Libre 2

[Elizabethe]

I have had the Libre 2 for 13 days due to be changed tomorrow . Maybe a strange question but I use the reader, I know I have to change the sensor in my arm, but do you keep the same reader, or does that change every 14 days? I watched the tutorial for the new users and it showed you how to use the reader. I like the Libre 2, but admit to be over zealous with it and 14 days after being diagnosed with LADA I still feel overwhelmed .

Elizabeth

 

[Bruce Stephens]

but do you keep the same reader

Same reader. Remove the old sensor, apply the new one (in either order, really). When you scan the new sensor it'll warn you that you're starting a new sensor so say you're OK with that.

They've made it pretty easy to do, so there's really not much that you can do wrong.

 

[Elizabethe]

Thank you so much, that will make it so much easier I was worried I would have to programme the reader. So now I just need to ensure I fix the sensor on properly.
High five to this forum and making life simpler.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I was worried I would have to programme the reader

No, it'll just continue with the new sensor (after the hour or so gap while the new sensor initialises).

 

[SB2015]

I have had the Libre 2 for 13 days due to be changed tomorrow . Maybe a strange question but I use the reader, I know I have to change the sensor in my arm, but do you keep the same reader, or does that change every 14 days? I watched the tutorial for the new users and it showed you how to use the reader. I like the Libre 2, but admit to be over zealous with it and 14 days after being diagnosed with LADA I still feel overwhelmed .

Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth

There is no harm in swiping your sensor as often as you want. In the early stages as you build your confidence it is so useful to be able to do that without the finger prick. The direction arrows are very helpful, especially before you drive. A 5 with a rising arrow is fine to drive, but a 5 and dropping would merit a jelly baby or two.

Is it the amount of info that the libre gives you that you find overwhelming, or the ‘new job‘ (as a pancreas) you have been made to take on without even applying for it? At present you are learning so much and everything is still new. Carb counting will get easier as you become an expert in the foods that you eat regularly, and then make a best guess for other things.

I don’t know whether this might help, and it may sound a bit bonkers. When I first got the Libre I found the data overwhelming, so at one point I did my swipping and gathered the data but didn’t do anything with it apart from head off hypos and JB if I needed to before driving. I stuck to using my finger pricks to make decisions about meal doses. Then each time I switched sensors I set aside time on that day to do a download and review the data and see what I had found out from the patterns. As I settled down with things I then started to make more immediate use of the readings.

Take things at your own pace, do what you need to do to help you manage your T1. Plenty of ideas to tap into, but no need to rush things. To quote @trophywench this is a marathon not a sprint. Keep the questions coming and we will help in any way that we can.

 

[Elizabethe]

Hi Elizabeth

There is no harm in swiping your sensor as often as you want. In the early stages as you build your confidence it is so useful to be able to do that without the finger prick. The direction arrows are very helpful, especially before you drive. A 5 with a rising arrow is fine to drive, but a 5 and dropping would merit a jelly baby or two.

Is it the amount of info that the libre gives you that you find overwhelming, or the ‘new job‘ (as a pancreas) you have been made to take on without even applying for it? At present you are learning so much and everything is still new. Carb counting will get easier as you become an expert in the foods that you eat regularly, and then make a best guess for other things.

I don’t know whether this might help, and it may sound a bit bonkers. When I first got the Libre I found the data overwhelming, so at one point I did my swipping and gathered the data but didn’t do anything with it apart from head off hypos and JB if I needed to before driving. I stuck to using my finger pricks to make decisions about meal doses. Then each time I switched sensors I set aside time on that day to do a download and review the data and see what I had found out from the patterns. As I settled down with things I then started to make more immediate use of the readings.

Take things at your own pace, do what you need to do to help you manage your T1. Plenty of ideas to tap into, but no need to rush things. To quote @trophywench this is a marathon not a sprint. Keep the questions coming and we will help in any way that we can.

Thank you, I find the Libre really useful and it has identified several potential hypos and hypers, which so far I have managed to deal with. i tend to panic slightly and over correct the potential hypos and then go high. It just seems a full time job looking after me. I find the whole adjustment difficult. The equipment and so forth. On the positive side I am retired, have good relationships and close family networks. And I do feel well and have no other health concerns . So lots of positives

 

[Bruce Stephens]

i tend to panic slightly and over correct the potential hypos and then go high.

So you just need to find strategies to avoid doing that most of the time. (I think we all do it now and again.)

Obviously it's best to avoid going hypo in the first place which Libre (and CGMs) make fairly practical, most of the time.

 

[SB2015]

i tend to panic slightly and over correct the potential hypos and then go high.

I found this especially at the start. One thing that I found helpful was to wait 15 mins rather than 10 before I retest. I was originally told 10 minutes.

I was also originally told to always take 15 g of carbs. I then bounced, especially if only just hypo. So now I regulate my treatment of them by the number of Jelly Babies. JBs helped with this rather than using a carton of juice which would then get wasted if I didn’t drink it all.

It will feel like a full timetable to start with but it will get easier as things become more familiar, and you learn what works for you.

 

[Elizabethe]

So you just need to find strategies to avoid doing that most of the time. (I think we all do it now and again.)

Obviously it's best to avoid going hypo in the first place which Libre (and CGMs) make fairly practical, most of the time.

Thanks Bruce, I am only 14 days in, so still anxious, I am 95% in target, and have put in my first sensor today, so that’s another plus. And this forum and folk like yourself have been instrumental in navigating me through this.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Thanks Bruce, I am only 14 days in, so still anxious, I am 95% in target

Which is (as I'm sure you're aware) amazingly good. It sounds like it's involved a lot of effort on your part (which is probably not sustainable in the long term), but it's a great place to start.

The Libre graphs (like the Daily Patterns one, and the one showing low glucose events) can help show patterns, which may make it easier for you just to pay a bit more attention at times when it can help.

(For what it's worth I scan an average of about 40 times a day, but almost always just to see that I'm in range and it's not changing quickly. If I had Libre 2 maybe I'd scan a bit less often, but maybe not.)

 

[DaveB]

Hi. Rather than the Reader, many mobiles can take the Freestyle 'Librelink' App which is what I use. It means you don't have to carry two devices around. Have good look at Abbott's Freestyle website as it has training modules and FAQs

 

[Elizabethe]

Hi. Rather than the Reader, many mobiles can take the Freestyle 'Librelink' App which is what I use. It means you don't have to carry two devices around. Have good look at Abbott's Freestyle website as it has training modules and FAQs

I did think about using my mobile, but when I first tried the Libre two weeks ago at the clinic I didn’t have my phone with me. I thought I would get more confident with managing my diabetes then move onto using my mobile. It would be better using just one device. Thank you Dave

 

[helli]

I did think about using my mobile, but when I first tried the Libre two weeks ago at the clinic I didn’t have my phone with me. I thought I would get more confident with managing my diabetes then move onto using my mobile. It would be better using just one device. Thank you Dave

If you start a sensor with the reader, you can also scan it with your phone.
However, you will only receive the alarms on the reader.

if you start a sensor with your phone, you will not be able to scan is with the reader.

 

[Elizabethe]

Thank you that’s useful information

 

[BlueArmy]

Can someone help - applied a new libre 2 sensor around 5pm then went for a hour long run/walk on the treadmill - sweated buckets, got in the shower after the run and without touching it, it fell off! £50 for 3 hours data is not good - will they replace it? Also, I now have no sensors as I ordered 2 new ones a few days ago but they are not here - can you only buy them from Abbott online or can I get them anywhere else really quickly?

 

[helli]

Can someone help - applied a new libre 2 sensor around 5pm then went for a hour long run/walk on the treadmill - sweated buckets, got in the shower after the run and without touching it, it fell off! £50 for 3 hours data is not good - will they replace it? Also, I now have no sensors as I ordered 2 new ones a few days ago but they are not here - can you only buy them from Abbott online or can I get them anywhere else really quickly?

You can contact Abbott. They may replace it. They will definitely not replace it if you don’t ask.
As for where to buy them, you can get them from various pharmacies. Some may have them in stock but the only way to find out is to ask.
I know some people buy their sensors from Boots. I used to get mine from Asda pharmacy.

 

[BlueArmy]

Thanks Helli - will do a pharmacy tour in the morning!

 

[BlueArmy]

also, anyone know how I tell the app the sensor failed so it stops low glucose alarming whilst its in the bin?

 

[Elizabethe]

Amazon also sell them and if you have Amazon Prime you should get next delivery.

 

[BlueArmy]

Amazon also sell them and if you have Amazon Prime you should get next delivery.

Yeah but you can’t get the VAT discount so they are £20 more expensive which sucks