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Glucose sensors
- Thread starter JoeJOns
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Kaylz
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Do you mean the Libre? If so then yes there are quite a few of us on here, some like me find them very useful while others cant seem to get on with then, of they work for you then they are a great source of information being able to spot patterns, see trends, which way your glucose is heading etc, it's worth keeping in mind that they cant be expected to match a finger prick spot on as they are testing different fluid so they tend to lack 15 minutes behind a finger prick xx
Bruce Stephens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Agreed. If this is about Freestyle Libre then many of us find it enormously valuable. A real game changer in management. People find it worth self-funding (so spending 50 quid every two weeks). It's also available on the NHS under some (now national) criteria. But not everyone gets on with it: some have allergy to the glue, and some report on the forums here that it's too inaccurate to be useful (usually reading too low) and some report each sensor might start OK but then get worse and worse, eventually just reading low.
I think it's worth asking your healthcare team. If they'll prescribe it (so if they think you satisfy their criteria) then it's worth trying.
It's physically a small plastic disc that sticks on your upper arm (with a small probe that goes through the skin). It has electronics in it that records 8 hours worth of glucose (4 times an hour) and the last few minutes at 1 minute resolution. Each time it's scanned (with the reader or a smart phone) the scanning thing gets all that information, so accumulating a continuous profile over (eventually) 90 days, and more recently the current reading with an arrow showing the direction.
So if I wake up a 4am I can scan it and see not just the current reading, but whether it's going up or down (and I can see the graph). And (after a day or two) it can average things out and show trends (I sometimes go a bit low before lunch and after my evening meal). And more.
My point is that it's not just that I don't need to stick a lancet into my fingertips so often. The Libre sensor's collecting information all the time, and gives much more information than a single number each time I scan it.
I think it's worth asking your healthcare team. If they'll prescribe it (so if they think you satisfy their criteria) then it's worth trying.
It's physically a small plastic disc that sticks on your upper arm (with a small probe that goes through the skin). It has electronics in it that records 8 hours worth of glucose (4 times an hour) and the last few minutes at 1 minute resolution. Each time it's scanned (with the reader or a smart phone) the scanning thing gets all that information, so accumulating a continuous profile over (eventually) 90 days, and more recently the current reading with an arrow showing the direction.
So if I wake up a 4am I can scan it and see not just the current reading, but whether it's going up or down (and I can see the graph). And (after a day or two) it can average things out and show trends (I sometimes go a bit low before lunch and after my evening meal). And more.
My point is that it's not just that I don't need to stick a lancet into my fingertips so often. The Libre sensor's collecting information all the time, and gives much more information than a single number each time I scan it.
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
My Libre is a game changer for me. It gave me a lot more confidence, especially when doing sport.
When out and about, it is so simple to swipe that I can just do it as I am walking along. This enables me to head off many of the highs and lows , and keep me on target a lot mor.
The Libre also helped me to sort out the timing of my Bolus insulin. I know it helps me if I do my Bolus a bit before my meals, but for each of us we have to find out an appropriate timing. I have only really got this sorted for breakfast as that is the only meal I have at a consistent(ish) time. The graph showing me what happens after meals makes it easy to see what has happened, and helped me to reduce any spikes.
Well worth asking your team.
When out and about, it is so simple to swipe that I can just do it as I am walking along. This enables me to head off many of the highs and lows , and keep me on target a lot mor.
The Libre also helped me to sort out the timing of my Bolus insulin. I know it helps me if I do my Bolus a bit before my meals, but for each of us we have to find out an appropriate timing. I have only really got this sorted for breakfast as that is the only meal I have at a consistent(ish) time. The graph showing me what happens after meals makes it easy to see what has happened, and helped me to reduce any spikes.
Well worth asking your team.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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I am currently wearing Enlite sensors what work with my insulin pump.
If you want to find out more about Libre and how it can help there are great videos here: https://abcd.care/dtn/education
If you want to find out more about Libre and how it can help there are great videos here: https://abcd.care/dtn/education
Ljc
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
I love my Libre,it’s been a game changer for me too , though it doesn’t work for or suit everyone , some have widely different results to a finger prick.
It doesn’t do away with finger pricks but cuts down on them a lot , I agree with all the positives mentioned above.
It also makes basal testing much easier.
I found that like @SB2015 I needed to bolus quite a long time before brekkie, which explained the highs I was getting 2 or more hours after brekkie .
Can you tell I am a fan of the Libre
It doesn’t do away with finger pricks but cuts down on them a lot , I agree with all the positives mentioned above.
It also makes basal testing much easier.
I found that like @SB2015 I needed to bolus quite a long time before brekkie, which explained the highs I was getting 2 or more hours after brekkie .
Can you tell I am a fan of the Libre
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