Anyone using the The FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitor

[poohbear]

Hi

can i ask if anyone knows how the patch is attached to your arm - do you just stick it on like a plaster or is there as medical procedure to it? Thanks

 

[Bruce Stephens]

There's an applicator (disposable, you get one with each sensor). There's a small (flexible) tube that gets thrust through the skin by the applicator (there's a needle in it) and the sensor itself sticks with glue.

 

[helli]

I recommend looking on YouTube for videos showing how to apply Libre.

 

[Sally71]

It comes preloaded in a disposable applicator which you push against your arm and it fires it in. There's a thin filament which sticks into your arm to read the glucose levels, this can only be applied to your arm by being inserted on a needle which then retracts back into the applicator. Which unfortunately also means there's no way of reinserting it if it falls off.

 

[Amity Island]

Hi

can i ask if anyone knows how the patch is attached to your arm - do you just stick it on like a plaster or is there as medical procedure to it? Thanks

Hi,

The sensor comes in a yellow box from the pharmacy. Open it, and inside are 2 containers and 2 alcohol wipes. Clean the u/s of the uppper arm first to remove any grease on the skin. The two containers both have a peel off foil. In one container is the applicator, in the other is the sensor. Put one on top of the other, push them together where the indicator lines match up. Then you use the now primed applicator to position over the underside of upper arm, you then just push the applicator firmly against the arm and it applies the sensor onto the arm. Lift off the applicator (can be a bit sticky and needs a gentle pull). You then use the reader to start up the sensor. After 60mins it's ready to go for up to 2 weeks.

If you are unsure, ask someone for help or go through the video a few times, it's too expensive to get it wrong.

Here is the video.

 

[Frank87]

I use these, they are quite good I much prefer them over the conventional finger pricking options.
1 thing i do find with them however is that I at least once or twice a month still mange to rip it off my arm be accident. (the biggest cause is door frames!)

 

[Bruce Stephens]

1 thing i do find with them however is that I at least once or twice a month still mange to rip it off my arm be accident. (the biggest cause is door frames!)

Wow! I've done that a couple of times in a couple of years. If I did it most months I'd look into straps and things to fix them (of which there's a bunch).

 

[Frank87]

Wow! I've done that a couple of times in a couple of years. If I did it most months I'd look into straps and things to fix them (of which there's a bunch).

I honestly used to do it lots, it was the nature of the work i was doing, moving from room to room avoiding colleagues, while at home the same but with the wife, my daughter and dog. I catch my self of door handle lots too.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I honestly used to do it lots, it was the nature of the work i was doing, moving from room to room avoiding colleagues, while at home the same but with the wife, my daughter and dog. I catch my self of door handle lots too.

Ah, OK, that makes more sense.

 

[nonethewiser]

I use these, they are quite good I much prefer them over the conventional finger pricking options.
1 thing i do find with them however is that I at least once or twice a month still mange to rip it off my arm be accident. (the biggest cause is door frames!)

Done that pesky door frames.

Current sensor on stomach, really accurate & change from arm, have to use right arm as left gets poor results so trying alternative sites.

 

[poohbear]

Hi,

The sensor comes in a yellow box from the pharmacy. Open it, and inside are 2 containers and 2 alcohol wipes. Clean the u/s of the uppper arm first to remove any grease on the skin. The two containers both have a peel off foil. In one container is the applicator, in the other is the sensor. Put one on top of the other, push them together where the indicator lines match up. Then you use the now primed applicator to position over the underside of upper arm, you then just push the applicator firmly against the arm and it applies the sensor onto the arm. Lift off the applicator (can be a bit sticky and needs a gentle pull). You then use the reader to start up the sensor. After 60mins it's ready to go for up to 2 weeks.

If you are unsure, ask someone for help or go through the video a few times, it's too expensive to get it wrong.

Here is the video.

Thank you so very much, i am going to ask my nurse if i can switch to this as i really struggle with the finger pricking - have needle phobia x

 

[trophywench]

Doubt you'll get it prescribed being Type 2 TBH - but free to ask so I wish you luck with that. You can self fund though if you have sufficient disposable income.

It doesn't measure blood glucose though - it measures the glucose in our interstitial fluid which is about 10 - 15 minutes - ish behind measurements taken from blood.

 

[Amity Island]

Thank you so very much, i am going to ask my nurse if i can switch to this as i really struggle with the finger pricking - have needle phobia x

Hi,
I was reading just yesterday that there is now a push (by the manufacturers) by to get this rolled out on prescription for type 2's too. Might be some time off, but I can see this happening in the future.

b.t.w I can see this been of benefit to any diabetic, even for a couple of weeks to try and get things more under control, it gives an awful lot more information than a few finger pricks.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Good luck with your attempts to get Libre @poohbear

Hopefully it won’t be too long before prescription to any suitable person with diabetes, regardless of type, will be possible.

 

[Kaylz]

Unfortunately as a Type 2 you are highly unlikely to be given the privilege of obtaining the Libre on prescription, the only UK nation I know of that do is Scotland and even then you have to be on MDI and still meet other criteria xx