This would greatly improve the Libre 2...

Greymalkin

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Type of diabetes
Type 1
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I've had the Libre 2 for close to a year, now.

I value the high and low blood glucose (BG) alarms, particularly as a monitor to levels during sleep. But there is still a problem which could easily be sorted by a little reprogramming by the manufacturers.

Lately I was comfortably in range when I went to bed. When my BG passed my acceptable high point it triggered the High-BG alarm. I woke, gave myself a carefully judged insulin dose which I knew is normally enough to regain my ideal mid-level, but not so much that would set off the Low-BG alarm later. Then I slept on...

...waking many hours later, I was appalled to discover that the insulin had not reduced my BG below the level which had set off the High-BG alarm. The level had just climbed and climbed while I slept, the Libre silently tracking the terrible ascent. When I finally awoke naturally, I was running three times my normal satisfactory BG level. Not good.

Now, let's be honest, a main benefit of the alarms is that they let us go back to sleep believing we have resolved the issue, rather than having to stay awake to check.

Therefore, my improvement to the next Libre, would be as follows...

As well as the High BG alarm, there needs to be an adjustable Higher alarm, set to go off if the level continues upward after the first alarm sounds...

...and at the bottom end, beneath the Low BG alarm, there needs to be a second, Lower alarm. That way, when my Low-BG alarm goes in the night and I swallow Haribo to correct it, if my level does not come up but actually sinks lower, I will not sleep through it, as has happened several times.

Balance is everything and it's essential that we correct highs and lows with enough (but not too much) insulin or sugar. If we do overcorrect, the Libre will alert us again when we swing to the opposite extreme...but critically, if we don't have enough to correct the problem, the Libre does nothing to warn us as the level worsens.

The manufacturer might say two levels of alarm at each end of the scale would confuse users. I believe users need only read this post to understand the necessity.
.
 
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Antje77

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Hi @Greymalkin , if you use android, you might want to look into DiaBox, it's an alternative app for Libre, and you can use both apps side to side.
Not available in the app store because Abbott doesn't agree of course, more about it here if you use Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/974278412920319

It allows two different alarms for lows and highs, so 4 in total, and you have to tell it for how long you want it to shut up. So after treating at night I'd typically tell it to keep quiet for 2 or 3 hours. It still will sound the second alarm set at a higher (or lower) number.
You can also calibrate, which I find very useful because my Libres tend to read a tad low.
 

Jaylee

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18,504
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I've had the Libre 2 for close to a year, now.

I value the high and low blood glucose (BG) alarms, particularly as a monitor to levels during sleep. But there is still a problem which could easily be sorted by a little reprogramming by the manufacturers.

Lately I was comfortably in range when I went to bed. When my BG passed my acceptable high point it triggered the High-BG alarm. I woke, gave myself a carefully judged insulin dose which I knew is normally enough to regain my ideal mid-level, but not so much that would set off the Low-BG alarm later. Then I slept on...

...waking many hours later, I was appalled to discover that the insulin had not reduced my BG below the level which had set off the High-BG alarm. The level had just climbed and climbed while I slept, the Libre silently tracking the terrible ascent. When I finally awoke naturally, I was running three times my normal satisfactory BG level. Not good.

Now, let's be honest, a main benefit of the alarms is that they let us go back to sleep believing we have resolved the issue, rather than having to stay awake to check.

Therefore, my improvement to the next Libre, would be as follows...

As well as the High BG alarm, there needs to be an adjustable Higher alarm, set to go off if the level continues upward after the first alarm sounds...

...and at the bottom end, beneath the Low BG alarm, there needs to be a second, Lower alarm. That way, when my Low-BG alarm goes in the night and I swallow Haribo to correct it, if my level does not come up but actually sinks lower, I will not sleep through it, as has happened several times.

Balance is everything and it's essential that we correct highs and lows with enough (but not too much) insulin or sugar. If we do overcorrect, the Libre will alert us again when we swing to the opposite extreme...but critically, if we don't have enough to correct the problem, the Libre does nothing to warn us as the level worsens.

The manufacturer might say two levels of alarm at each end of the scale would confuse users. I believe users need only read this post to understand the necessity.
.
Hi,

An app called Diabox pretty much does this.

I have an alarm which alerts to a potential low, so I can keep watch on whether it needs action with the arrow trend. & a lower alarm incase I forgot?
 

Jaylee

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Here we go.

You can even customise your own alarm sounds....

Screenshot_20240831-143307_DiaBox.jpg
 

Jaylee

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These are great answers, many thanks for those. I'll investigate. ;)
If you own a smartwatch?
Pending on what watch type & OS/firmware, you can have your BGs on your wrist, too...
 

SimonP78

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Messages
463
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Insulin
Just to add to the list, XDrip+ (via Juggluco to talk to the sensor) will alarm for high/low (or whatever other arbitrary levels you want to set) as well as high rate of change (up and down). You can then snooze the alarm (for as long as you want) and it will go off again if you've not dropped, etc.
 
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sgm14

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Just to add to the list, XDrip+
Librelink always gives me the impression it was designed by a committee of non-diabetics and with alarms they have done the bare minimum to be able to say 'we support alarms'

On the other hand xDrip+ and other apps look like they were designed by a bunch of diabetes.

For example xDrip+ allows you to have multiple alerts with different sounds.
So I get a simple vibrate alert when I'm almost low.
If I go low, I get a horrendous noise that would wake the dead. Also I can set the alarm to repeat every or so minute until I dismiss it.

Or if you want you can have one low alert that does not trigger in silent mode and another lower alert that overrides slient mode.

Plus you can have alerts that only trigger during a particular period of time.
 

Greymalkin

Member
Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I'm relieved to find I wasn't alone feeling dissatisfied with the Libre's alarm functionality.

I had already set up 'custom' alarm sounds from my phone's menu - a rising two-note tone called 'Meteor' when my BG climbs past 7.5, and the dropping two-note tone called 'Orion' when it falls past 4.5. So I know the score in pitch darkness without checking. The standard alert tone supplied for the Libre was like something to wake the dead, but high and low were indistinguishable.

I don't have a smartwatch (yet) because as I understand it, the watches only display what the phone or other device has processed or detected. I had hoped a smartwatch could maintain a link with the Libre sensor so I could run without needing to carry my phone...but I don't think that's possible. But that's another question.

I'll make good use of the advice here, thanks again.
 

sgm14

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272
I don't have a smartwatch (yet) because as I understand it, the watches only display what the phone or other device has processed or detected. I had hoped a smartwatch could maintain a link with the Libre sensor so I could run without needing to carry my phone...but I don't think that's possible. But that's another question.

I have never tried it, but I believe it is possible but difficult - at least for the android world (Don't have any experience with Iphone/ Apple Watches)

With Xdrip such as watch is called a "standalone collector".
The first problem is that the watch needs to be running a version of Xdrip (which is an android app) which means the operating system has to be more powerful than the operating systems that normally run on modern smart watches. For example a watch running the Full Android operating might be capable but one running Wear OS would not.

The consequence is that most of the watches that run as standalone collectors are old and not sold any more and battery life is not great etc etc.
Also it is usually difficult to get them to work and some need a lot of technical skills.

There is a watch (BlueJay) in development by one of the Xdrip developers that will do this, but last I heard it current only works with the DexCom.
 

Rachox

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I reversed my Type 2
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My improvements would be integration with Apple Watch and Apple Carplay.
 

Jaylee

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I have never tried it, but I believe it is possible but difficult - at least for the android world (Don't have any experience with Iphone/ Apple Watches)

With Xdrip such as watch is called a "standalone collector".
The first problem is that the watch needs to be running a version of Xdrip (which is an android app) which means the operating system has to be more powerful than the operating systems that normally run on modern smart watches. For example a watch running the Full Android operating might be capable but one running Wear OS would not.

The consequence is that most of the watches that run as standalone collectors are old and not sold any more and battery life is not great etc etc.
Also it is usually difficult to get them to work and some need a lot of technical skills.

There is a watch (BlueJay) in development by one of the Xdrip developers that will do this, but last I heard it current only works with the DexCom.
I had a stand alone watch up untill a couple of years back.
It was called the “Watlaa one.” Looked like a sleeker Apple Watch running a stripped back firmware of xDrip. & a battery life of 10 days..
It just told the time & my BG levels.
It needed a Bluetooth “bridge” to work independently..

Great little unobtrusive watch..

However,
The suppler with the BT bridge supplying the data stopped any updates or support from the Libre 2 which would by itself also send to my phone.
The data & graph sent to this watch was either gobbledegook or nothing at all. There was no more support for the firmware on the Watlaa either..

Just looked at the Watlaa website the link to the Android play store for updates has been shut down.
I think Abbott caught on & changed something with these independently non sanctioned NEC scanners?

My improvements would be integration with Apple Watch and Apple Carplay.
Hi,
Hope you’re well?

I am familiar with Apple although a windows or Android user.. Their iPad tablets are great. (Owned for years.)
I can get Diabox (as one of its functions) to speak my BGs as they roll in?
Which should work over a Bluetooth connection on the stereo? Tried it on wireless ear buds. Annoying… :hilarious:

But that’s nobody else’s business & I can also get a discreet readout on my A pillar phone cradle by split screening the Diabox app with the sat nav or a floating readout that can be moved over what ever app or browser is open at the time?

Like this...

Screenshot_20240831-193724_Samsung Internet.jpg
 
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Rachox

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17,003
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
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I am familiar with Apple although a windows or Android user.. Their iPad tablets are great. (Owned for years.)
I can get Diabox (as one of its functions) to speak my BGs as they roll in?
Which should work over a Bluetooth connection on the stereo? Tried it on wireless ear buds. Annoying… :hilarious:

But that’s nobody else’s business & I can also get a discreet readout on my A pillar phone cradle by split screening the Diabox app with the sat nav or a floating readout that can be moved over what ever app or browser is open at the time?
I used Shuggah for a week or so when Libre had a disastrous update and stopped working for a while. Shuggah gave me a read out on my watch, never tried the car. But when Libre came back I couldn’t get them to work side by side and I didn’t want to loose the Libre stats.
 

Jaylee

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I used Shuggah for a week or so when Libre had a disastrous update and stopped working for a while. Shuggah gave me a read out on my watch, never tried the car. But when Libre came back I couldn’t get them to work side by side and I didn’t want to loose the Libre stats.


Librelink worked seamlessly with my Android phone up until a couple of months ago. (With Diabox.)
I force stop the app after starting a new sensor & roll with Diabox. A more versatile app for my lifestyle..

Now my endo will probably be flummoxed when I next see him due to a lot of missing data?
(I’m not even sure he knows what he’s looking at on my phone.yep, he’s full of it.. my mechanic has more knowledge.)
However,
Diabox & librelink when LL was working. is consistently 15% higher on the A1c estimate than the result from the lab..?
This is where it get’s interesting… My recent. (2 Weeks ago.) results from the blood taken by the surgery nurse are not only consistent but what they should expect from a reasonable management with exogenous insulin.
Even the other markers are great. I cut the nurse off whilst she tried to push statins Despite this?

To everyone else out there with serious BG management in mind.
Grab an app & system that can work for you. Within your personal budget & needs…

We don’t always need the latest flash gadgets.
 
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SimonP78

Well-Known Member
Messages
463
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I don't have a smartwatch (yet) because as I understand it, the watches only display what the phone or other device has processed or detected. I had hoped a smartwatch could maintain a link with the Libre sensor so I could run without needing to carry my phone...but I don't think that's possible. But that's another question.
Most simply repeat what the phone has read, which is actually quite useful, though I would also quite like a stand alone collector. As others have mentioned it is theoretically possible with XDrip+, though I've not looked at support recently. It is certainly possible with Juggluco: https://www.juggluco.nl/JugglucoWearOS/ There's also a list of watches that are known to work with it in the Discussions section of the Github repo for the app: https://github.com/j-kaltes/Juggluco/discussions/74

If I needed a new watch (or were around water more often so really didn't want a phone on me), I'd probably give this a go.