• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

My accu-check insight is a god send and the bane of my life

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Ally beetle

Ally beetle

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I love my pump but it can be a little awkward and sometimes down right annoying.

I have forgotten to put it back on when I have my evening shower. on two cases not put it on till the morning and nearly had bad DKA but I have been lucky both times and only had a little ketones.

Having it attached 24/7 can be frustrating but, I swear would never go back to pens, they made me so poorly and did not fit with my lifestyle or my job

I have just ordered a freestyle libre starter pack and so looking forward to trying it out. It is expensive but I hope it will fill in some of the gaps in my trends.
 
I love my Libre. I can't afford to use a sensor the whole time, so put one on for holidays, Christmas, etc, any time I'm going to be out of routine, and also just occasionally at random so I can check what's going on. Just put one on yesterday, and it's so nice to wake up and see exactly what's been going on overnight.
 
Welcome to the forum Ally beetle.
 
Welcome Ally beetle. Your topic caught my eye immediately, as I am gathering info for a pump update next year, and I am also thinking about whether to fork out for a Libre.
 
I think pumps are getting more and more advanced.

I would have liked to have the Medtronic pump and self fund CGM for it.

I do a job that for hours, I cannot check my blood glucose levels. So if I go low my pump doesn't suspend insulin, I have the potential to pass out which is no good at all.

I play roulette every day, one day I will get it wrong and will end up in A&E. some days I cannot do my bm for 5 to 6 hours depending on what happens

This is why I have ordered a libre for me to see the way forward and how my bloods change when I am at work
 
Last edited:
We have just got a Libre and I have to say, having all that extra information is amazing!
Not to mention less finger pricks!

I would say to anyone, if you have no chance of getting a full CGM, but can afford the Libre, then go for it!

Although I do find myself occasionally looking at the graph and wondering what exactly is the best thing to do to reduce some of the spikes, do we need more basal, or change carb ratio, or is it just a timing issue. Lots of experimentation going on in our house at the moment!
 
I too am an occasional Libre user, but for differing reasons to the others who have posted. I have learned so much about how my body works as a result, so in my view, money well-spent.

One thing I would point out though, just in case you are unaware, is that the Libre does not sound any alarm if you are running low, unless you scan it. If you scan, and the reading is low, you can have set the reader to make an audible, or vibrating signal.

If you are unable to test, will you be able to scan? I appreciate it could be a matter of hand washing/hygiene or something else. Your sensor would still make passive recordings in the background, for up to 8 hours, but you do need to scan to display the graph. Without a scan, you do not return a numeric reading, or you can get the full picture by downloading the complete data set, via a data cable to a laptop. I tend to do the download daily. It only takes a few minutes, and ensures I always have a complete data set, but then I'm a complete data geek.

Good luck with it all
 
Thankyou for your post AndBreathe I work in an operating theatre for most of my working day. If i am scrubbed up for a long case ie 5-6hours i cannot check my blood sugers for that period of time.

How close do you need to put the reader to the probe for it to read the info??

I hope to use it to get a better idea of my blood sugers when scrubbed and throughout my day.
 
Ally beetle said:
Thankyou for your post AndBreathe I work in an operating theatre for most of my working day. If i am scrubbed up for a long case ie 5-6hours i cannot check my blood sugers for that period of time.

How close do you need to put the reader to the probe for it to read the info??

I hope to use it to get a better idea of my blood sugers when scrubbed and throughout my day.
Click to expand...
It will read the sensor through clothing. I just experimented with distance, and about two inches away through a cardigan was the limit. As you don't actually have to touch it, could a non-scrubbed colleague in the theatre do it for you?
 
Possibly they could as my upper arm is not considered sterile anyway they could scan it if I felt I was going low.

I have had problems ever since I became a T1 4 years ago. I ran high because I was so scared of going low when operating so I used to get fake hypos at 6 or 7 mmols which again scared me.

Nearly a year ago I got my pump and now I am trying to keep my blood glucose around 5 or 6 now. I feel it is going to be a long case I do a temporary basal rate for a couple of hours.

The libra is a backup if I am worried I am going low and it will be interesting to see what happens while I am scrubbed as well.
 
Welcome to the forum Ally. After umming and ahhing about one for ages over the cost I finally relented and got the Libre starter pack myself last week. Had an issue with the first sensor I used but they replaced it without fuss and that arrived today. Looking forward to seeing what it can do.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.
 
Just been looking through my old posts and came across this one it is amazing what a year does.

I am still doing the same job though, but keep my BG levels closer to normal as i do not want my health to suffer. I have now insisted i am allowed to check my BG levels every 3 hours if i am doing a long case so someone scrubs in for me for 20 mins or so to give me time to test and snack and re scrub.
 
Ally beetle said:
Just been looking through my old posts and came across this one it is amazing what a year does.

I am still doing the same job though, but keep my BG levels closer to normal as i do not want my health to suffer. I have now insisted i am allowed to check my BG levels every 3 hours if i am doing a long case so someone scrubs in for me for 20 mins or so to give me time to test and snack and re scrub.
Click to expand...
Good to hear there have been positive improvements for you 🙂
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top