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FreeStyle Libre Sensors falling off!

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Natalie123

Natalie123

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Hi, I have been using my new freestyle libre on and off for a few months now and keep having issues with them falling off. This seems to happen when I have been particularly active and sweaty (sorry!!) or swimming or once because I walked into a door frame (that was entirely my own stupidity!) This is really annoying as I am struggling to afford the sensors as it is but I am determined to keep trying because the extra info is really helping. I have had ME and diabetes for 12 years and have finally started to get better from the ME so I'm starting to swim and walk regularly with the aim of getting my diabetes under control. I wondered if anyone else has had this problem and found a solution? Is there anything that can be done to protect the sensor when swimming? Thanks x
 
Hi Natalie

I had one fall off after a bath and I now put Micropore tape over the sensor, as I do not want them falling off. This seems to keep them in place, even after a 1 hour swim training session. I found that with this it was very difficult to get the sensor off after it had run out, but worth it to keep it in place.
 
I usually find that after wearing them for about 10 days the sticky surface starts to lose its adhesion. I know a few forum members fix theirs in place with surgical tape, staples, gaffer tape and some are weld them to their arms. I don't swim with mine but do cycle and sweat quite a bit while riding. In the eventuality that they do fall off your arm Abbott will supply you with a replacement sensor but ensure to keep the faulty one as they ask for them back. Bugger knows what they do with them??????
 
Natalie123 said:
Hi, I have been using my new freestyle libre on and off for a few months now and keep having issues with them falling off. This seems to happen when I have been particularly active and sweaty (sorry!!) or swimming or once because I walked into a door frame (that was entirely my own stupidity!) This is really annoying as I am struggling to afford the sensors as it is but I am determined to keep trying because the extra info is really helping. I have had ME and diabetes for 12 years and have finally started to get better from the ME so I'm starting to swim and walk regularly with the aim of getting my diabetes under control. I wondered if anyone else has had this problem and found a solution? Is there anything that can be done to protect the sensor when swimming? Thanks x
Click to expand...

Natalie, do you routinely moisturise after your showers, baths ans swimming?

When I attach a sensor, I don't moisturise that area after my shower that morning, then wait around half an hour to ensure the skin is properly dry, use the medical wipe, wait another couple of minutes, again to ensure it's absolutely dry, then apply the sensor. That seems to see it well welded to me for the 2 weeks.
 
I don't find Micropore tape sticks very well at all. We use Tegaderm, you can buy it at the chemist. They are like patches, you just peel the backing off and stick it over the top of the sensor. That sticks it pretty firmly and usually lasts the whole two weeks. It gives it some extra waterproof protection when swimming too, my daughter was in the pool for a whole hour last night (the sensors are only supposed to be waterproof for 30 mins max) and we had no problems and no gaps in the graph. It didn't stop her dislodging one when she walked into a door though :(
 
Sally71 said:
I don't find Micropore tape sticks very well at all. We use Tegaderm, you can buy it at the chemist. They are like patches, you just peel the backing off and stick it over the top of the sensor. That sticks it pretty firmly and usually lasts the whole two weeks. It gives it some extra waterproof protection when swimming too, my daughter was in the pool for a whole hour last night (the sensors are only supposed to be waterproof for 30 mins max) and we had no problems and no gaps in the graph. It didn't stop her dislodging one when she walked into a door though :(
Click to expand...
I can't remember the last time I walked into a door, but it seems to affect a lot of people wearing Libre sensors - is this something we should be concerned about and highlight to Abbott? 😱 😉
 
Rock tape and opsite flexi-fix are also popular with folks who find over-taping is required. I can only assume it has something to do with a person's skin type because all mine are still stuck like a sensor-to-a-shovel when the 14 days are up 😛
 
Seriously, anyone who's not worn a Libre sensor before will be amazed at just how often you walk too close to door frames.

I've been a bit like Mike, relatively lucky with my sensors. I've only lost three to date - one from clocking a door frame, one for it getting caught on the arm of my t-shirt as I was removing the shirt, and one while climbing over a sofa, stretching awkwardly and scragging the sensor. The first two both happened approx 2 hours before I was due to change over the sensor anyway, and the last one happened one week in and it didn't actually come off. I ended up having to remove it myself because it made my arm incredibly sore and started reading consistently about 3mmol/l too low.
 
Lol - I don't think my daughter had ever done anything like that either until she had a Libre!

She did hers on Brownie Camp only about half an hour after she got there. Because of the Tegaderm it didn't come off but she said she felt it move and then after that she got no further readings from it. She got a couple of "data not available, try again in 10 minutes" messages and then it shut down completely, even though it should have had 12 days left. (A bit annoying that we lost it that early!!). When she got home 2 days later the reader was saying "no active sensor", when we took it off the little metal filament had come right out of her skin and was folded up under the plastic, so little wonder it stopped working!!
 
Natalie123 said:
Hi, I have been using my new freestyle libre on and off for a few months now and keep having issues with them falling off. This seems to happen when I have been particularly active and sweaty (sorry!!) or swimming or once because I walked into a door frame (that was entirely my own stupidity!) This is really annoying as I am struggling to afford the sensors as it is but I am determined to keep trying because the extra info is really helping. I have had ME and diabetes for 12 years and have finally started to get better from the ME so I'm starting to swim and walk regularly with the aim of getting my diabetes under control. I wondered if anyone else has had this problem and found a solution? Is there anything that can be done to protect the sensor when swimming? Thanks x
Click to expand...


I have had the same problem eg having 6 fall out the 7th fell out today so rang Abbotts and was told that this type of blood testing wasn't for me and i needed to seek another form of testing.Seems to me that they have WASHED their hands of the problem such a large company with A POOR customer care attitude.Its strange that they have taken £500.00 off me to be left out in the cold , so beware anyone who dares to Sweat you may find yourself without any back up and considerably poorer !!!
 
I don't think sweat is necessarily the problem, because I have woken completely drenched in sweat due to a hypo with no problem. It may be an application issue. I always apply the sensor with a very firm press on the applicator. The reason for this is the science behind the adhesive - it requires pressure to work best. They don't tell you to do this, but I've never had one fall off. I just can't see how you can walk into a door and strike the back of your arm.
 
Been on a trial with one and I was worried about it falling off. Needn't have, as it stuck to me like a limpet. Actually had more of a problem taking it off. I too walk into door frames (this is getting quite worrying !!) When the Abbot lady came up to the hosp to talk to us about the sensor she was also diabetic and had hers on the inside of the arm about 2 inches down from her armpit. She advised us to put them there as it reduced the chance of knocking it off.
 
mikeyB said:
I don't think sweat is necessarily the problem, because I have woken completely drenched in sweat due to a hypo with no problem. It may be an application issue. I always apply the sensor with a very firm press on the applicator. The reason for this is the science behind the adhesive - it requires pressure to work best. They don't tell you to do this, but I've never had one fall off. I just can't see how you can walk into a door and strike the back of your arm.
Click to expand...


It probably reads pretty dim Mike but it is extremely easy to catch them on house doors, car doors and I sometimes have issues climbing around, over and into machinery. All that notwithstanding the sticky pad on mine starts to lift after about 8 days. You may be correct in suggesting applying extra pressure to the applicator when first fitting the sensor but there is a set distance between the sensor and the front of the applicator which goes against your skin when applying the sensor. I have just looked at an applicator and feel that all is achieved by applying extra pressure is to create a nice red ring on your arm. Having said this I have repeated issues with sensors coming adrift and you do not. I might give it a punt on next fitting.

Following on from my last ramblings on the dirty dreaded Libre I have found my current one to be behaving itself very well having said this I am only 6 days in and the silliness is not due to start first another 3 days
 
I'm on my 6th and all have lasted the full 2 weeks. Mr Eggy always puts mine on as I don't have the dexterity or strength to do it. I struggle to get them off after the two weeks and often have one on each arm for two/three days! I also sweat a lot. Sorry, I mean glow! Horses sweat, men perspire, ladies glow! I often ricochet off doors but usually with my hip! 🙂
 
Natalie123 said:
Hi, I have been using my new freestyle libre on and off for a few months now and keep having issues with them falling off. This seems to happen when I have been particularly active and sweaty (sorry!!) or swimming or once because I walked into a door frame (that was entirely my own stupidity!) This is really annoying as I am struggling to afford the sensors as it is but I am determined to keep trying because the extra info is really helping. I have had ME and diabetes for 12 years and have finally started to get better from the ME so I'm starting to swim and walk regularly with the aim of getting my diabetes under control. I wondered if anyone else has had this problem and found a solution? Is there anything that can be done to protect the sensor when swimming? Thanks x
Click to expand...
Do you let the antiseptic wipe dry on your skin ? I certainly do & I work on building sites with lots of ways to get knocked & never a failure.
 
There is of course always Plan B


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Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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