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Type 1 Using Skintac with Abbott's Freestyle Libre - has anyone tried it?

D

Dubh

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I've just placed an order for the Abbott Freestyle Libra, would be interested to know has anyone tried the skin tac adhesive wipes? does it help.
Another thought, placing the sensor most seem to opt for the back of the arm which to me looks kind of awkward. Has anyone tried placing it on the inner arm above the elbow joint, should work there surely and be convenient for the flash thing. I'm not worried about walking into door surrounds being 68 I've mastered the art of missing them.
Any thoughts appreciated.
 
Hi @Dubh, if you use the search function and search for "Freestyle Libre", you'll be able to find tons of posts on the topic of Libre!
 
It's a fab piece of kit - I love it!

The back of the upper arm is the only place recommended by Abbott. I suspect if you ever encounter a problem with one placed elsewhere you would get short shrift from customer services (and no free replacement!).

I've never had need to use additional sticky products, and I often swim and exercise sweatily. No issues.

It's a great piece of kit! And I echo @tim2000s 's suggestion to search for Libre threads - there's loads of information about people's experiences with it.

 
If you do choose to buy skintac (I highly recommend it), can I recommend you buy it in the bottle instead. I have always assumed the wipes are like the alcohol wipes and whilst I have not tried them (skintac wipes), I know once you get it on your fingers you end up getting it everywhere .... try to imagine handling cotton wool with wet superglue on your finger tips
The skintac bottle comes with an applicator and is much easier to use, in my opinion.
 
I use the wipes ( yes v sticky) and it keeps the Libre fixed
 
I wear mine on the inside of my arm. Tried the back and didn't like it - was a nightmare at swimming and aqua fit. I cover the sensor with Tegaderm which I get from Boots pharmacy. Reason I use this is I'm in the water for 2 hrs at a time which is beyond Abbott's 30 min advice. Also when I'm at aqua fit I wear a bit tubular bandage on top to stop it moving about. I've had no problems on the inside of the arm.
 
I use cosmetic body glue suitable for sticking glitter beads to the skin which works like skintac but is much cheaper.
It comes in a nail varnish bottle or like eye mascara with a wand. Not much is needed so a bottle should last a long time.
 
Dubh said:
I'm not worried about walking into door surrounds being 68 I've mastered the art of missing them.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Click to expand...
Don't be too sure!!

Being more senior than you and never having previously walked into doors, after using my Libre on and off over the last year more or less without problem, I recently had one fall off after 2-3 days, and having got my replacement and activated it, promptly walked through the bathroom door and knocked that off...

Robbity

PS @maglil55 I've had two now come off recently after baths, second one not long after my bathroom door episode, so 3 out of 4 lost over the last few weeks, after a previous almost unblemished record, so will try the Tegaderm, as I'm getting a bit neurotic now about losing them!! The Abbott's customer service man did recommend something after I reported my last disaster, but he was foreign and after a few attempts at trying to make out what the poor man was telling me, I gave up.
 
I find I'm using 2 Tegaderm during the 2 week period. You barely notice it but it certainly protects the sensor in water. Not found it any cheaper than Boots pharmacy at 52p per unit.
 
Does anyone know if these will be available on NHS I cannot afford to self fund £120.00 a month and feel this would make a huge difference to my type 1 diabetes which I have had over 15 years . Inject 5 times a day and it's painful where ever I rotate . Everything affects my levels : stress, hormones, hot weather and life in general. Grateful for constructive advice thank you.
 
You could try your Health Care Professional to see if you could get one to trial. You could also try to make a case to your GP to get sensors on prescription. I'm not aware of any imminent approval for wide scale use. It's not £120 a month by the way. As a diabetic they are VAT exempt I buy 3 at a time and that is £144 net of VAT for 6 weeks worth of sensors.
The thing is you still have to finger stab. As a Type 1 if you drive DVLA insist you still finger stab. You also need to know how the sensor is measuring in comparison to finger tests. So your GP still has to prescribe testing strips. I don't know if there are any Type 1s on here who have managed to make a case. Majority self fund as far as I am aware. I look on it as £3.45 a day and just make savings elsewhere to fund them. Without it I was having to buy extra strips over and above what was prescribed to keep track of what was happening with food. I don't have to do that now.
It would be nice if they were generally available on NHS but there is no sign if it happening any time soon. We can always hope the price comes down though.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
 
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