Libre's

[SB2015]

I wouldn't be able to get my relative checks though and I highly doubt I'd manage calls, my grandad appears whenever he feels like it and my mum wont stop him from doing so no matter how much I beg and plead so I have to be too alert to go and deal with cleaning up behind him, it's all having a huge negative impact on my management and I'm not doing great with it at the moment but they cant seem to see that or that it could effect me long term, sorry very frustrated xx

Sorry to hear that things are so hard for you at present Kaylz.
Just do what you can as best you can. You can do no more than that.

 

[Kaylz]

Sorry to hear that things are so hard for you at present Kaylz.
Just do what you can as best you can. You can do no more than that.

Thanks but I shouldn't have to, my mum could easily make life a little easier for me but rather than that I'm just left to suffer and struggle to make it through each day xx

 

[SB2015]

Thanks but I shouldn't have to, my mum could easily make life a little easier for me but rather than that I'm just left to suffer and struggle to make it through each day xx

I can only offer a big virtual ((((((((((((((hug))))))))))).

 

[Paulbreen]

Here in German Abbott more or less discontinued the Libre1 once they started sending out the Libre2, there was no need to do any asking for the Libre2 as the Libre1 ran out of stock

 

[JJay]

The libre2 is quite simple and doesn’t need any third party equipment like maio maio.

But it does require you to

keep the phone near you, again pocket, handbag, convenient table within 20 feet.

I don't go around the house (where of necessity I have to spend most of my time these days!) clutching my phone and unlike a man most of my clothes don't have pockets. So I transmit to an Apple watch via Miaomiao. Presumably I will need to continue doing this with Libre2? Sigh.

 

[Paulbreen]

But it does require you to

I don't go around the house (where of necessity I have to spend most of my time these days!) clutching my phone and unlike a man most of my clothes don't have pockets. So I transmit to an Apple watch via Miaomiao. Presumably I will need to continue doing this with Libre2? Sigh.

I’m not sure of how the Apple Watch works as I don’t have one and I never used a maio maio
All I can say is the libre2 talks to either the libre2 reader or an iPhone running the latest LibreLink app. If you can get the phone to pass the alarm to your watch it might be useful if you post how to do it, I’m sure many people here will be interested how to do it.

 

[JJay]

If you can get the phone to pass the alarm to your watch it might be useful if you post how to do it, I’m sure many people here will be interested how to do it.

Ha! Yes, that has been a bit of a problem (with Miaomiao/Tomato - haven't got Libre2 yet) - the watch can mirror the iPhone for certain apps but LibreLink isn't one of them - I was hoping that would change with L2 but it doesn't look like that's the case, although I had an email from Abbott yesterday with more detail about L2 which I haven't studied properly yet.

I can get Tomato's alarm on the watch, but it still sounds on my phone as well - which I was hoping to avoid so as not to wake up my OH in the middle of the night!

I've looked at Spike & xDrip but although I've always considered myself fairly tech-savvy the concept of installing them was beyond my comprehension.

If anyone out there has more advice I'd be very pleased to hear from them

 

[trophywench]

I had a L2 email from Abbott yesterday - just an advert really, no help with when or how I'll get my hands on one.

 

[danielmg]

I had a L2 email from Abbott yesterday - just an advert really, no help with when or how I'll get my hands on one.

I think I had the same email as well. I don't know If I should have, but I've ordered the free Libre 2 replacement via one the aforementioned links by Dr Partha Kar. I haven't yet requested I be switched over to Libre 2 sensors, however, I just thought I'd order the device, as there is no need to return Libre 1 reader.

 

[Paulbreen]

Ha! Yes, that has been a bit of a problem (with Miaomiao/Tomato - haven't got Libre2 yet) - the watch can mirror the iPhone for certain apps but LibreLink isn't one of them - I was hoping that would change with L2 but it doesn't look like that's the case, although I had an email from Abbott yesterday with more detail about L2 which I haven't studied properly yet.

I can get Tomato's alarm on the watch, but it still sounds on my phone as well - which I was hoping to avoid so as not to wake up my OH in the middle of the night!

I've looked at Spike & xDrip but although I've always considered myself fairly tech-savvy the concept of installing them was beyond my comprehension.

If anyone out there has more advice I'd be very pleased to hear from them

I’m pretty tech savvy and wouldn’t rely on any 3rd party software for keeping my BG monitored, there is a reason why you have to jump through hoops to get them working especially with an Apple phone, Apple haven’t approved the apps because they haven’t been through any significant testing, I could build an app to raise an alarm on another device in a few hours but I’d rather not risk a severe hypo, it’s also the main reason I never wanted a maio maio.
if I hadn’t moved onto a pump and CGM loop system I would be more than happy with what a libre2 can do and if a watch extension for LibreLink was coming I’d be prepared to wait for Abbott to do it

 

[Kaylz]

I think I had the same email as well. I don't know If I should have, but I've ordered the free Libre 2 replacement via one the aforementioned links by Dr Partha Kar. I haven't yet requested I be switched over to Libre 2 sensors, however, I just thought I'd order the device, as there is no need to return Libre 1 reader.

Is there not a question of whether the GP can in fact change your prescription to Libre 2 in the request form as that's the information @Amity Island had to do xx

 

[helli]

I am tech savvy which helps for me because, not only am I able to install third parties, I understand the tech they use. And the tech Abbott use.
Early on, I discovered, factory calibrations for the Libre which Abbot swear on, do not seem to be the same as Helli-calibrations. I nearly gave up on Libre because it was always out but not consistently. Then I discovered third party apps that use different algorithm to convert interstitial fluid readings to blood sugar readings and allow you to calibrate.
I calibrate twice a day although the readings on xDrip often match finger pricks. I sometimes check with LibreLink and it is still not Helli-calibrated.

So, for me, I am happier to rely on these apps (I used to use Glimp but preferred the user interface on xDrip) than the official ones. That is because I have throughly tested it for my personal use case. And I am aware enough to finger prick check out if i am not convinced by what the app tells me.

I have read the Libre 2 is said to be more accurate so I will be interested to see if that works better for me. I hope so because the Libre 2 patch takes the calculated readings from a patched LibreLink rather than the raw interstitial fluid readings from the sensor.

 

[danielmg]

Is there not a question of whether the GP can in fact change your prescription to Libre 2 in the request form as that's the information @Amity Island had to do xx

Hi @Kaylz there is that question on the form I filled out. I think I was just trying to be pro-active as I know It can take a while to be delivered (especially with the stresses most couriers are under). I do plan on asking checking the consultant first at my next follow-up appt. next month.

 

[JJay]

I’m pretty tech savvy and wouldn’t rely on any 3rd party software for keeping my BG monitored, there is a reason why you have to jump through hoops to get them working especially with an Apple phone, Apple haven’t approved the apps because they haven’t been through any significant testing, I could build an app to raise an alarm on another device in a few hours but I’d rather not risk a severe hypo, it’s also the main reason I never wanted a maio maio.
if I hadn’t moved onto a pump and CGM loop system I would be more than happy with what a libre2 can do and if a watch extension for LibreLink was coming I’d be prepared to wait for Abbott to do it

Thanks for that - it's how I feel too. I would much rather rely on the minimum of technology as there's less to go wrong! However, I do need some sort of alarm facility as my hypo awareness has become impaired by taking a beta-blocker so I will persist with Miaomiao for now.

Luckily I happened to be speaking to someone in the Community Diabetes Team yesterday and she told me I could just ask my GP to change the prescription to L2 and couldn't see any reason why they shouldn't agree. So I may be taking the next step sooner than I thought!

 

[Paulbreen]

I am tech savvy which helps for me because, not only am I able to install third parties, I understand the tech they use. And the tech Abbott use.
Early on, I discovered, factory calibrations for the Libre which Abbot swear on, do not seem to be the same as Helli-calibrations. I nearly gave up on Libre because it was always out but not consistently. Then I discovered third party apps that use different algorithm to convert interstitial fluid readings to blood sugar readings and allow you to calibrate.
I calibrate twice a day although the readings on xDrip often match finger pricks. I sometimes check with LibreLink and it is still not Helli-calibrated.

So, for me, I am happier to rely on these apps (I used to use Glimp but preferred the user interface on xDrip) than the official ones. That is because I have throughly tested it for my personal use case. And I am aware enough to finger prick check out if i am not convinced by what the app tells me.

I have read the Libre 2 is said to be more accurate so I will be interested to see if that works better for me. I hope so because the Libre 2 patch takes the calculated readings from a patched LibreLink

Thanks for that - it's how I feel too. I would much rather rely on the minimum of technology as there's less to go wrong! However, I do need some sort of alarm facility as my hypo awareness has become impaired by taking a beta-blocker so I will persist with Miaomiao for now.

Luckily I happened to be speaking to someone in the Community Diabetes Team yesterday and she told me I could just ask my GP to change the prescription to L2 and couldn't see any reason why they shouldn't agree. So I may be taking the next step sooner than I thought!

From what happened here in Germany the Libre are difficult to get hold of now, the Libre2 first came to me at the beginning of 2019 so stocks of the Libre in the UK will most likely dwindle down too, Abbott are unlikely to run several production lines producing several different models in the long term and chances are the Libre1 production has already finished

 

[Kaylz]

Abbott are unlikely to run several production lines producing several different models in the long term and chances are the Libre1 production has already finished

This is taken from the UK Abbott FAQ section -

In Europe, the FreeStyle Libre system and the FreeStyle Libre 2 system will be available and on- market at the same time.

xx

 

[danielmg]

Are there any prescription costs available for the Libre & Libre 2 devices? If they are the same, or very similar, I would feel more confident at this time requesting from my GP to switch over.

 

[grovesy]

Are there any prescription costs available for the Libre & Libre 2 devices? If they are the same, or very similar, I would feel more confident at this time requesting from my GP to switch over.

You don't pay on prescription they are been sold at the same price by Abbott!

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Are there any prescription costs available for the Libre & Libre 2 devices?

Abbott are selling the two at the same price to anyone who wants to buy one. I imagine the same deal the NHS had for Libre carries across so the NHS will (I imagine) be paying the same amount. (I expect the same to be true for Libre 3 if and when it arrives. Abbott's said it'll be the same price.)

 

[Paulbreen]

Well all I can share is my actual experience I haven’t used the libre2 for well over a year now but I do have friends that use libre sensors and they are all on the 2 even if thy are not using alarms, we meet every 3 months in our clinic with our doctors and nurses and the general discussion is that it’s hard here to get a libre1 anymore. We have some older people who don’t want to change their routine so they were shown they don’t have to use the alarms in the libre2 One thing that is different to the UK is we are all using health insurance which we pay for and the insurance companies will always have the choice which sensor they will buy from Abbott. Despite the NHS being your only provider it seems that the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing over there. And even where you live determines what treatment you can get lol