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Libre Sensors

M

Matt2023

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Hi there,

I am currently using Libre 1, as that is all that's available in my part of the world, but recently seen on this forum, that people are buying the Libre 2 in the UK. I did not think it was possible or needed as they are given for free on the NHS, but it seems that I was wrong.

So I still have a few friends back in the UK, so my questions are, could they buy it even though they are not Diabetic, both reader and sensor.

How much are they, someone mention 50 British Pounds somewhere on this forum, I am currently paying $75 for a Libre 1 plus shipping.

And most importantly, where can I send them in the UK to buy them if they can.

Thank you.
 
Hi @Matt2023 although T1s are now (supposed) to get them funded by the NHS, T2s have to self fund. I think you can just buy them from Abbott but I'd be cautious, as I'm not sure whether the libre software checks whether your phone is located in the same place as your sensors are bought...

Have a look at this thread here

Sensor Incompatible

I have bought LibreFree2 Sensor in UK and send them to a friend in Dubai. He downloaded the app. When trying to scan it says, sensor is not compatible. I asked him to download the app from the packaging and then it says the app not available in this country. Any idea how the sensor could work...
www.diabetes.co.uk www.diabetes.co.uk
 
However my guess is that if they are now supplying the Libre 1 to your area it may be easier just to wait till the L2 is available. And if it helps. this is what dexcom says about international availability

International

Choose your country or regionDexcom is available in the following countries. Please choose your country/language from the list below:
www.dexcom.com www.dexcom.com

You also have to consider whether the shipping process is likely to damage the sensor.

Good luck.
 
Thanks Ellie for your reply.

Even though my phone has never been anywhere near the UK, it still thinks it is from there as I have my UK payments set up via Google, it is actually annoying as I cannot download and use the local ABBOTT app where I am, because of that reason, so I use a third party app with my sensor.

I have asked when Libre 2 will get here and it will be sometime they told me, as is it something to do with the licensing, and at the moment I am using a Maiomaio 3 transmitter on top of the Libre 1, but I keep knocking it off my arm and at $75 a shot plus shipping, it might be more financially viable getting the newer one that has the transmitter already embedded in the sensor and less likely to knock it off my arm. That's my thinking anyhow.

If it as easy to go to Abbott UK website and order direct, then I think that is my best bet. It is not going to be any cheaper than what I am paying now, but I do not think it is going to be a huge amount more either, I know they will not send direct to me, because of local license issue, but I am sure I can get it sent to a friends address who can then DHL it over to me, they are shipped all over the world already, so providing we provide enough padding, it should hopefully hold out. I am thinking of buying 6 at a time, so once every 3 months,

Dexconn is just a bit out of financial reach at the moment, it does not last as long and I have no issues injecting multiple times a day.

Thank you for the links and the pointers. I am off to Abbott UK now. :)
 
After having already had a quick look at the UK Abbott site, I am now asking myself why not buy the Libre 3 if I am going to buy the Libre 2, IF the prices are not that much different.

Thanks for the pointer Ellie.
 
Matt2023 said:
After having already had a quick look at the UK Abbott site, I am now asking myself why not buy the Libre 3 if I am going to buy the Libre 2, IF the prices are not that much different.

Thanks for the pointer Ellie.
Click to expand...
My advice would be to try it with one sensor first, as I am guessing (possibly incorrectly) that you may have to download new software for the new sensor.

Once more, good luck.
 
Your probably right Ellie, edge on the side of caution and get one sent over first and see if it survives.

I have worked out the price and I would be paying 2 British Pounds more from the Libre 2 than what I am currently paying for the Libre 1, the shipping again will be more expensive, hence why I am thinking 6 at a time to mitigate the extra shipping, but I will follow that advice first and send one over.

I want to see the price for Libre 3, I cannot find it on their site, so I have emailed them to ask, just to see if that is a financially viable option. Once I have my sugars are more stable I will not use them all the time, I have again no issues finger pricking, but at the moment I need the CGM as I am changing my insulin regime and need that extra safeguard and data to make sure I am on the right path.

Big thanks as ever,

Matt.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
As for downloading the new software, I am hoping as I know these sensors will be coming from the UK and that my phone thinks its from the UK and in the UK, that I will be able to download the correct Abbott APP from UK Google that will work with these sensors, if not then I will just keep using the third party app that I am currently using on the Libre 1.

Time will tell and give me that answer,
 
Libre 3 is not available to buy in the UK
I believe it is only available for a few lucky people through the NHS.
 
Matt2023 said:
As for downloading the new software, I am hoping as I know these sensors will be coming from the UK and that my phone thinks its from the UK and in the UK, that I will be able to download the correct Abbott APP from UK Google that will work with these sensors, if not then I will just keep using the third party app that I am currently using on the Libre 1.

Time will tell and give me that answer,
Click to expand...
If you cannot download the app now you won't be able to download it when you have the sensors.

But if the third party app you currently use works, it will work with Libre 2 as well, without the need for the MiaoMiao.
I suppose you're starting the sensor with your reader and use your phone to see your numbers?

It may well be you can use the old reader to start Libre2, I start mine with the original reader. This means I don't have alarms on the reader but that's fine with me, I use DiaBox for that.

So to my thinking, your set up will work.
If you want the official app on your phone I think your phone will need to be in the UK when you download the app, but I guess it will keep working when you take the phone back home, people on holiday can use their app in countries where you can't download it.
 
Hi Antje77,

Thank you for your post.

I can download the UK version of the APP where I am living but the Libre 1 sensors are not from the UK, I think they are from Singapore and the UK app will not work with those sensors, so that is why I use a third party app.

I could buy another phone and not put my UK payment details via Google then it would think that it is a local phone.

My phone even though it has never been anywhere near the UK, thinks its from there and allows me to download any app from the UK Google Marketplace. So I am hopeful that it will allow me to download the correct app for the UK sensors to work.

If not, it is not the end of the world, my main reason to get the Libre 2 is so that I stop knocking the Libre1 sensor off my arm with the Miaomiao attached, its becoming expensive :(

Thank you also though for pointing out that maybe I will not need to buy a new reader, though the reader I have is for local sensors and may not work with a UK sensor. I think I will buy one at the same time, just to be on the safe side. I know you need the reader to start it off.

Appreciate your time in replying
 
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