trying 24 hours it works mostly but I get the odd one that plays up going to try 48 hours but your right find your own balance

I found There are a couple of things that come into play to also avoid them going a little scatty?
Site placement, not too close to muscle tissue.
& making sure I'm reasonably hydrated..
 
There are many things about diabetes which makes is all different.
The affect on the interstitial readings from a newly inserted alien object is one of the things that varies.
Some find their bodies are impervious to it and others find their bodies need 1, 2 or more days to become familiar.

As we are all different, the length of time to insert a sensor before activating it is not a global time span, because it is the time YOUR body needs to familiarise itself. And, with so many things diabetic, the only way to find out is trial and error.

Then when you think you have sussed it, you will get a dud sensor that needs to be replaced before you have had time to bed in a new one.
 
I I don’t bother putting a new sensor on before the old one ends , I put the new one on leave it 60 mins then scan , I then take a finger prick test just to compare the test is always different but well within my acceptable range , my Hb1ac is good so I’m happy
 
Yes, I’m one of those people that need not only 48 hours, but 72! So I put my new one in when the old one starts indicating “Sensor ends in 3 days”.

The only downside of putting in so early is that I tend to need two Tegaderm patches over the course of the life of the sensor: I find a patch only lasts just over a week before getting really tatty and losing adhesiveness, so I have to change the patch sometime half way through, which is always slightly nail-biting, I always worry the sensor will come off with it (it never has though).

The only sensor I’ve ever had that has fallen off, I’m convinced had faulty/no adhesive at all. Because when it came off it wasn’t even slightly tacky, it felt just like paper. Because I always wear a Tegaderm, I wouldn’t have realised. It only lasted 3-4 days, was always *very* unreliable, and sometimes hurt like a pinprick in my arm. When it fell off, the filament was very bent.
 
Yes, I’m one of those people that need not only 48 hours, but 72! So I put my new one in when the old one starts indicating “Sensor ends in 3 days”.

The only downside of putting in so early is that I tend to need two Tegaderm patches over the course of the life of the sensor: I find a patch only lasts just over a week before getting really tatty and losing adhesiveness, so I have to change the patch sometime half way through, which is always slightly nail-biting, I always worry the sensor will come off with it (it never has though).

The only sensor I’ve ever had that has fallen off, I’m convinced had faulty/no adhesive at all. Because when it came off it wasn’t even slightly tacky, it felt just like paper. Because I always wear a Tegaderm, I wouldn’t have realised. It only lasted 3-4 days, was always *very* unreliable, and sometimes hurt like a pinprick in my arm. When it fell off, the filament was very bent.

I have a preparation I use a skin scrub well I shower and use none sensitive shower gel then skin scrub a few hours before I apply my sensor I occasionally have to use that kinesiology tape it seems to depend on area. I have felt that to feels like a nettle sting on my arm.
 
Yes, I’m one of those people that need not only 48 hours, but 72! So I put my new one in when the old one starts indicating “Sensor ends in 3 days”.

The only downside of putting in so early is that I tend to need two Tegaderm patches over the course of the life of the sensor: I find a patch only lasts just over a week before getting really tatty and losing adhesiveness, so I have to change the patch sometime half way through, which is always slightly nail-biting, I always worry the sensor will come off with it (it never has though).

The only sensor I’ve ever had that has fallen off, I’m convinced had faulty/no adhesive at all. Because when it came off it wasn’t even slightly tacky, it felt just like paper. Because I always wear a Tegaderm, I wouldn’t have realised. It only lasted 3-4 days, was always *very* unreliable, and sometimes hurt like a pinprick in my arm. When it fell off, the filament was very bent.
I suppose its trile and error and finding what works for us
 
I wait 24 hours before starting a sensor.

However (and I’ve been using Libre for about 4 years), I now leave a gap of about 2 or 3 days between sensors when I only use my “old” Contour Next One i.e. finger pricks.

I would get anxious without the 24 hour access to Libre (and I use a Bubble so I get constant updates), but over the past year or so, I found it LESS stressful to have a break every few weeks. A time to chill out and not think about what’s happening to my BG (or technically my interstitial glucose) constantly.

I had reached the point where diabetes burnout was a distinct possibility, so this was one way of minimising the risk. I chose not to avoid the problem, but to decide when to check my BG levels (and then correct etc). At least for a few days at a time.

Up to you, but please consider taking a “holiday” of sorts, if only for one day. Obviously, use finger pricks instead!

Ps if you think you may have Diabetes burnout or any mental health issue, please seek professional help.
 
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