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Librelink and Diabetes M different readings

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Scotdw57

Newbie
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2
Hi

On scanning my sensor Librelink and diabetes m give different readings which are not the near to each other.

Librelink gave 13 and diabetes m gave 10.

Has anyone else experienced this or know why this happens?

Many thanks for your time
 
Yes. This is is not unusual and there are many threads on the subject of the Libre.
I have made a few observations
- the Libre is most accurate between about 4 and 8mmol/l. Outside of this range, the errors are greater
- The Libre is 15 minutes behind finger pricks because it uses interstitial fluid rather than blood
- the value of the Libre is not a replacement for finger pricks it is the trends.
- the Libre is factory calibrated and many people do not match the factory. Apps like Glimp which allow calibration against finger pricks work better for some than the Libre Link app.
 
helensaramay said:
Yes. This is is not unusual and there are many threads on the subject of the Libre.
I have made a few observations
- the Libre is most accurate between about 4 and 8mmol/l. Outside of this range, the errors are greater
- The Libre is 15 minutes behind finger pricks because it uses interstitial fluid rather than blood
- the value of the Libre is not a replacement for finger pricks it is the trends.
- the Libre is factory calibrated and many people do not match the factory. Apps like Glimp which allow calibration against finger pricks work better for some than the Libre Link app.
Click to expand...
Sorry if I am being thick. If I scan with both apps why do they return different results? Would both apps not give the same reading from the sensor?
 
Scotdw57 said:
Sorry if I am being thick. If I scan with both apps why do they return different results? Would both apps not give the same reading from the sensor?
Click to expand...

Haven't used either app (my body no longer agrees with the libre), but at a guess they are using different algorithms to interpret the same raw data?
 
Scotdw57 said:
Sorry if I am being thick. If I scan with both apps why do they return different results? Would both apps not give the same reading from the sensor?
Click to expand...
Apologies I am not familiar with Diabetes M - I had assumed it was a finger prick reader.
Any non-Abbot apps such as Glimp and, I assume, Diabetes M, do not have access to the algorithm that Abbot use to calculate the BG reading from the interstitial fluid reading. Therefore, they have developed their own algorithm which may result in different values.
For example, as I mentioned, Glimp incorporates BG finger prick readings into their algorithm and, I believe, Abbot uses some temperature values which it does not share with third party apps.

It would be interesting to compare both Libre Link and Diabetes M with some finger prick readings to find out which is the most accurate.
 
Unfortunately this is not a precise science. TheToutputofrom the Libre is s number. It will be the same whatever app you use. It is NOT a blood glucose reading. As mentioned, the algorithm used to turn this number into something we understand is proprietary. In my experience Abbott tend to err on the side of caution, registering lower at the bottom of the scale and higher at the top. This gets you to take action more quickly. Then there's the delay with catching up with the blood. This varies a lot.

Heaven knows I've torn my hair out in frustration with these things, but when it boils down, it is an indicator of what is going on. Should I eat or inject? If in doubt use blood which in itself isn't totally reliable, it's just that we know well and trust it.

My 2c worth, YMMV
 
Diabetes M? I gave that ago but found it was WAY out.

Diabetes M, like most third party apps, have backward engineered their product to read the Libre sensor and are not supported by Abbotts because they do not publish what their algorithms are.

So in answer to your question no they will not give the same reading.
 
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