Trialing Libre, Enquiring about Dexcom?

onnecar · Oct 9, 2022

Marie 2 said:
I use both, as my Dexcom is paid for by my insurance and it is more accurate. I self fund the LIbre as I use it to ocean swim and I keep the reader in a water proof pouch and can actually scan it while swimming. I also used a Libre before my Dexcom.

The LIbre is wonderful and usually more economical. But hands down a Dexcom is better because you can calibrate it to make it more accurate. I can get my Dexcom with some calibrations to within .3mmol (5mg) of accuracy. Most of the time a LIbre is off by 1 to 1.5 mmols (20-30 mg) depending. Sometimes at the lower numbers it is closer, random ones can read better or worse. When I used a Libre I used to automatically add points to the numbers to get a more accurate number to dose by,

For dosing, it's an important difference for me. As soon as I am done swimming the Libre reader goes into my purse for storage. But if it's an economical decision a Libre is a blessing not to be ignored and is a wonderful thing to have........ it's just a Dexcom is better. I gather that the UK now has Dexcom One which is their more economical version to compete with the cheaper costs of the Libre. I don't think it is supposed to be different other than some ap variations.

Customer service is very important...........it's just really a Dexcom is better because of being able to calibrate it.

I've found the Dexcom customer service to be slow to non-existent so will probably stick with the Libre for the time-being. I'm having to self-fund as I'm type 2. I don't think there is much difference between the Dexcom and Libre in the UK currently. I'm coming to the end of my free trial 2 week period and the sensor has not come off and is still working. I have bought cover plasters just in case but have not so far used them. Libre is apparently 5 ml behind a finger prick. This is probably true as there was quite a big difference when I compared recently between the two. Particularly if the level is rising or falling quite quickly. May give Dexcom a try in the future if their customer service improves.

onnecar · Oct 9, 2022

Lakeslover said:
I use a tegaderm patch over mine and swim 3 times a week for an hour without any problems.. I can still scan the sensor through whatever clothes I am wearing.

Do you put the patch on at the same time as applying the sensor? Do you leave the patch on all the time or just use it for swimming? If you take it off does it not pull off the sensor? Thanks for your info it's very helpful.

onnecar · Oct 9, 2022

Antje77 said:
I always put an airtight Hypafix patch over mine, and I have a cute sticker on top of that too.
No problem at all!

Because of the patch I can swim as long as I like without worrying about the glue.

Thanks for the info. Do you keep the patch on all the time?

Antje77 · Oct 9, 2022

onnecar said:
Do you keep your swimming pool sessions to under 30 minutes? Just wondering as that is the supposed time limit for the sensors.

The time limit is because the glue softens when swimming and you can lose it more easily.
So if you use an overpatch this is not an issue anymore.

Antje77 · Oct 9, 2022

onnecar said:
Thanks for the info. Do you keep the patch on all the time?

Yes, all the time.
If you put a bit of tissue between the sensor and the patch the patch won't stick to your sensor if you want to take it off before the sensor has ended.
Usually my patches stay on for the whole two weeks, occasionally they start pealing too much and I put a new one on in between.

onnecar · Oct 9, 2022

Antje77 said:
The time limit is because the glue softens when swimming and you can lose it more easily.
So if you use an overpatch this is not an issue anymore.

Thanks. I did wonder what the reason for the time limit was. I will definitely use one if I go swimming. Do you think it would be best to just use it when swimming then take the patch off, or to just leave the patch on?

Antje77 · Oct 9, 2022

onnecar said:
Thanks. I did wonder what the reason for the time limit was. I will definitely use one if I go swimming. Do you think it would be best to just use it when swimming then take the patch off, or to just leave the patch on?

The patch also protects my sensors from door frames, bra straps and prying kitten paws so I prefer to have it always.
But others do fine without an overpatch at all so it comes down to personal preference.

onnecar · Oct 9, 2022

This information could be useful to me. So far it's stayed on without any patches, but I've not done any swimming or intense exercise since using them. I'll definitely use the patch for swimming. May then just leave it on and see if it stays on. Would probably just need to be extra careful if removing it before sensor ends.

Marie 2 · Oct 9, 2022

@onnecar I use Skin Tac and swim for 2-3 hours with my Libre and I have no issues with it staying on or working.

onnecar · Oct 9, 2022

Marie 2 said:
@onnecar I use Skin Tac and swim for 2-3 hours with my Libre and I have no issues with it staying on or working.

Looks like Abbotts are not doing much research into overpatches judging by their knowledge currently.

Lakeslover · Oct 9, 2022

onnecar said:
Do you put the patch on at the same time as applying the sensor? Do you leave the patch on all the time or just use it for swimming? If you take it off does it not pull off the sensor? Thanks for your info it's very helpful.

Yes, I put the patch on at the same time as the sensor and it stays on for the 14 days. If it’s very hot occasionally the edges of the patch can lift, then I cut round it carefully to remove the loose bits and put another patch over the top.

becca59 · Oct 9, 2022

Antje77 said:
The patch also protects my sensors from door frames, bra straps and prying kitten paws so I prefer to have it always.
But others do fine without an overpatch at all so it comes down to personal preference.

Ditto! I’m a bit of a ruffian, so love having the security of it covered. Swim and shower as much and as long as I like.

becca59 · Oct 9, 2022

onnecar said:
It's good to know that the alarm system worked. I'm assuming that the alarm doesn't work if wi fi is switched off. I normally switch mine off at night.

Not connected in that way. Works by blue tooth. Alarms go with abandon on deserted beaches with no signal.
Intrigued as to why you switch Wi-Fi off at night though. Our security cameras and hard drive busily recording all those programs I cannot stay awake for would not work.

Sue Lee · Oct 9, 2022

onnecar said:
I'm a type 2 on insulin and on the Freestyle libre 2 week free trial. After 4 days it is still on which is good news so far and it works fine. I am probably going to pay for it even though it is quite expensive. It is so much less stressful that finger pricking, particularly for driving. As for the cost, I've looked at both Freestyle and Dexcom and the prices seem virtually the same to me, taking into account the slightly different time lengths of the sensor lives etc. I did try to contact Dexcom for more info and it took them over a week to come back to me. I managed to speak to someone at Freestyle almost straight away so will probably stick with them now. I am getting some over plasters from Amazon just in case of sticking issues. One thing I would say about Dexcom is that they do supply these with the package. Does anyone have any advice on these monitors?

Why not ask your doctor if you can have it on prescription as your on insulin you’re at risk from Hypo’s. I have been given it on prescription as a type 2.

onnecar · Oct 9, 2022

Sue Lee said:
Why not ask your doctor if you can have it on prescription as your on insulin you’re at risk from Hypo’s. I have been given it on prescription as a type 2.

I'm not eligible. If you're type 2 you have to prove that you are really likely to have a hypo. ie you have to have had episodes of them. I've never had one. You have to have them frequently or have another health issue or mental issue that puts you at risk. Those are the guidelines at the moment. It's great you've been given it but I don't see me getting it. I will ask the nurse when I see her in 2 weeks, but I won't hold my breath. I could plead age I guess.

Grandadfatboy · Oct 9, 2022

onnecar said:
This information could be useful to me. So far it's stayed on without any patches, but I've not done any swimming or intense exercise since using them. I'll definitely use the patch for swimming. May then just leave it on and see if it stays on. Would probably just need to be extra careful if removing it before sensor ends.

My current health issues prevent me from being anywhere near as active as I would wish. That said, one of the medications I need to take once a week, their side effect, well one of them, is perfuse sweating which generally last 2 days or so. As a result of this sweating I find myself showering 2 or more times daily, and despite the sweating and the extra bathing the sensor patch has never become detached. On the odd occasion I've had the edges of the patch start to curl up, but usually at the end of the sensors life.

My wife fits and removes both my sensors and my patches, as I'm unable to reach to properly affix them, and at no time has the removal of a patch removed the sensor along with it. Maybe I've just been lucky that way.

I don't know if this will be helpful to any Libra 2 users who swipe using their mobile phone, but I have my Low Glucose alarm set at 5mmol/L, which alerts me in plenty of time to react before going hypo, my high glucose alarm at 15mmol/L, and my signal loss alarm turned off. I found the signal loss alarm was waking me repeatedly through the night, and often because I was laying on my side and the sensor was masked by the bedding. Obviously, these settings can be used by the user to tweak what is best for them.

onnecar · Oct 10, 2022

Fitting the sensor with one hand can be tricky, so not sure how I'd get on with fitting a patch too. I'm a widow so live on my own. I also have the low glucose alarm set. I also have the sensor loss alarm off as when I left that on the first time I set the alarm, I went to a meeting and it kept going on. I was forced to set my phone to silent till I got it sorted out. I also switch my wifi off at night so not sure if that would count as a signal loss anyway. I think my alarm low alert is 3.9 so may have to change it. Having to switch arms for me this time will mean applying it with the left hand, so will see how that goes as I'm right handed.

Marie 2 · Oct 11, 2022

@onnecar I wear my Dexcom on the front of my arm. Also Skin Tac is a liquid adhesive that you apply on the sensor before you apply it. Very easy to do.

onnecar · Oct 11, 2022

Marie 2 said:
@onnecar I wear my Dexcom on the front of my arm. Also Skin Tac is a liquid adhesive that you apply on the sensor before you apply it. Very easy to do.

That's interesting. If all else fails I'll bear that in mind as a further option thanks.

Marie 2 · Oct 11, 2022

@onnecar Just don't put it directly on top of the muscle.

Trialing Libre, Enquiring about Dexcom?

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