Libre 2+ dropping off!

[Ivostas66]

I never had issues with the Libre or Libre 2 in terms of its 'stickyness'. I am one of those who find it tricky to remove it from my skin a the end of its cycle.

Since being on the Libre 2+ I have found that it has a tendency to start to peel away from my arm after about 9 or 10 days. My DSN upped my prescription from two to four a couple of weeks ago as she said that other diabetics on her books had found that they needed to change the 2+ more often than the older models. I am going to purchase some of the 'not just a patch' covers to see if that helps, but wondered if anyone else had experienced similar issues?

 

[rebrascora]

I am not using the Libre 2+ but I have an armband for my Libre 2 and I find that supports and protects my Libre sensors and being reusable, is probably better for the environment. The elastic on it lasted nearly 2 years of continual use before it needed replacing, but the plastic "watch face" part of it is robust enough to last decades probably. And of course you can remove it at any time if you have a smart outfit and don't want to diminish with having a prominent arm strap. I also find it protects the Libre from developing the black lint sticky circle that you often have when you remove the Libre.

 

[grovesy]

I had odd problem in the past with Libre and Libre 2, but none touch wood with the 2+.

 

[PattiEvans]

Mine seem to stick like limpets.

 

[Ivostas66]

Mine seem to stick like limpets.

Yes. I struggled to remove the Libre and Libre 2 sometimes, but the 2+ seems much less sticky.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I struggled to remove the Libre and Libre 2 sometimes, but the 2+ seems much less sticky.

I've only recently changed over to Libre 2+ (from Libre 2) but I haven't noticed a difference. I don't think they announced a change in adhesive did they?

 

[LancashireLass]

I am not using the Libre 2+ but I have an armband for my Libre 2 and I find that supports and protects my Libre sensors and being reusable, is probably better for the environment. The elastic on it lasted nearly 2 years of continual use before it needed replacing, but the plastic "watch face" part of it is robust enough to last decades probably. And of course you can remove it at any time if you have a smart outfit and don't want to diminish with having a prominent arm strap. I also find it protects the Libre from developing the black lint sticky circle that you often have when you remove the Libre.

I get this black sticky ring every single time and have to use nail polish remover to get rid of it.....nothing else that I've tried is ever able to fully shift it!

 

[Ivostas66]

I get this black sticky ring every single time and have to use nail polish remover to get rid of it.....nothing else that I've tried is ever able to fully shift it!

My wife bought me a special soap scrub from a company called Tropic - always worked a treat for me.

 

[trophywench]

I get this black sticky ring every single time and have to use nail polish remover to get rid of it.....nothing else that I've tried is ever able to fully shift it!

Vaseline does, bit on a finger, apply to ring, gently rub ring with said finger for a while, gets the glue and detritus into a clump that comes off a treat. Mom used to do it when me and sis were little cos she bought elastoplast that you cut off from the supplied 'strip' and she was a bit generous with how much you got!

 

[Tdm]

I never had issues with the Libre or Libre 2 in terms of its 'stickyness'. I am one of those who find it tricky to remove it from my skin a the end of its cycle.

Since being on the Libre 2+ I have found that it has a tendency to start to peel away from my arm after about 9 or 10 days. My DSN upped my prescription from two to four a couple of weeks ago as she said that other diabetics on her books had found that they needed to change the 2+ more often than the older models. I am going to purchase some of the 'not just a patch' covers to see if that helps, but wondered if anyone else had experienced similar issues?

Your dsn decision to prescibe more confuses me. Whilst its good you can get more cgms, surely if the libre isn't lasting the time its supposed to then the burden should be on abbot to replace them, not on the nhs to pay for more

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Whilst its good you can get more cgms, surely if the libre isn't lasting the time its supposed to then the burden should be on abbot to replace them, not on the nhs to pay for more

My interpretation was that having 4 at a time would mean you'd more often have a spare one. You should still report failures, obviously.

 

[helli]

I get this black sticky ring every single time and have to use nail polish remover to get rid of it.....nothing else that I've tried is ever able to fully shift it!

The black ring is from the fluff in your clothes sticking to the adhesive from the Libre as the sensor moves very slightly.
Take care using nail varnish remover - it is not designed to be used on flesh.
In the past, others have mentioned baby oil works to remove the adhesive.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Your DSN would be more helpful in prescribing alternative CGMs such as the Dexcom One+ or G7, to see if they have better adhesion to your skin @Ivostas66. Either of those 10 day sensors can be provided for a month as a trial.

 

[trophywench]

I get this black sticky ring every single time and have to use nail polish remover to get rid of it.....nothing else that I've tried is ever able to fully shift it!

As said, baby oil works, and so does Vaseline. Vaseline was what my mom always used on me and my sister after we'd had Elastoplast on for a couple of days then pulled it off cos whatever it was protecting had healed and 'You can't go up the town (be seen in public/ at school/ by your friends mother) with that dirty mark on your leg!'

 

[Ivostas66]

Your dsn decision to prescibe more confuses me. Whilst its good you can get more cgms, surely if the libre isn't lasting the time its supposed to then the burden should be on abbot to replace them, not on the nhs to pay for more

Each failed sensor is reported to Abbott. The DSN was just making sure I had more than one spare for this eventuality.

 

[Ivostas66]

My interpretation was that having 4 at a time would mean you'd more often have a spare one. You should still report failures, obviously.

Precisely. She was worried that if one were to drop off mid cycle and then the next not connect effectively (highly unlikely!) then I would have spares whilst Abbott replaced them.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

While this is great for your short term reassurance, it is still ducking the problem. [Not even providing a sticking plaster remedy?]

Well done for reporting failed sensors to Abbott. Have you considered a raising a Yellow card for repeatedly faulty medication? Does your DSN report these defects from more than one patient into the NHS fault reporting system. There will be, somewhere within the 1.5 million NHS employees, an individual with direct responsibility for management of the contract(s) that provide the several different CGMs that the NHS prescribes.

I have the Dexcom G7 which comes with an adhesive overpatch, that supplements the basic sensor adhesive. My perception is that this is essential additional security; partly against the sensor simply falling off, but also restricting some smaller movement of the sensor that results in continuity errors.

Once you get your "not just a patch" covers and tried them do let us know if they are a true help.

 

[ew7k]

I never had issues with the Libre or Libre 2 in terms of its 'stickyness'. I am one of those who find it tricky to remove it from my skin a the end of its cycle.

Since being on the Libre 2+ I have found that it has a tendency to start to peel away from my arm after about 9 or 10 days. My DSN upped my prescription from two to four a couple of weeks ago as she said that other diabetics on her books had found that they needed to change the 2+ more often than the older models. I am going to purchase some of the 'not just a patch' covers to see if that helps, but wondered if anyone else had experienced similar issues?

Mine unstuck itself just this week. I thought I'd lost it but found it had restuck under my armpit! No idea how it came out, as not knocked at all. Will certainly be looking at a cover.

 

[goodybags]

Hopefully any failures are always reported by the users to Abbott
I actually received a replacement delivered this evening having reported the first one I had experienced coming unstuck, it actually came off last Friday evening
the sensor came off the adhesive (which remained stuck to my skin)

I was recommended to, and always wipe the area with a pre wipe first

regarding adhesive removal of any sticky residue I always use a cotton wool ball and a drop of baby oil
PLEASE don’t use Nail Varnish remover on your skin @LancashireLass as it’s basically acetone and can cause dermatitis obviously being Diabetic were prone to occasional infections

 

[Newbie777]

I have used tbe Libre 2 now for about 4 months. I have a hairy arm, so I shave part of my upper arm first, then after putting on the CGM I use some clear circular stickers ( cheap from ebay) which cover the CGM and a bit more but they do stick and not come off easily, all helping to keep CGM in place.

I also get the black marks and my wife uses baby oil to remove.

I also massage the skin where the needle from the CGM has gone in too.

Good luck.