Finally getting the libre

[Carlos]

Today I got a letter inviting me to join an online course at the end of the month to be trained in the libre. Once I registered I also got a link to order the starter kit and the reader.

Quite excited, it has only taken since June last year to get here.

The thing I hadn't realised is that the app needs a mobile with nfc capability, which is a bit annoying, as my current mobile doesn't support nfc, and the ones I have seen that do are mahoosive, and I don't really like any of them. I already find my current mobile too big.

 

[Northerner]

Great news Carlos! 🙂 It's a game changer 🙂 I use the reader, as my phone is about 4 times the size. I don't see any real advantage to using the phone app as carrying the reader is only the same as carrying a BG meter around with yo. Also, until recently, if you used both the phone and the reader, the results were not combined on the Libre View website - I believe they have sorted this now, but it was another thing that put me off the phone when I first started using it last year 🙂

I hope it works really well for you! 🙂

 

[Carlos]

Thank you @Northerner, that sounds reasonable. To be honest, I am a bit apprehensive about seeing continuous data, as I have this silly feeling that my control may not be as good as I thought, though the whole point of the exercise is precisely addressing things that may not have been noticed to improve control.

 

[Northerner]

Thank you @Northerner, that sounds reasonable. To be honest, I am a bit apprehensive about seeing continuous data, as I have this silly feeling that my control may not be as good as I thought, though the whole point of the exercise is precisely addressing things that may not have been noticed to improve control.

Yes, that is the point - you'll probably be surprised at how your blood sugar reacts sometimes when you're not looking, but you then have the information you need to do a bit of fine tuning, either to doses or timing (or both) 🙂 I've always had pretty good control, or so I thought! Using the Libre showed me some very unexpected and rapid spikes, and - best of all - gave me ample warning when my levels were falling low so I could react with a little jelly baby boost (or whatever was appropriate to the situation) 🙂 So much nicer when you can head them off instead of reacting to symptoms when they are already low 🙂

Plus, of course, much kinder to your finger tips! 😱

 

[SB2015]

Today I got a letter inviting me to join an online course at the end of the month to be trained in the libre. Once I registered I also got a link to order the starter kit and the reader.

Quite excited, it has only taken since June last year to get here.

The thing I hadn't realised is that the app needs a mobile with nfc capability, which is a bit annoying, as my current mobile doesn't support nfc, and the ones I have seen that do are mahoosive, and I don't really like any of them. I already find my current mobile too big.

I bought a phone with NFC as my next pump will use an app on the phone too. However I still use the reader for my Libre most of the time as it is a lot smaller and fits neatly tucked away, which my phone doesn’t. I might switch over when I switch pumps, but for sport it is great having the reader in hand to check levels between games, and I certainly don’t want to have to get out a phone during a game.

 

[Carlos]

Starter kit and reader just arrived. Itching to get started with it, but I guess I should wait for the course on the 26th.

 

[trophywench]

On the right - are they spare black spots for blind Pugh?

 

[Carlos]

On the right - are they spare black spots for blind Pugh?

Spare holes for perforated sheets, my home office is a bit messy, sorry.

 

[trophywench]

Aaargh - the days of loose-leaf binders Carlos ….. self adhesive linen?

 

[Carlos]

Aaargh - the days of loose-leaf binders Carlos ….. self adhesive linen?

Those holes were probably last used about 20 years ago, the children found them the other day in a box with old stuff from our time at university.

You must excuse my ignorance, I can't work out the self adhesive linen reference.

 

[SB2015]

Those holes were probably last used about 20 years ago, the children found them the other day in a box with old stuff from our time at university.

You must excuse my ignorance, I can't work out the self adhesive linen reference.

I used to have a long strip of holes covers and they were made from adhesive linen paper.

I also remember my OH bringing a large roll of paper from work, when they switched to digital drawings so the paper was no longer needed. He told me it was Linen paper and to just wash it. I tried it and ended up with metres of beautiful very fine linen fabric. I used it for lining, underskirts, handkerchiefs, scarves to dye, .... It was beautiful fabric, and the final scraps of it I am About to use as lining for our face masks.

 

[SB2015]

Starter kit and reader just arrived. Itching to get started with it, but I guess I should wait for the course on the 26th.
View attachment 14153

I guess that makes sense but I would be so tempted.
I look forward to hearing how you get on in the course.

 

[Carlos]

I used to have a long strip of holes covers and they were made from adhesive linen paper.

I also remember my OH bringing a large roll of paper from work, when they switched to digital drawings so the paper was no longer needed. He told me it was Linen paper and to just wash it. I tried it and ended up with metres of beautiful very fine linen fabric. I used it for lining, underskirts, handkerchiefs, scarves to dye, .... It was beautiful fabric, and the final scraps of it I am About to use as lining for our face masks.

Ah, thanks for the clarification, I hadn't come across the term.

 

[Carlos]

I guess that makes sense but I would be so tempted.
I look forward to hearing how you get on in the course.

I am sort of tempted to give it go, but it would be almost finished by the time the course comes round, and I haven't been told yet how I will get the prescription, so I should wait.

 

[SB2015]

That makes sense. Just read and learn and try to be patient.
Not easy with the boxes sat in front of you.

 

[trophywench]

You can still buy linen bond paper by the ream from your usual paper merchant (husband ran his own lithographic printing business for a good many years) BUT! it's 'only' paper. My absolute favourite commercial paper though, is something branded 'Parchmark' - thicker than normal paper, finish resembles parchment with a deckle edge used for eg Wedding invitations and/or Orders of Service - and 'Churston Deckle' notepaper for home use!

 

[Carlos]

Training session done, sensor in place and first readings taken. I got a bit of blood on the vent hole of the sensor, but apparently that's not a problem.

I'm now in the libre pathway for six months, let's hope I pass the test.

 

[rebrascora]

From what I have read, the bleeders are usually more accurate. Good luck with it.

I am still waiting, having been given the green light back in Feb by my consultant. Going to chase it up this week to enquire what is happening.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

From what I have read, the bleeders are usually more accurate. Good luck with it.

“A bleeder is a reader” some people say

I’ve not heard anything since September. I should probably chase them up, but I've had a succession of other sensors that were towards the end of their ‘use by’ time so those went first!