Type 1 Using libre for type 1 diabetes

catapillar · Apr 7, 2017

joanne75 said:
Thank you, are they cheaper then the Libre do you know? do you know how I can find out the difference between the two whether one is better then the other?

I don't think dexcom is cheaper than libre. I can't recall exact prices for G5/G4 vs libre. Getting dexcom use for about the same annual cost as libre shoul be possible with if you can stretch the sensor life I think.

@tim2000s has provided info above on the MARD for dexcom v libre.

Also bear in mind dexcom is a continuous glucose monitor. So long as receiver isbin range of sensor it takes readings every 5 mins and will alarm for high/low or rise/fall rates. Libre is a glad glucose monitor and needs to be scanned to take a reading.

tim2000s · Apr 7, 2017

If you compare costs, the Libre is £50 per sensor, and each sensor last two weeks only. You can use an Android phone to scan it.

Dexcom also costs £50 per sensor, which officially lasts 7 days, but most of us get a lot more than that (personally I'm around 18 days), but you have to factor in start-up costs as the Dexcom has a reusable transmitter that costs £200 for the G5 and needs replacing every 3 months, or £250 for the G4, which needs replacing roughly every 12 months. The G4 also requires a receiver, which is another £250, unless you take a look at the wearenotwaiting solutions which cost less but require soldering skills.

All in all, the Libre tends to work out slightly lower in cost unless you get a really long life out of the Dexcom sensors.

Scott-C · Apr 7, 2017

bethgriff said:
So after the first sensor I'd read up and inserted this one 24h before I had planned to use it..

yes I washed my hand, I always do after getting caught out about 7 years and got a hi reading after baking (but not eating) a cake... I thought t was osmosis or something

This picture is 3 days after inserting, nearly 48h after activating

it was at night about 5 hours after my evening meal.

No I admit not quite 10 mins apart here...and given that I hadn't eaten I doubt my glucose would have fluctuated my 7mmol and it hasn't made any difference when I have done (they've never matched once)

And also I have qc'd my glucose machine although you didn't ask that

I was discussing and reviewing with my consultant today (uploaded my pump, glucose machine and libre on to diasend) and he was saying that they're better for people on MDI. It's consistently different from my finger readings which is clearer to see on my diasend. I acknowledge this was an extreme example but the OP needs to be aware that this can be an issue if relying on it to boils.

My consultant will be getting me a trial or the dexcom G4 which he said was "infinitely better"

I was hoping the libre would mean less finger stabbing for me so after investing in it I think it's reasonable for me to be disappointed in that it has been of no value to me personally.

I understand that it works great for some people, but given that this was a query about using it INSTEAD of finger pricks I was making the point that it can be quite unsafe to do this, especially if the person using it will also be "inexperienced"with it.

Everyone has differing opinions and I have the right to my opinion that it's not good as much as you do to think it's the

@bethgriff, my sincere apologies! After reading my post back, it does come across as a bit snarky, so sorry for that.

I was being too defensive about the libre - it's made a huge difference to my life.

Good luck with the Dexcom which I see you're getting! Whether it's dexcom, medtronic or libre, cgm generally makes this sh#tty condition easier, despite their quirks.

Type 1 Using libre for type 1 diabetes

catapillar

Well-Known Member

tim2000s

Expert

Scott-C

Well-Known Member

Type 1 Using libre for type 1 diabetes

catapillar

Well-Known Member

tim2000s

Expert

Scott-C

Well-Known Member

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