Hello!

[BenB289]

Hello all! I've been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes for about 3 months now, and a about a month ago I got offered a Freestyle Libre 2 Sensor and I was wondering if anyone else who uses these if they have any issues with them actually sticking on properly? I'm not entirely sure if I am putting them on incorrectly, and what not. But I've put 4 on and 2 have came off well before the 2 weeks is up. Any thoughts and advise on this would be brilliant.

Thanks,
Ben.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome

Libre is a great bit of kit but some people have more problems with adhesion than others. Skin prep is important .... making sure skin is clean, degreased either using non scented and non moisturising soap or alcohol wipes and most importantly DRY. When you apply the sensor, it helps to hold it firmly against the skin for a while after insertion before you try to wriggle the applicator free. I usually count to 60 before I remove the applicator. This gives the adhesive time to get a good hold of your skin and warm up which helps the adhesion. After that some people use tape (Micropors) or plasters/dressings (Tegaderm etc) to give it extra security. I recently bought an arm strap which is a 3D printed plastic rim on an elastic strap with adjusters. I bought it off ebay and there are a wide variety of colour choices and for me this is the best solution to the problem I have tried. I work outdoors a lot with animals and it is easy to catch it particularly at this time of year when I have bare arms and I was having problems accidentally scrubbing them off in the shower when I would forget which arm the sensor was on until I caught it with my exfoliating glove and ripped it off... it doesn't help that I like long hot showers which of course soften the adhesive a bit. The arm band is a visual reminder as well as protecting the sensor and I feel so much more confident now that it is safe and secure.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @BenB289

It is great to hear that you have been given a Libre already. It is a very useful device that will enable you to fine tune your management. I use sensors and put a tegaderm/ op site sticky dressing over mine so that they last the full time period. I was advised to cut a very small hole in the centre of the the sticky to match the hole in the centre of the Libre. It is well worth it.

Abbott always replaced any that I had a problem with. Do give them a ring and explain what has happened.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @BenB289

Sorry to hear you are having troubles keeping Libre attached - this does seem to affect some more than others, so it may be that your skin type doesn’t suit the adhesive quite so well?

Abbott recently stopped including the alcohol wipes in with Libre / Libre 2 boxes, but that was a helpful skin prep routine for some users to sanitise and prepare the area before application. Uoi can buy a box of wipes relatively cheaply online if you’ve not tried that?

Some people also find a prep spray like SkinTak can make a big difference.

Or as others have suggested several users find some sort of overtape helps.

Do contact Abbott about any that have fallen off though, in case it’s connected to a particular Lot. Plus they usually replace any that haven’t performed as expected, and can troubleshoot the application process.

I find with any of these devices, sensors or infusion sets that the first few hours are critical, and that it can take up to 24 hours for the adhesive to get up to full strength. If I reach or stretch too enthusiastically and feel a ‘ping’ early on, that device is never going to stick as well as they usually do.