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Continuous glucose monitoring help

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Freestyle libre, state that at lower readings then you make get false levels, so not good as you will end up over correcting based on hypos that don't exist.
 
Thanks for the info. Was thinking about one as an xmas gift . From what you have said may not suit my needs.
 
Hepato-pancreato said:
Thanks for the info. Was thinking about one as an xmas gift . From what you have said may not suit my needs.
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I will be getting one purely so that I can see what is happening when I am exercising, this I believe they are excellent for. They can also help with basal insulin decisions, but for real time insulin/correction choices.
 
Hepato-pancreato said:
Not for insulin descisions. More for hypo prevention.
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It depends on how you want to tackle hypo prevention. I find my Libre useful for that during the day, because it will tell me I'm on the downward slide before I start to feel symptoms, and I can judge whether it's worth using up a test strip to double check ( unless it's a very rapid slide, but in that case I normally feel symptoms quicker anyway). It also shows me what sort of pattern I've had overnight, I've learnt to interpret the results, and ignore dips into the red that I'm sure have been caused by the Libre reading lower than my meter at the lower end. ( in the mid range, mine is often spot on with my meter, upper range Libre tends to read a bit higher). It's helped me work out an overnight strategy without having to set the alarm and wake up to test.
 
If you drive they are not recognised by DVLA as ways to measure blood sugar before and whilst driving.
 
oh dear that's not good news. I maybe a cynic but if dvla don' t recognise them. Not that accurate then.
 
Hepato-pancreato said:
oh dear that's not good news. I maybe a cynic but if dvla don' t recognise them. Not that accurate then.
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The DVLA thing is partly because they are new, and haven't been appraised by NICE yet, and partly because they measure interstitial fluid, and lag 10-15 minutes behind a blood sugar reading on a meter.
 
Hepato-pancreato said:
oh dear that's not good news. I maybe a cynic but if dvla don' t recognise them. Not that accurate then.
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I wouldn't say that's a fair conclusion.

The Freestyle Libre is still a relatively new product, which is approved for use in the UK, but not yet approved by NICE to be prescribed. I think it will be some time before the DVLA amend their rules, bearing in mind how lethal a car can be, very quickly to a great many people.

For my 2p contribution; I am not T1 or insulin dependent and my diabetes is in a good place, but even so, using the LIbre taught me such a lot about how my body operates and reacts to many foods and situations, such as, stress, travelling, being under the weather, as well as my trending patterns and how long, post-eating, my body reaches it's blood glucose peak. It can differ depending upon what I have eaten, with the consumption of carb or fat impacting.

I think different people want different things from a 24/7 monitor. It isn't a panacea to everything, but it certainly has it's place in my opinion.
 
Hepato-pancreato said:
Saying that I have three meters. Each gives different reading at same time of testing
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That's allowed tolerances for you!
Sorry for slightly terse replies, I'm in the middle of cooking, haven't checked my readings for a while, and suddenly discovered Ive slid to 3.5 and am now feeling the effects!
 
I think the freestyle libre is accurate for me. I climbed up scarfell this year in the rain & a normal meter would not have worked ! 🙂
 
I use the Dexcom G4 and have found it excellent for preventing hypo's. You can set the alarm to go off at your chosen level. As it measures 20 mins behind a finger poke I find setting to alarm at 5 mins I am getting a tad to close to hypo territory without actually being hypo so can prevent the hypo happening. You can also see what way your levels are going with exercise and food intake. I would hate to be without mine now.
 
Just to point out - the increasingly popular Libre device is NOT a true CGM. You have to manually swipe with the handset to get any readings. Actual Continuous Glucose Monitors, such as the Dexcom and the Medtronic Enlites will sound an alarm if you go low or high, and the Medtronic links to their insulin pump and suspends basal insulin for a low - this can be literally life saving for people with no nighttime hypo awareness.
 
a cgm is great, but far from perfect. I need the warning that it gives of potential hypos, which is why I went for a cgm rather than a Libre.

I'm sure it has saved my life several times, but at times it does get it wrong! If I had to choose between a pump and a cgm I would go for the cgm.
 
Problem I have. Diabetes not in control. Have been cured of hepatitis C. (After 32 years). Still have cirrhosis. Had deep frey' s for chronic pancreatitis. Only became diabetic after operation. Still have chronic pain on OxyContin .oxynorm. Pregablin. Etc..... diabetes is a major problem for me.
 
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