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Libre system
- Thread starter Bonnie23
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Bruce Stephens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
For most people who try it (mostly Type 1) it works well. Some people find various problems (allergic reactions to the glue being an obvious one, but some people find it's just not accurate (compared to test strips) enough to be useful). Each sensor lasts 14 days, and it's only approved for use on the arm.
The main downside is the cost. (It's available on prescription, but it's not trivial to get.)
Less commonly, if you needed an MRI or something then the sensor would have to go first. (A sensor can't be reattached. Well, I think some people have succeeded, but it doesn't look like something a sane person would rely on.)
I think it's primarily of benefit for people who'd otherwise be testing many times a day, so if you have T2 and are controlling that effectively (with diet and maybe some medication), so testing once in a while, then using Libre is likely not worth it.
(If I were King for a day I think I might offer a Libre sensor to everyone with diabetes now and again (having two weeks of graphs would surely be of enormous value during consultations). And checking to see what different foods do to your BG is surely much easier if you can see a graph (rather than just a couple of blood tests). Those feel like they'd be worth the money, though maybe the patient training required would be too high.)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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Jon-Manchester
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
As a T1 I can only say good things about the Libre system, absolute life changer. It does take some time to get used to and it is an expensive system (I am self funding at the moment).
I would imagine it would be very usefully for T2 as well but as I said it isn't cheap so whether you find it value for money is a different thing
I would imagine it would be very usefully for T2 as well but as I said it isn't cheap so whether you find it value for money is a different thing
Ljc
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Oops thought I had replied
Ljc
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
@Bonnie23 . Sorry for not replying sooner.
I have been self funding the Libre for a few years now , I have T2 and am on insulin and it’s been a g@me changer for me.
A person with T2 being prescribed the Libre is as rare as hens teeth, it’s hard enough for people with T1 to get it prescribed, so it’s more than likely that you will have to buy them.
Each sensor is £48 and lasts 14 days.
Imo they are a bit of an overkill if you are not on insulin or perhaps other medications that can cause hypo’s .
They don’t do away with finger pricking as it’s not a good idea to use the Libre when treating a hypo as their is approx a 10 minute time lag when glucose hits the interstitial fluid that the Libre samples compared to blood, so it’s far to easy to overshoot , for the same reason I don’t use the Libre if I am correcting a hyper (high blood glucose) .
I hope this helps
I have been self funding the Libre for a few years now , I have T2 and am on insulin and it’s been a g@me changer for me.
A person with T2 being prescribed the Libre is as rare as hens teeth, it’s hard enough for people with T1 to get it prescribed, so it’s more than likely that you will have to buy them.
Each sensor is £48 and lasts 14 days.
Imo they are a bit of an overkill if you are not on insulin or perhaps other medications that can cause hypo’s .
They don’t do away with finger pricking as it’s not a good idea to use the Libre when treating a hypo as their is approx a 10 minute time lag when glucose hits the interstitial fluid that the Libre samples compared to blood, so it’s far to easy to overshoot , for the same reason I don’t use the Libre if I am correcting a hyper (high blood glucose) .
I hope this helps
I'm a T2 on insulin and also self fund, but not all the time. I try to use Libre every 4-6wks or so, or if I am feeling odd and I don't know why. If money were no object then I would use all the time, especially now it is allowed for DVLA purposes too, as it does save a lot of finger prick tests and you can see the pattern a lot better.
I wouldn't recommend me for full time prescription Libre though, as I don't think it is currently that cost effective and I cost the NHS enough anyway, but certainly I would agree that before an annual review or similar to have Libre records to talk about would be good thing for all.
Good luck
Malc
I wouldn't recommend me for full time prescription Libre though, as I don't think it is currently that cost effective and I cost the NHS enough anyway, but certainly I would agree that before an annual review or similar to have Libre records to talk about would be good thing for all.
Good luck
Malc
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