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Freestyle Libre and Android app question

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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Leya

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Hello lovelies 🙂

I shelled out £60 for Freestyle Libre sensor and have downloaded the app and am confused about activating as the app instructions aren't clear.

Do I scan the sensor once it's applied or do I wait for a period of time or do I wait a period of time before scanning it? What is the period of time? I've read 24hours and 48 hours.

So confused I don't even know if my question makes sense.

Cheers

Leya
 
I think you are being confused by chatter on the forum. I just apply the sensor as per instructions, press on it after application to make sure it’s properly stuck down, then fire it up. Do not apply it before a shower or bath, and don’t use any moisturiser on the area where you are going to apply it. Clean thoroughly the skin with the supplied wipes, and wait for that to dry.

On the app you’ll see a screen saying Check Glucose. Press the blue bar that says check glucose. Hold the top of the phone close to the sensor, and you will get a message saying “New Sensor found. Activate sensor? “ When you press yes, hold the top of the phone near the sensor, it will activate and tell you to wait sixty minutes before you can take a reading. You have to press the check glucose button every time you use it.

I find it can take one or two, or even three goes using the phone app, but more often than not it behaves.

Enjoy your fortnight🙂
 
Thanks @mikeyB

The scanner detected the sensor after it being on me for a while 🙂
Now another dumb question (I swear my IQ has dropped into single figures since diagnosis): How often should I scan?

So grateful for your patience


:( Leya
 
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As often as you want to know what your blood sugar is! But at least every 8 hours if you want to have an unbroken graph, the sensor can only hold 8 hours worth of data, so if you wait longer than that between scans you will lose a bit.
 
You could check every five minutes and it would be untroubled. I don’t think I’ve ever left an 8 hour gap, except when asleep, but if I’m ever disturbed in the night I always check.
 
Managed to get my first reading after some faffing. It was 2.7 so I used my Accucheck which showed 3.4.

My new dumb question is: Why on earth would my BG be so low when I'm not taking insulin? Confused.

Did readings 2hrs after half a sandwich and they were identical at 10.9. I'm presuming I can rely on readings now and only use accucheck if I'm concerned about anything.

🙂
 
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If your blood sugar is changing very quickly the sensor will be a few minutes behind, so best to iuse finger pricks when recovering from a hypo, and I think fhe sensor less accurate at extremes, but it's usually close enough not to have to double check every reading with a finger prick. Unless you feel different from what it's telling you.

It's quite good having two systems actually, they double check each other. I once tested my daughter at tea time and got a reading of 27 😱 and without thinking about it whacked in a large correction dose of insulin. Then did a scan and it came out at 8.6. Oh dear... Another finger prick on a different finger came out at 7.8 - oops, the first finger must have been contaminated! Daughter didn't mind being told to eat loads of cake though... 🙄
 
BS611j.jpg
 
Nice alpine diagram Leya. Safe for the time being till you get proper treatment. 🙂
 
My friends have "crowdfunded" another sensor for me - they are FAB :

Should I put it on the other arm, or a different position on same arm? (Prolly a daft question.)
 
Probably doesn't matter, but we always swap arms.
 
Cheers @mikeyB and @Sally71

I have the sensor on and waiting for it to "warm up".

In the meantime I suddenly came over all hypo, which hasn't happened while using Freestyle because I was able to see when I was getting low (previous sensor expired last night). Measured BG and it's 2.9, am doing the necessary but it really highlights the need for regular monitoring. The state of my fingertips when I was having to prick 12+ times a day :(
 
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