A question for Libre users

[freesia]

Hi all. I've been approved for a 6 month trial of the Libre and am almost at the end of my first two weeks. My DSN said that some people put their new one on the other arm 24 hrs before to let it bed in. My questions are
1. Do you scan the new one straight away or just leave it in until the old one stops then scan it?
2. Do you do the same with the Librelink app as that is what i'm using most to record info?
3. What is best to do..wait until one runs out then insert the new or wear the two for a while?
I'm asking as i really don't know what to do. If i don't insert it before the old one runs out there'll be a break in the data but if i insert it then am i wasting a day of it while it beds in? Also, the old one runs out while i'm at work and i'm worried about trying to put a new one on there..i'd rather try at home. Sorry for the long post but if anyone could give me an answer i'd be really grateful. Thanks

 

[Kaylz]

you can apply 24 hours before the other one ends but only activate it when the old one ends so you don't lose a day, it's life doesn't start until you activate it, if you wait till your old sensor ends then there will still be a gap for the 1 hour warm up period UNLESS an hour before your current sensor ends you activate the new one with your reader and continue to scan the old one with your phone until it finishes
I personally apply in the morning and activate it in the afternoon when my current one ends so I wear 2 for a few hours
Does all of that make sense? If not just ask me to clarify wherever you may need me to
xx

 

[Ljc]

Hi. I am glad to hear you have been approved for the Libre trial, my Libre has been a game changer for me and I hope you find the same .

Some of us find the sensors are more accurate if we apply but don’t start them straight away other find they are ok when started straight away, so I suggest you do a little experimenting to find what works best for you.

When you start a new sensor it automatically ends the old one.

You will always have an hours gap in the readings when you start a sensor, personally I feel bereft during this time as I am addicted to them.

I can’t help with the Libre as I don’t use it.

I strongly suggest you don’t rely on the scans to treat hypo’s or hypers as their is a delay of around 15 minutes before glucose reaches the interstitial fluid that the Libre samples, which could be very erm .... .... unpleasant for you, plus they do sometimes have senior, moments at times lol .

 

[Ljc]

You beat me to it @Kaylz .. I must learn to type faster lol

 

[freesia]

Thanks both. I've found it really helpful and was doing really well with managing, staying in target until Sunday. Since then i've had a few hypos/hypers but putting it down to some stress and also not felt great. I have checked hypos with a finger prick and used those until my levels are back up and i've snacked. My sensor is due to run out Friday late morning so i think i'll put the new one on Thursday night. Wish me luck, i'm a bit nervous!

 

[Bexlee]

The Libre is an absolute game changer. Generally speaking it really boosts confidence in dealing with levels going up or down and heading off many hypos and hypers. You'll soon get used to “popping them on” and not really thinking about it. Have you mastered the “door walk” yet so you don’t bump it / knock it? I did it once 🙄

 

[nonethewiser]

Apply new sensor same day old one runs out. Using libre app you have to start sensor first with reader then scan with phone just after, important as forgetting to scan with phone within 1 hour of activation means you cant use app, so reader first then mobile.

 

[Amity Island]

Hi all. I've been approved for a 6 month trial of the Libre and am almost at the end of my first two weeks. My DSN said that some people put their new one on the other arm 24 hrs before to let it bed in. My questions are
1. Do you scan the new one straight away or just leave it in until the old one stops then scan it?
2. Do you do the same with the Librelink app as that is what i'm using most to record info?
3. What is best to do..wait until one runs out then insert the new or wear the two for a while?
I'm asking as i really don't know what to do. If i don't insert it before the old one runs out there'll be a break in the data but if i insert it then am i wasting a day of it while it beds in? Also, the old one runs out while i'm at work and i'm worried about trying to put a new one on there..i'd rather try at home. Sorry for the long post but if anyone could give me an answer i'd be really grateful. Thanks

Hi Freesia,
Congrats on getting the Libre, it's the best widely available piece of kit to be brought out for type 1 diabetics in over a 100 years! thanks to Abbott.
I always switch my sensor straight away just after the old one runs out. For me the sensors have worked immediately and accurately. This accuracy and timing is something you need to find out for yourself.
The hour gap between sensors is something which I am sure Abbott will address in future releases or with a software download. btw I don't use the libre ap. The reader works fine for me.
The only thing now is, I'd be very reluctant to go back to finger pricking, the libre is light years ahead of what finger pricking can do.

 

[freesia]

Apply new sensor same day old one runs out. Using libre app you have to start sensor first with reader then scan with phone just after, important as forgetting to scan with phone within 1 hour of activation means you cant use app, so reader first then mobile.

Good tip..thanks. They said reader then phone but i didn't realise you only had 1 hour to do it. I've not bumped it on a door yet but i have caught it getting dressed in the morning! I have managed to head off some hypos but have had a couple when i've been really busy and rushing about, only noticing when i scan or stop. Levels are higher atm, 9s and some 10s, hopefully they'll come back down soon

 

[freesia]

Hi Freesia,
Congrats on getting the Libre, it's the best widely available piece of kit to be brought out for type 1 diabetics in over a 100 years! thanks to Abbott.
I always switch my sensor straight away just after the old one runs out. For me the sensors have worked immediately and accurately. This accuracy and timing is something you need to find out for yourself.
The hour gap between sensors is something which I am sure Abbott will address in future releases or with a software download. btw I don't use the libre ap. The reader works fine for me.
The only thing now is, I'd be very reluctant to go back to finger pricking, the libre is light years ahead of what finger pricking can do.

I am using both the reader and the app. I know they don't work together but i wanted to see how the reader shows the graphs on the computer. The app is better for me atm as my DSN can access the data while i'm on the phone if i have a problem.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

They said reader then phone but i didn't realise you only had 1 hour to do it.

That's no longer true.

So, if you start the new sensor with the Reader an hour before the old one runs out, you can continue scanning the old one with your phone and (when the hour's up) immediately start scanning the new one with your phone since it'll have started up. (Unfortunately neither the Reader nor the app lets you know the right time (they both start counting down in minutes once the last hour starts), so most likely you'll have a gap of a few minutes even if you're checking regularly.) Ultimately it doesn't matter much, obviously, but if you want to have a gap of less than an hour it is possible if you're careful.

 

[freesia]

So let me see if i've got this right...i can apply the new one Thursday night but not scan it to activate until an hour before my old one finishes. When my old one finishes i can scan my new one with my phone. Is that right? Sorry about this. I think once i've done it myself the first time i probably won't be so worried about getting it right.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Start the new one with the Reader. (Then you won't be able to read the old sensor with the Reader, but you can continue with your phone.)

After an hour you can scan the new one with the Reader as normal.

Presuming you started the new sensor less than an hour before the old sensor stops, once the new sensor is ready for scanning the old one will have run out so you can remove it and start scanning the new one with your phone (and the Reader).

So (presuming you don't want any gap at all) if you start up the new sensor when the old one has exactly an hour to go, you won't have any gap between the two. (However, it's usually not that important. I think it's quite nice to have a bath without wearing a sensor at all once in a while.)

If you start a sensor with the Reader, that's what starts the 60 minutes before it's ready, and whenever you scan it with the phone that's what you get, so if you first scan (with your phone) after 60 minutes it'll give you a reading straight away.

 

[freesia]

Thank you. Thats really helpful. Now all i need to do is get these higher levels down. Hopefully they are just caused by some stress and feeling under the weather.

 

[Hodgo]

The Libre is an absolute game changer. Generally speaking it really boosts confidence in dealing with levels going up or down and heading off many hypos and hypers. You'll soon get used to “popping them on” and not really thinking about it. Have you mastered the “door walk” yet so you don’t bump it / knock it? I did it once 🙄

I would recommend placing a 3M Tegaderm Film (clear dressing) over the sensor once applied. They are shower proof and usually last for the 2 weeks. I accidentally knocked 2 off via the "door walk" prior to trying them and none since.