Freestlye Libre Sensor

[Cous25]

My daughter had her first Freestyle Libre sensor fitted about 2 weeks ago and after a week it came off. Any advice?

 

[MarkGeordie]

Have you contacted Abbott? They are really good at sending replacements.

 

[Cous25]

I did but until after I’d thrown it away in the sharps box. I wasn’t so concerned re the replacement as I have more but it was whether anyone had any advice on whether this happens a lot snd how to minimise ?

 

[Kaylz]

You mean Freestyle Libre

If you'd have contacted Abbott then they more than likely would have replaced it free of charge

What made it come off? Did she catch it on anything etc, I always put a Citiderm film dressing over mine to make sure it stays on, mainly becauwhen I was first prescribed it I was crawling in and out of a dog cage all day long, also you say you weren't concerned as you have more, if they are on prescription you are only entitled to so many per year so that'll have left you a week short
xx

 

[Sally71]

We used to stick Tegaderm over them after we had a couple that appeared to be coming loose. If you do that though you are supposed to cut a hole in the middle where there is a hole in the sensor, to allow the skin to breathe.

 

[trophywench]

They don't have to go in the sharps box when you throw them away - there's nothing sharp left in them, the bit that stays inside the skin is plastic, and blunt. The sharp bit is inside the applicator and inaccessible once used - so you chuck that in your normal bin.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

They don't have to go in the sharps box when you throw them away - there's nothing sharp left in them, the bit that stays inside the skin is plastic, and blunt. The sharp bit is inside the applicator and inaccessible once used - so you chuck that in your normal bin.

All true in practice. However, we were advised (and provided with suitable big sharps containers) that there was a successful complaint from an unnamed CGM manufacturer that their products had to be disposed of as sharps so Libre stuff also had to be.

Makes no sense, sure, but what does nowadays...

 

[trophywench]

Blimey - I am only allowed an 'oblong' 1 litre sharps container, thought it was a nightmare when I used the combo and an utter B nuisance now I use the Insight when it's more than half full. Lot of shaking about to create a big enough space. OTOH lasted me over a year on MDI. Not allowed anything bigger if your CCG is Coventry & Rugby.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I think like so many sharps-bin things you need to check the guidance in your area @trophywench . The sensors have small batteries in them which some areas seem not to want in sharps bins (because they can explode when incinerated). meanwhile others consider them clinical waste because of their subcutaneous contact.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Different users seem to have different experiences. most find the sensors stick well for 2 weeks, but others find some sensors come loose within the 2 week wear.

if it happens again, i think you are encouraged to contact Abbott who can troubleshoot sensor application and will often replace if the sensor hasn’t performed as expected

 

[trophywench]

If I remember I'll ask a DSN - no idea at all at the moment when that might be.