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Libra2 sensor

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J

Julie’s

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi I’m new to this site as well as new to the libra2, I’ve had it for about 2 months now and I can get them to stay on for any longer than 3-4 days. It’s getting me down as I feel I’m not doing it right I think they are fantastic and so does my hubby as I would have been taking hypos during the night now the alarm goes off and he is able to monitor me better. Just tonight I applied a new sensor and my arm began to bleed out through the sensor then it fell off. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated and I was reading and some people said they have placed theirs on thighs or hips I know your not supposed to but has anyone tried this
 
Hi. I haven’t got the Libre 2 yet , I still use the original one . The method of application is the same for both so tbh it’s unlikely you are doing anything wrong when applying it, other than making sure the area is clean and dry, no moisturiser applied there, then follow the application instructions then their is not much that can go wrong .

But since the Libre 2 became available here , I have read posts of the sensors coming off , so you are not alone , it’s probably due to a combination of a manufacturing problem and quality control due to rushing out the Libre 2 .

I trust you are reporting this to Abbott as the more people who report it the sooner it will be fixed. They are very good at replacing faulty items but usually request the faulty part back for testing , they do send a pre paid envelope.
Tbh I usually need really tug mine off at the end of the two weeks

We all get an occasional bleeder I’ve had three and tbh once they’ve dried out and unclogged there innards I’ve found them to become very accurate when compared to a finger bodge .
 
Oops I meant to say. Some people cover them up with some sort of tape , I will leave the suggestions to other’s, but if you do use tape /plaster. Then leave the central hole uncovered .
Their are sensor straps available online too .
 
I’ve been using the Libre since the original first appeared. And moved on to Libre 2 ditto. There isn’t, in my experience of the Libre 2, the slightest difference in the sensor adhesion, so could we have less of the suggestion that Abbott have rushed this out, so there are more duff sensors around. Apart from anything else, Libre 2 was available for months in Europe and the US before appearing here. There is no talk from other countries about unreliable sensors.

I’ve also never had a bleed, so could we have less of this “we all get a bleed” occasionally. To get a bleed that would dislodge a sensor tells me that the sensor has been applied in the wrong place. All the significant veins in the arms run up the inside area of the arm. There are no veins to cause such a bleed at the back of the arm from a 4mm puncture. It’s an evolutionary thing, it just stops you bleeding to death if you scratch your exposed arm while chasing potential food through a forest.

So if the sensors are falling off consistently after three days, it means you are consistently doing something to your skin before application, or not applying it properly, either of which could cause it to fall off. It isn’t duff sensors, for sure - the chances of that happening with every sensor are astronomical.
 
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We very occasionally used to get one that bled, not enough to unstick the sensor though. You could try sticking Tegaderm or something like that over them. If you do that you are supposed to cut a hole in the middle to allow the skin to breathe, although we never did - had been doing it for months before we found that fact out, and didn’t have any problems because of it, so just carried on!

I wonder if different skin types react differently to glues? We have had terrible problems trying to get cannulas to stay on since we switched to a different insulin pump, the old ones (from a different company) used to stick so hard it was difficult to get them off again when we wanted to, these just fall off all the time and we aren’t doing anything different.
 
Ljc said:
Hi. I haven’t got the Libre 2 yet , I still use the original one . The method of application is the same for both so tbh it’s unlikely you are doing anything wrong when applying it, other than making sure the area is clean and dry, no moisturiser applied there, then follow the application instructions then their is not much that can go wrong .

But since the Libre 2 became available here , I have read posts of the sensors coming off , so you are not alone , it’s probably due to a combination of a manufacturing problem and quality control due to rushing out the Libre 2 .

I trust you are reporting this to Abbott as the more people who report it the sooner it will be fixed. They are very good at replacing faulty items but usually request the faulty part back for testing , they do send a pre paid envelope.
Tbh I usually need really tug mine off at the end of the two weeks

We all get an occasional bleeder I’ve had three and tbh once they’ve dried out and unclogged there innards I’ve found them to become very accurate when compared to a finger bodge .
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Thank you so much, no I haven’t reported it as I thought i was doing something wrong but I will now
 
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Steady on @mikeyB 🙂 Just because something hasn’t happened to you doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen. I know you aren’t a member of Facebook, but on the FB Libre page there are users from all over the world, including places where Libre came out before the UK who report adhesion issues and occasional bleeds.

Like any mass produced item, there is the possibility of variability from one product to another. I have seen some people who usually have a ‘stuck to a blanket’ experience do sometimes have a sensor which doesn’t stick as they would normally expect. And for others, including forum members, there seem to be frequent issues. I have always wondered whether it might be a skin-type thing, where some skin types just don’t suit the adhesive - because like you I’ve always had good adhesion apart from where I’ve knocked a sensor within the first 24 hours after application.
 
Julie’s said:
Thank you so much, no I haven’t reported it as I thought i was doing something wrong but I will now
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It really is worth reporting, as Abbott will replace any sensors which haven’t met their expectations.

Additionally, they will take the time to troubleshoot any sensor which seems to be underperforming, or your application technique.

Hope you begin to have a better experience, and continue to benefit from Libre2 and the alarms they provide.
 
Like Mike, having read lots of people on the FB saying the things fall off, I’ve come to the conclusion that there might be people who’s skin simply doesn’t suit the Libre. In the early days I cut circles. of “Opsite” to stick over the sensor (circles peel less easily than straight edge) but I would place a round piece of thin card over the sensor first, so should I need to take the Opsite off I wouldn’t pull the sensor off with it. I never bodged a hole in the covering either. I only use Opsite now if I am going to be in and out of water e.g. on holiday. i’ve also had a couple of bleeders, which turned out to be extraordinarily accurate. Oh and I wear mine on the front of my thigh, slightly towards the inner side. When I wore them on my arm I got numerous false hypos in the night due to compression issues.
 
I agree that there seem to be different types of skin - sticky skin (sensors stick like limpets to mine) and non-sticky skin.

I know it helps to make sure you place the sensor on a flat area (thinner/muscly arms have "corners" and sensors don't bend so they peel off) and to ensure the area is dry with no moisturiser. The sterile wipes used to clean off any moisturiser or grease that may be in your shower gel but these are not provided now. I know some people buy their own.

With the number of people complaining about losing sensors, there are too many for them all to be doing it wrong but with the number of (quieter) people with no problems, Abbott is too successful for there to be constant product quality issues. And those quiet people are still relevant - they have nothing to complain about so the facebook groups are not full of them so others who have problems ignore the silent ones.
 
Julie’s said:
Thank you so much, no I haven’t reported it as I thought i was doing something wrong but I will now
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Good be cause whether iyou self funding them or assuming you are in the uk the nhs te paying .
They are not cheap.
Even in the very unlikely event it turns out that you are doing something slightly tpwrong , Abbott will explain how how and why.
They will go through a few questions with you , have your meter to hand when you phone them.

Just remembered this tip I got on here, to hold the applicator on the arm for around 10 seconds after it’s fired , in case the adhesive needs to warm up a little .
 
I have had 3 sensors not last on me even to the first hour of starting they literally fell off. 2 were during the heatwave last year and the the other was during the hot spell a couple of weeks ago.
 
For some comments I am placing the sensor on the right area on the back of my arm, I joined this as I thought it was to help others with the same condition as each other not to be criticised and made out to be stupid seriously considering leaving the group
 
I'm going to ask you - which may be a stupid question - are you using alcohol wipes on the arm (and waiting long enough to ensure the skin is completely dry, cos it seems to ME, to take quite a while longer than I thought it would, to evaporate) before attempting to affix the sensor?

There is something else you can buy to help things stick - is it Opsite?
 
I hold the applicator in place for 60 seconds before removing. I find removing the applicator to be the most difficult bit because it doesn't come off cleanly and I have to wriggle it a bit to get it free so I ensure that the adhesive has got a good hold in that 60 seconds before I try to lift the applicator off.
I have also started to use an arm strap to support the Libre and I am finding this really helpful in terms of preventing it getting knocked off, particularly as I do physical work with animals. Again it is something which is not recommended by Abbott, but from my point of view well worth using to ensure I get the full 14 days out of a sensor without having to contact Abbott. I also feel that Abbott should probably not be responsible for me knocking a sensor off. The arm strap just gives me so much more confidence in wearing it and I can remove it when I don't want my Libre to be so noticeableie if I am getting dressed up to go out (fat chance!)

Julie’s said:
For some comments I am placing the sensor on the right area on the back of my arm, I joined this as I thought it was to help others with the same condition as each other not to be criticised and made out to be stupid seriously considering leaving the group
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Some people are just old grumps sometimes. Please don't be put off using the forum because of one of them. There are far more of us who actively want to be helpful and offer support and practical advice.
 
Well I clean my skin with the wipe, and then assembly the device and then apply, which usally works well. Though the sensor I received last week is one those that no longer contain the wipe but I spare wipes.
 
Hi Julie

I think I am one of the lucky ones when it comes to Libre problems. However, I have had a “bleeder” on the back of my arm, I have had 3 or 4 just fall off, one was almost immediately and I usually put them on during the evening, so well after my morning shower. It does seem that there are people that just need something extra to help them stay on...maybe I just have sticky skin :(

So I’m afraid I can’t help with advice other than to suggest a search of the forum (I’m sure you already have), there have been many threads with people asking the same question as you, so you’re not the only one having these issues by a long way. Maybe have a mooch about. Hopefully you’ll find something to help you, as you’ve found out already the sensors are really helpful.

I hope you’ll stay around...it really is a very friendly and helpful forum.🙂
 
trophywench said:
There is something else you can buy to help things stick - is it Opsite?
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Yes Opsite. I've been in and out of the sea and in 40 degree temps for the last weeks and Opsite has kept it on well.
 
Hi @Pattidevans , can I ask about Opsite? What do you use? I’ve not heard of this before (just had a quick google). I’m really keen to get back to swimming regularly and wondering if this might work for me. I see there’s a spray and coverings. I’ve tried tagaderm but I have a reaction to this ...very itchy red patch.

Sorry to jump on your thread @Julie’s
 
Thank you everyone yes I do use the wipes but I might give that on-site a try at the minute I’d try anything rather than go back to pricking my finger
 
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