According to the marketing data Abbott have put out in the last week, the only things they have have changed with the current Libre 2 is that the Libre 2 Plus is (1) 15 day wear; (2) less likely to give erratic readings if the user has taken excessive amounts of vitamin C and (3) the Libre 2 Plus is supposed to have greater accuracy/MARD than the Libre 2, particularly when glucose is at lower levels.
Abbott are supposed to be making the exact same changes by bringing out a Freestyle Libre 3 Plus at some point this year/next year. When that happens there will be little or no difference between the Libre 2 Plus and Libre 3 Plus in terms of how it works or the algorithm, just as there is little or no difference between the Libre 2 or Libre 3 now, other than size.
My understanding is it is usually the responsibility of the pump manufacturer to apply for legal permission for a particular cgm to be used as part of a hybrid closed loop. And that takes time.
The Freestyle Libre 3 is now on the NHS England national Formulary. So in theory any GP can prescribe it. Unfortunately each Libre 3 sensor costs your prescribing GP/your local health authority/integrated care system/integrated care board,/former ccg £42 (each Libre 2 sensor costs £35. Abbott have indicated the Libre 2 Plus sensor will each cost £35). So there is already a disincentive for every health authority/integrated care system/integrated care board/former ccg not to allow patients in their area to have the Libre 3 or Libre 3 Plus.
I would prefer an all-in-one product, that is smaller and uses less plastic and packaging.
The only thing that concerns me about the Libre 3/Libre 3 Plus is it is supposed to have a mandatory low alarm which can't be switched to vibrate only. THE US Food and Drug Administration insisted on this (which is odd as they didn't insist on it for licensing the Libre 2). I know many diabetics welcome that. I don't. I want more flexibility.
