Freestyle libre sensors

[teresawatts]

Does anyone know when the Freestyle Libre sensors will be available on the nhs to all type 1 diabetics ?
I think this technology would really help to manage my diabetes however my GP has told me that I am not eligible.

 

[helli]

Libre should be available now for people with Type 1.
You should ask your DSN or GP

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

Your GP is wrong and as a Type 1 diabetic you now qualify on that alone. If your GP isn't willing to prescribe it, can you get an appointment with your diabetes specialist clinic as they should be able to remedy the situation.
If you are currently under the care of your GP then you would need a referral to the clinic so you will need to push your GP for that .... or get in touch with Prof Partha Kar who is the senior advisor to the NHS on diabetes care and it is (and has been for some time) his mission to ensure access to this technology for all who will benefit. He has been personally advocating with individual doctors and consultants to assist patients who are having difficulty getting their doctor to prescribe it since the change in NICE guidelines in April.

 

[rebrascora]

In the mean time.... if you haven't already tried it, there is a 2 week free trial of Libre 2 (one sensor) providing you have a suitable phone to use as a reader. If you go to the Abbott laboratories website you should be able to find it.
Many of us self funded Libre until we got it on prescription. Not cheap by any means at £100 per month but it is worth every penny as a short term investment in your health if you can scrape together the money. It can be quite addictive but a real eye opener and game changer when it comes to diabetes management for most of us.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Does anyone know when the Freestyle Libre sensors will be available on the nhs to all type 1 diabetics ?
I think this technology would really help to manage my diabetes however my GP has told me that I am not eligible.

As others have said, NICE changed the guidelines to recommend CGM for everyone with Type 1 diabetes. I get the impression that this is generally accepted in England (largely because of Partha Kar, I think) but I think the other countries generally follow NICE too. The specific prescribing details are likely England-specific.

Recommendations | Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE

www.nice.org.uk

There are now four that GPs can prescribe (including Libre 2). The others have to come from hospital teams.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1562012679933411329

https://twitter.com/x/status/1560172133132771328

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

If you are currently under the care of your GP then you would need a referral to the clinic so you will need to push your GP for that

I don’t think that is required any more. I believe GPs are now able to prescribe Libre2 etc with no additional input from a specialist centre. And there should be no artificial hoops to jump through either (“Oh you have to complete this that or the other thing first, for which there’s a waiting list of 5 years…”). This applies nationwide across NHS England in all areas as far as I’m aware.

Though I’d suggest you ask for a referral to your local hospital Diabetes Clinic in any case @teresawatts - as they may be more able to help you with your T1 care and can refer you on to other things like education courses etc.