Libre 2

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

deetzs

Member
Hi we want to take our grandson abroad he has Type1 and uses freestyle libre 2. We've been told he can't get this wet, are there any water proof covers or similar. We are very new to this.
 
Libre is good (guaranteed) for 30mins under water I believe without a cover. After that you may find the adhesive starts to degrade a bit, particularly in warm weather and if sun cream is applied and soaks into the adhesive patch. Some people find over patches help. There are a range of options and Tegaderm is often mentioned but there are other patches made specifically to cover Libre and many now come in bonny colours and designs. The central hole in the sensor should be left open as it allows the skin under the sensor to breath and this may be particularly important if you are applying a waterproof patch, so may be worth pricking a hole in it after applying.
 
rebrascora said:
Libre is good (guaranteed) for 30mins under water I believe without a cover. After that you may find the adhesive starts to degrade a bit, particularly in warm weather and if sun cream is applied and soaks into the adhesive patch. Some people find over patches help. There are a range of options and Tegaderm is often mentioned but there are other patches made specifically to cover Libre and many now come in bonny colours and designs. The central hole in the sensor should be left open as it allows the skin under the sensor to breath and this may be particularly important if you are applying a waterproof patch, so may be worth pricking a hole in it after applying.
Click to expand...
I don’t think it would hurt to waterproof the whole sensor & surrounding area for the swim duration.
The “hole” is to allow a hole punch to plant the filament below the skin and retract back into the applicator.
 
deetzs said:
Hi we want to take our grandson abroad he has Type1 and uses freestyle libre 2. We've been told he can't get this wet, are there any water proof covers or similar. We are very new to this.
Click to expand...

Hi @deetzs You can get it wet (after all, we all have to shower and bath!) but there’s a limit to how long and how deep. Personally, I’ve worn my Libre in the swimming pool for an hour and a half with no problems. I swam and was in and out of the water, and also going down flumes. I was aware of the Libre and careful not to bash it.

Type One Style do good Libre patches.
 
Satan’s little helper said:
I don’t think it would hurt to waterproof the whole sensor & surrounding area for the swim duration.
The “hole” is to allow a hole punch to plant the filament below the skin and retract back into the applicator.
Click to expand...
I agree that, for the duration of the swim, it won't be a problem but taking the over plaster off afterwards may risk taking the Libre with it and leaving it on for up to a fortnight without the skin being able to breath underneath may cause irritation. If I leave an HRT patch on too long this can become a problem and they are waterproof plastic patches of a similar size. The Libre sensor is shaped on the underside to allow the skin to breath.
 
rebrascora said:
I agree that, for the duration of the swim, it won't be a problem but taking the over plaster off afterwards may risk taking the Libre with it and leaving it on for up to a fortnight without the skin being able to breath underneath may cause irritation. If I leave an HRT patch on too long this can become a problem and they are waterproof plastic patches of a similar size. The Libre sensor is shaped on the underside to allow the skin to breath.
Click to expand...
My logic was something like this? https://notjustapatch.com/freestyle...IqJ7MkUsw8gVwaVazWwZuAgzw1itpCWYaAmZSEALw_wcB

Quote from the site, “ Middle piece of the patch stays non-sticky for maximum changeability;”
 
Satan’s little helper said:
The “hole” is to allow a hole punch to plant the filament below the skin and retract back into the applicator.
Click to expand...

This is true, but it is also engineered to encourage moisture to escape from beneath the sensor. I saw a talk by Abbott R&D boffins who had slightly reworked the grooves on the underside of the sensor and stressed how important for skin health they felt it was to allow the skin to breathe through the hole, and moisture to escape during the 14 day wear.

Libre was the first product designed to be worn for 14 days, of course, so I think they were a bit worried about keeping the skin in good nick under the plastic.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
This is true, but it is also engineered to encourage moisture to escape from beneath the sensor. I saw a talk by Abbott R&D boffins who had slightly reworked the grooves on the underside of the sensor and stressed how important for skin health they felt it was to allow the skin to breathe through the hole, and moisture to escape during the 14 day wear.

Libre was the first product designed to be worn for 14 days, of course, so I think they were a bit worried about keeping the skin in good nick under the plastic.
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks. Makes sense. I always felt the area covered didn’t have that much of an inpact?
But bearing in mind the small “open wound.” & thinking about the affects of a wet wound plaster on skin. (Like soaking in a bath too long.) they seemed to cover all aspects. 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top