Freestyle Libre

[PhoebeC]

Hi All,

So I had my yearly review yesterday. I was dreading it, but went a lot better than I thought. We means if I got my act together I would be even better, so good news.
Very helpful practice nurse.

I asked about the Libre, if its an option on prescription. They only cover the costs in rare cases, very young children and those on palliative (end of life) care. But I can self fund if I like.

So who self funds?
And how much is the cost to you per month?

Hubby said we can afford it if its budgeted in. I know I wouldnt ever want to stop with it if I started so want to have all the facts.

Thanks,

Phoebe

 

[mikeyB]

Hi Phoebe

After the initial start up cost (reader plus two sensors) which is, off the top of my head, around £150, the sensors cost around £47, each lasting 14 days exactly. So reckon the cost around £100 per month.

You’re right - once you’ve tried it, you never want to stop, so with that cost, it’s quite a high commitment in the long term, but the benefits in diabetes control are enormous. You can see what your levels are doing all day and night.

Hope this helps. 🙂

 

[Ljc]

That is good news about your review.
I self fund I believe most of us Libre users on here do.
Though expensive as I have said several times before! *if anyone tried to take mine away Their would be blood and it wouldn’t be mine !*

From Abbott with VAT relief each sensor is around £48 + p&p
If you have one nearby , I’ve read on here that atm ASDA with VAT relief charge are £44 ish for each sensor.
So I’d shop around if I were you.
I don’t know but worth asking if ASDA sell the starter packs, which include , the reader, 2sensors and usb charging cable

Their is some competition in the pipe line which might lower the price a bit

 

[Robin]

I use one two weeks on, two weeks off, which halves the cost! I do get withdrawal symptoms when I go back to strips, but I tend to juggle it for holidays, Christmas etc, so I'm using the Libre then, and I try and do all my tweaking and basal testing etc when I'm wearing one, so that my two weeks off are just 'ticking over' I can also use more strips from my prescription 'allowance' during my weeks off because when I've got a sensor on, I only need to test for driving, and the occasional check test during the first couple of days.

 

[Naty]

I've taken a leaf out of Robin's book - I just put a new one on yesterday after a fortnight off. I love them, but they are bankrupting me, and I had to rein myself in.

However, I am sure I read somewhere that if you are self-employed, you can put them as an expense on your tax return. I apologise to Phoebe if this doesn't apply, but as I am both employed and self-employed, I'd like to know...

 

[Northerner]

I'd say that it's very worthwhile getting the starter pack, because if you are anything like me then it will tell you lots of things that you would otherwise be totally unaware of, which you can then try to put right - the knowledge gained might be very helpful in lowering your HbA1c even if you go back to test strips for a while. I certainly learned a lot just from the first few sensors 🙂 They are addictive though - I would scan on average around 30+ times per day, as opposed to 6-8 fingerpricks. The CCGs need to realise that, once you are confident with the information the sensor is supplying you will probably use far fewer test strips, so this could be offset against the costs of supplying the sensors. I managed to wean myself off then but it's hard! I still have a sensor left so may put that on when I'm ready for my house move 🙂

 

[Roisin]

Hi Phoebe, our local hospital offers a two week trial with the libre. I think Abbott run these to lure you in but the upside is you get the reader free along with a two week sensor, might be worth checking with your diabetes team 🙂

 

[SB2015]

I am aware of someone currently trialling a sensor to see if it will be reliable for three weeks. If that was the case that would reduce the cost considerably both for self finding and the NHS, and so maybe increase the number available (with flying pigs thrown in).

As others have said some hospitals are offering a two or four week trial (funded by Abbott) but you do then get the reader for free. You could also ask Abbott.

They are a bit addictive, but I know that it helped me reduce my HbA1c by 10 as I found out so much about what was happening particularly after certain foods. It also helped me to work out how much time to pre bolus for meals. I now have blips for breakfast. The other meals are still more bumpy but then they are less consistent in content. My breakfasts during the week are all identiacl so a lot easier to sort out.

 

[Akasha]

You don't necessarily need the scanner. When moms broke and they were delayed in sending her a new one, abbot advised us that you could scan via their app on your phone.
It seems to work the same, but if you want to use both scanner and phone (mom does incase she forgets to take the scanner with her) you need to scan them both when starting the sensor.

We have found that the phone has a more limited scan range the the scanner which just has to be near the sensor to pick it up .

 

[Kaylz]

I would love to be able to self fund but as I am not working at the moment I really cant afford to
I asked my consultant about it and received the 2 week trial and now am left with the reader, at the moment there is no decision on whether or not it will be prescribed in my area, my DSN says there will be more about it in the summer, I found mine to be very accurate and would love to be able to use it but I couldn't even afford it once every few months haha xx

 

[Naty]

Just a PS about getting sensors from Asda - once a fortnight I work close to a huge Asda in Swanley, north Kent. I was there this lunchtime, and ordered two sensors for £88 - pay on collection. So well done to them 🙂

 

[mikeyB]

The nearest Asda to me is 60 miles and a ferry ride away, so the discount wouldn’t be exactly be economical.

You have to consider the petrol you use getting there. Is it really worth it? It’ll be easier when I move, but I don’t like Asda as a shop. I’m a Lidl and Booths man.🙂

 

[Naty]

You have to consider the petrol you use getting there. Is it really worth it?

I take your point of course 🙂

It just happens to have worked in my favour that I pass this particular Asda when going to visit this child who I work with once a fortnight. I told the lady in the pharmacy that I work in Swanley every two weeks, and she said they would just call me when the sensors came in, and I could let them know when I would pick up. It certainly wouldn't make sense to go there only for the sensors - it's just a happy coincidence!

 

[PhoebeC]

Thank you all for the advice. I think I will get one soon.

I’m not with a hospital team. They are beyond impossible to get appointments with. And the do a three strikes and your out with appointments. They changed my appointment to a date I couldn’t do, childcare issue. Then when I completed the form to rebook they booked it the day I put down I was unable to do, twice, both times I was on the other side of the country. So they sent me a letter saying I had been taken off the clinic list! I had one appointment in 12 months should have been every 3.

Naty we do have an ASDA with a chemist near us, about ten mins away, near the in laws so that’s doable if they have them. I will ask next time we go there.

I will still need my current meter if when I start learning to drive.

We currently spend more on vinyl a month so if it means we cut that down it can be done.

Thanks for the advice all!

 

[Northerner]

I will still need my current meter if when I start learning to drive.

The scanner/reader can also use blood and ketone test strips 🙂

 

[bamba]

We currently spend more on vinyl a month so if it means we cut that down it can be done.

Exactly how much furniture repair are you doing - and whats wearing it out ??

 

[PhoebeC]

Exactly how much furniture repair are you doing - and whats wearing it out ??

Records, ha! not furniture.

We haven't long had a record player and we love it, not as much as HMV love us!