Libre Sensor.

[kevw]

Hi I'm having a problem with the sensor. Only been using them for 5/6wks but i'm now on my 6th sensor as they have all failed 4/5 days after starting. They start giving a much lower reading, upto 10mmols below my meter reading then next day in either a hypo reading or just LO. Blood check is always safe. Ok I know Abbott will replace but having to phone every 5/6 days when they are meant to last 14days makes me think i'm doing something wrong. Any ideas/thoughts please?

 

[SB2015]

Hmmm. That is strange Kev. Do Abbott have any suggestions, and have they asked for the sensors back?. It may be that they are all in the same batch and that there was a fault.

My sensors tend to read higher when I am high and lower when I am low. I also try to take account but of the 15 min time lag between the sensor’s interstitial reading and the blood glucose reading, along with the arrows before worrying about the differences.

Having said that yours do seem to be a bit unreliable. The fact that they work for a while means that the filament has gone into your arm. Are you using the lower part of the to of your arm (the floppy bit if you have any)? If it is too high up it might be getting mucked up by moving muscle?

I have had only a few go wrong over the past four years. One my own fault as I hit it on a door jam. But mine did go wrong last night after just 8 days. I shall phone on Monday.

 

[kevw]

Hi SB2015 I am placing the sensor about midway on my upper arm, have tried it lower with the same result gives up 4/5 days later. I have tried speaking to Abbott but didn't get much joy from them, more interested in replacing then finding the problem. I did wonder if a magnet could be to blame, my phone case had 1 in the middle right by the NFC aeriel on the phone? New Sensor activated today so keeping the case off my phone to see if thats the problem. Yes i am really clutching at straws, just enough of phoning Abbott once or twice a week.

 

[Kaylz]

@kevw I think magnetic fields can effect the sensor hence why they must be removed for MRI's etc xx

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I think magnetic fields can effect the sensor hence why they must be removed for MRI's etc

MRI is a strong enough magnet that it would rip the sensor from your arm (and if it didn't, it would induce enough electricity to destroy it). I doubt a magnet in a phone case would matter much.

 

[nonethewiser]

Hi I'm having a problem with the sensor. Only been using them for 5/6wks but i'm now on my 6th sensor as they have all failed 4/5 days after starting. They start giving a much lower reading, upto 10mmols below my meter reading then next day in either a hypo reading or just LO. Blood check is always safe. Ok I know Abbott will replace but having to phone every 5/6 days when they are meant to last 14days makes me think i'm doing something wrong. Any ideas/thoughts please?

Sounds like faulty reader or software issue on app, depending on which you use, worth discussing with Abbott.

 

[Goldiebrowse]

Magnetic fields or large amounts of static can disrupt sensor however this does sound strange. Do you always use same arm? I know my left arm doesn’t give me accurate readings. Do you use scanner or phone for reading sensor? Do you have dropping BG before sensor starts playing up?

 

[Maz2]

Could I ask is anyone allowed to have these or do you have to meet certain criteria? Thanks.

 

[Robin]

Could I ask is anyone allowed to have these or do you have to meet certain criteria? Thanks.

Getting a Libre on prescription is hard. They’re only prescribing them for Type 1s at the moment, and then only about 20% of them. I’m currently trying to get one , and am having to jump through umpteen hoops and wait patiently to see if I get approval.
(It doesn’t stop you funding them privately, if you can afford to, that’s what I'm doing at the moment, part time, to reduce the cost)

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Getting a Libre on prescription is hard. They’re only prescribing them for Type 1s at the moment, and then only about 20% of them. I’m currently trying to get one , and am having to jump through umpteen hoops and wait patiently to see if I get approval.

Slightly over 30% now. There's a page here: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...our-diabetes/testing/flash-glucose-monitoring

 

[Goldiebrowse]

Getting a Libre on prescription is hard. They’re only prescribing them for Type 1s at the moment, and then only about 20% of them. I’m currently trying to get one , and am having to jump through umpteen hoops and wait patiently to see if I get approval.
(It doesn’t stop you funding them privately, if you can afford to, that’s what I'm doing at the moment, part time, to reduce the cost)

Hi, I know the health authority I come under you have to meet certain criteria. More and more are getting them but it is a slow process

 

[Maz2]

Getting a Libre on prescription is hard. They’re only prescribing them for Type 1s at the moment, and then only about 20% of them. I’m currently trying to get one , and am having to jump through umpteen hoops and wait patiently to see if I get approval.
(It doesn’t stop you funding them privately, if you can afford to, that’s what I'm doing at the moment, part time, to reduce the cost)

Thanks Robin. I suspected that would be the case. I was only ever pre-diabetic but have now had two consecutive yearly normal results. I would never get it on prescription and would not ask. i will look into the cost as they sound very useful. I intend to keep an eye on my blood sugars still.

 

[kevw]

Hi everyone just an update on my Libre sensor problem, I have just changed 1 that has lasted the full 14 days, tried lower on my arm which seems to have done the trick. However when I removed it I noticed the filament came out straight, all the others had a 45% bend to them. Is this the reason they all failed after 4/5 days? Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[Deleted member 27171]

Ours always came out bent up all over the place tbh but in 2 or so years only had a handful that failed.

 

[kevw]

Hi LucyDUK OK thanks this was the 1st in 8 sensors to last 2 weeks, just wondered if it was a factor. Cheers.

 

[Deleted member 27171]

Hi LucyDUK OK thanks this was the 1st in 8 sensors to last 2 weeks, just wondered if it was a factor. Cheers.

I wouldn’t rule it out, it could well be related to the new positioning on your arm, perhaps the previous areas caused a bend for some reason, slightly different angle when inserting maybe?

 

[kevw]

I wouldn’t rule it out, it could well be related to the new positioning on your arm, perhaps the previous areas caused a bend for some reason, slightly different angle when inserting maybe?

I wouldn’t rule it out, it could well be related to the new positioning on your arm, perhaps the previous areas caused a bend for some reason, slightly different angle when inserting maybe?

Yes could be, hopefully this 1 will last the whole 14 days aswell, and the mystery will be solved. Abbott have not been much help if I'm honest, rather replace then help solve the problem. So fingers crossed lol.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

However when I removed it I noticed the filament came out straight, all the others had a 45% bend to them. Is this the reason they all failed after 4/5 days? Has anyone else noticed this?

Next time, feel the filament. It's quite flexible, so I doubt you can tell anything much, though maybe if it's bent somehow at the point where it enters the sensor that might indicate something.