My 14yr old son is newly diagnosed type 1 (hospitalised Monday) we got home on Thursday and they gave him a prescription for 1 libre 3 sensor and 1 libre 2 plus. We put the libre 3 on him and spent all day with alarms going saying he was really low 1.9-3.2 but doing the finger pricks he was fine between 5-8’s I googled and it said that sensor is not suitable for under 18’s so when he got home from work last night we swapped it for the 2+ but this morning it also seems to be quite a bit out. Is this normal? Are we doing something wrong? I can’t get hold of anyone in his diabetes team!
Please help!
- Thread starter Emshore
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Fairygodmother
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Each of us if different so I can only share my own experience with Libre.
After activating a Libre, it’s 24 to 48 hours before it reads close to a blood test. During that time, I regularly look at the Libre app 15 minutes after a blood test to see if the results are getting closer to the blood test result.
I can understand your worry with your newly-diagnosed son; it’ll take a little while to discover all quirks of the tech, and all the ways Type One affects him. He’s very lucky to have parents who are doing their best for him!
I expect you already have a good supply of things like jelly babies, fruit juice, sugary coke, glucose tablets, for him to have if his blood-tested sugars drop?
It seems he’s doing well now if he’s been testing between 5 and 8.
After activating a Libre, it’s 24 to 48 hours before it reads close to a blood test. During that time, I regularly look at the Libre app 15 minutes after a blood test to see if the results are getting closer to the blood test result.
I can understand your worry with your newly-diagnosed son; it’ll take a little while to discover all quirks of the tech, and all the ways Type One affects him. He’s very lucky to have parents who are doing their best for him!
I expect you already have a good supply of things like jelly babies, fruit juice, sugary coke, glucose tablets, for him to have if his blood-tested sugars drop?
It seems he’s doing well now if he’s been testing between 5 and 8.
Thanks for your reply, this morning he seems to be a lot higher and I’m not sure if he is meant to do a correction dose! I have so many questions I seem to think of loads ask them and then a couple of days later have even more he is totally taking it in his stride he was very upset to begin with but he is now just getting on with things. He has downloaded an app to count his carbs and has decided how he’s going to manage lunch at school and is ready to get back. As awful as it is I am very proud of how he is handling things! We have been shopping for bit to help if he goes low and they have him prescription of some gel stuff too. So maybe just need to patient with libre?
Fairygodmother
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 4,173
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
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- Insulin
- Dislikes
- Bigotry, reliance on unsupported 'facts', unkindness, unfairness.
If the GP surgery has a Diabetes Specialist Nurse you may be able to get answers to your questions from them. I know, though, that DSNs are very busy with the vast number of people who need diabetes management help but it’s worth a try.
We can’t give advice about whether or not to give correction doses. We can say how we manage and experience our own Type One but telling someone else whether or not to dose could be dangerous.
We can’t give advice about whether or not to give correction doses. We can say how we manage and experience our own Type One but telling someone else whether or not to dose could be dangerous.
something to bear in mind, 'compression lows' if leaning against etc it can effect the readings, also will add he should try to ensure stays hydrated as that can have a knock on effect on readings as well. have a wee look around abotts website and youtube for positions of sensor placement.
unsure if you've checked out libreview https://www.libreview.com/?ck=0 that may offer you piece of mind, as it can enable you to also check out his libre glucose levels (if he has data/wifi).
On the instructions it tells you clearly not to be used for 'medical decisions'. highs/lows should be checked via finger prick still.
If the readings are consistantly out by a lot after 48 hours it might be worth calling abbott who may offer to send out a replacement sensor if they believe it maybe faulty, postage etc all paid by them inclusive of any possible returns packaging. (saves nhs being billed). Another example if it adhedisve fails, or loses signal a lot they will also generally replace.
try not panic best wishes. he will do awesome and you rightly so are proud hes doing amazing especially wanting to get back to school
Should he wish theres sensor covers available from the likes of amazon can get skin coloured ones if he is self concious at all, or can get pattern ones to show
edit: forgot to add his school should allow him to keep his mobile on him or at very least within bluetooth distance of the sensor (for tests/exams maybe needs to be teacher/assistant).
unsure if you've checked out libreview https://www.libreview.com/?ck=0 that may offer you piece of mind, as it can enable you to also check out his libre glucose levels (if he has data/wifi).
On the instructions it tells you clearly not to be used for 'medical decisions'. highs/lows should be checked via finger prick still.
If the readings are consistantly out by a lot after 48 hours it might be worth calling abbott who may offer to send out a replacement sensor if they believe it maybe faulty, postage etc all paid by them inclusive of any possible returns packaging. (saves nhs being billed). Another example if it adhedisve fails, or loses signal a lot they will also generally replace.
try not panic best wishes. he will do awesome and you rightly so are proud hes doing amazing especially wanting to get back to school
Should he wish theres sensor covers available from the likes of amazon can get skin coloured ones if he is self concious at all, or can get pattern ones to show
edit: forgot to add his school should allow him to keep his mobile on him or at very least within bluetooth distance of the sensor (for tests/exams maybe needs to be teacher/assistant).
I have over used libre 1&2 and dexcom g6&g7 almost every single sensor gives me erratic readings for the first 12 hrs, there are several others the same as me but also people who have accurate readings from the start. Im closed loop now so I start a new sensor 12 hrs before the sensor ends on my phone, last night was a perfect example as to why .... For about 4 hrs the sensor was reading between 3.2-low, my old sensor was still reading 6-7! As an ' old time diabetic ' I know I wasn't low so ignore the new sensor but being new 100% always double check. The point is, your son will work out if he has the same problem during the first hours and if necessary insert a new sensor to give it time to bed in. I always start a new sensor before bed and generally by the time im up the next morning the sensors are 0.5 within each other and I then connect to my pump.
As already mentioned, compression lows also have an effect. Sensors are amazing, far better than the olden days when we had to rely on several finger pricks a day, no they aren't yet perfect but a massive step forward and I personally wouldn't want to be without one now!
Good luck, I was diagnosed at 10yrs ( many moons ago) and it was only when I became a mum that I realised just how much harder that must have been for my mum than it was for me. We are definitely much stronger as kids than as adults.
You are doing amazingly well, finding this group and asking questions is a great place to be, so many people here willing to help when they can!
As already mentioned, compression lows also have an effect. Sensors are amazing, far better than the olden days when we had to rely on several finger pricks a day, no they aren't yet perfect but a massive step forward and I personally wouldn't want to be without one now!
Good luck, I was diagnosed at 10yrs ( many moons ago) and it was only when I became a mum that I realised just how much harder that must have been for my mum than it was for me. We are definitely much stronger as kids than as adults.
You are doing amazingly well, finding this group and asking questions is a great place to be, so many people here willing to help when they can!
