My Libre has arrived!

[Bexlee]

So excited my Libre has arrived at the appointed time and I am actually feeling quite brave about applying it straight away. I have read the quick start guide and given my chosen arm a good scrub with soap and water and an exfoliator glove to remove any dead skin as I do tend to have slightly dry skin and I want to give it the best chance of adhesion I can. I have been outside working in the garden since doing that to let it dry off thoroughly, so I should be good to use the alcohol wipe, let it dry again and then apply. I have set up the reader with correct time and date etc.

Do I need to read the full manual before I go for it?
I have set my range as between 4 and 9. Is that reasonable?

Anything else I should know before I apply it? I am not going to be using my phone at this stage so will just be initiating it with the reader.

I love how small the reader is! It will make scanning when I am out riding a doddle!

It is very addictive ! Reading your posts you’re loving it. It is brilliant the whole testing in the night - I literally reach on bedside table scan and usually go to sleep again. It’s nice to give your fingers a break from pricking.
People have probably said the sensor runs about 15 min behind finger prick so if you don’t feel as the sensor says it’s Because it’s a little delayed and a finger prick is a good idea.

The phone app is brilliant too gives you even more data🙂

 

[stephknits]

I use the scanner and upload to libre view via the cable. My daughter uses the phone app which automatically uploads. Her team can access her details via her email address. I love the extra data she has available on her phone, for example the day by day in target data rather than last seven days etc. Glad you are enjoying it.

 

[Ljc]

Hi @Ljc I've always wondered what the professional thing was for ..... now I know! Do you know if you can get it to work on the phone app also??

Hi @Bexlee . I’ve only ever used the scanner so I don’t know if it will work on the phone app, I am sure others here will know though. Perhaps @everydayupsanddowns can help .

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi @Bexlee . I’ve only ever used the scanner so I don’t know if it will work on the phone app, I am sure others here will know though. Perhaps @everydayupsanddowns can help .

As far as I am aware the Libre Link app doesn’t have a bolus calculator.

mySugr does though 🙂

 

[rebrascora]

Well it is reading a whole mmol lower than BG so far today. I have drank plenty of water but not seen any change.
Woke up with a reading of 3.4. Admittedly I took a small hypo treatment of just about 5g carbs before finger prick but my BG meter said 4.5 and it was only seconds afterwards and checked it a few times since when levels were stable and it was showing an horizontal arrow and each time it was almost exactly a whole unit lower than BG so maybe I wasn't hypo this morning after all. Anyway, aside from that dip below 4 and a second tiny one for a very short spell before my breakfast kicked in, I have managed to maintain it in range and under 9 the last 2 days which has been a real challenge for me up until now particularly at breakfast time.
I was even brave enough to have a Chinese takeaway last night (low carb option) and it enabled me to decide whether the insulin I had taken (guessed at) would also allow me to have a little yoghurt and raspberries for afters. Bedtime levels were 5.4 and horizontal arrow, so opted for a unit less basal, but still woke up a little low. Tonight I will stick with 7 units but adjust with a small carb snack as necessary and go to bed with a slightly higher reading and see how that goes.

 

[rebrascora]

Looks like my sensor is back on track with my BG meter. Yippee!
Dropped a little bit re time in target but still all readings below 9 after 2 days and a pretty decent 92% time in target. Not a lot I could have done about the 2 hypos that I have supposedly woken up with, although I think this morning's was dubious with the disparity between sensor and BG.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sounds like you are getting on really well with it @rebrascora - fingersticks and Libre will never match exactly. they are two different things and there are a lot of steps between sampled data value and the readings we receive, so there is plenty of interpolation going on!

The international consensus suggests 70% TIR is pretty optimal (with most of the rest going above 10) so 92% with not much time below 4 is brilliant!

 

[Bruce Stephens]

By coincidence, here's a recent webinar on LibreView which explains how to share the data with your HCT (provided this is how they want you to do it) and so on:

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks for that @Bruce Stephens. Have had a quick look but will have a better look at it later and hopefully get it set up.

Well I woke up at 7am to my Libre telling me I was hypo again at 3.2 but finger prick showed 4.3 and I didn't feel hypo. Had reduced hypo treatment of 2 jelly beans and a multigrain biscuit with cream cheese (approx. 7g carbs) and a glass of water expecting DP to kick in. Had a bit of an upset tummy so went back to bed and shocked to wake up again at 11am when it showed I was 4.1. Injected 2 units for DP which clearly doesn't kick in until I get going in the morning and Levemir (3 hours late oops!) and had my brunch omelette with salad (no significant carbs) an hour later and just now injected 1.5 more units to cover protein which kicks in 2-2.5hrs after eating. Levels have risen to 7.2 but all horizontal arrow readings and should be on the turn now.

Interestingly I have just checked my log and out of 110 scans so far in 3 days (Eek!...I'm one of those people who likes getting my money's worth!) all arrows are horizontal apart from 9 slanted and 4 vertical, so I am very happy that I am not over reacting to the data even though I am scanning frequently. I have also only been eating one or two low carb meals a day so far which has been enough for me with the odd snack in between which will of course make keeping the ship level much easier. Resenting that it is showing me hypo when I don't think I am and spoiling my "time in range" but think the lesson I need to take from it is that I am sailing a bit close to the bottom line instead of being in the middle.... I am too keen to avoid any spikes and maybe need to adjust my perspective that the odd spike is better than the odd low.

Anyway, that is my update for the last 24hrs. I am going to aim for a slightly higher bedtime reading still tonight between 7 and 8 and stick with the 7 units of Levemir and if I am still low tomorrow morning then I will reduce my Levemir another unit

.... Still loving my new toy even if it does tell porkies In the morning sometimes!

 

[trophywench]

Well re DP - Mike (EDUAD) and I have both reckoned for a good many years that what we have is 'when foot hits the floor' syndrome! - looks like you have too.

 

[rebrascora]

Surprisingly that was the opposite of my point, that mine doesn't seem to kick in when my foot hits the floor. This morning I got up at 7 when the Libre showed I was 3.2, went into the lounge and double checked with my meter, had my semi hypo treatment, waited for it to kick in, went to the loo, had a glass of water and then climbed back into bed, so I was probably up a good 20 mins and no sign of it. 3 hours later when, I got up there was still no sign of it. I injected my NR straight away because it takes an hour to kick in and I assume DP starts to work at some point during that time, so that the 2 cancel each other out, because I don't go low from the NR I inject. It is very convenient for me that it works like that. Must be awful for those people who have to set an alarm in the early hours and jab for it.... as I have read some people do.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Interestingly I have just checked my log and out of 110 scans so far in 3 days (Eek!...I'm one of those people who likes getting my money's worth!)

I've apparently averaged 42 tests a day over the last 90 days. (I'm sure we're towards the high end of the usage range but I'm not sure that it matters much. I've stopped worrying, anyway. I saw on one video a while ago the suggestion that one ought to scan only when the result seemed likely to lead to some action, but that seemed silly at the time and I doubt anyone would advise that now.)

 

[rebrascora]

I've apparently averaged 42 tests a day over the last 90 days. (I'm sure we're towards the high end of the usage range but I'm not sure that it matters much. I've stopped worrying, anyway. I saw on one video a while ago the suggestion that one ought to scan only when the result seemed likely to lead to some action, but that seemed silly at the time and I doubt anyone would advise that now.)

Good to know that I am not being too obsessive.... or perhaps we are both obsessive 😱 but surely the purpose of the LIbre is to be preemptive and take action before it is needed not wait until you need to. Also for me it is about finding the sweet spot when insulin and glucose meet each other, particularly on a morning when the timing seems to be so critical in my case, so testing more frequently is crucial to getting that right. I expect that over time I will not need to test quite so frequently to keep within the "tramlines" once I get it figured out for regular meals.... but there is also the peace of mind aspect of a quick scan particularly if I am out riding on my own or out for a walk or run on my own, that all is good.... or I could do with a small top up.

 

[rebrascora]

Well, I am just managing to maintain my 93% time in target so far after 4 days, but still erring only on the low side rather than getting the odd peak. No bad hypos though, just slight dips. Tried to manage things more in the 5-6 range today after I had a slight double dip this morning.
Not had any significant surprises so far, probably because I have been testing quite frequently anyway, but just love all the extra data which is helping me to fine tune things so much better.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Tried to manage things more in the 5-6 range today after I had a slight double dip this morning.

If you haven't already done so adjust your target to 5- 9 or 5 - 10.
The Libre like all other sensors has a time lag of about 15 mins. So having the lower limit set to 5 gives you the security blanket of no hypos as you can treat before you arrive and it also takes into account any wayward readings from your sensor.

 

[rebrascora]

Well it is almost a fortnight and I am a little disappointed that my control has not improved quite as much as I had hoped..... maybe that is to high an expectation on my part or maybe it is just going to take more practice at reacting to readings appropriately... I am quite patient about waiting to see what the general trend is rather than doing corrections with carbs or insulin immediately and giving things time to work before taking more etc but obviously still not getting it quite right.
Looking back through the graphs on my phone app there is a notable improvement in my readings after my appointment with the consultant in Feb when I decided to test my BG more frequently and I was finger pricking about 10x a day, so it looks like there is a notable improvement from between 5 - 8 times a day to 10+ x but I don't seem to get a significant improvement beyond that, testing 30x a day with the Libre. Of course there is the element of having more confidence to do things because I can test more frequently and the ease of checking is such a bonus particularly when I am working with the horses, so I still really like my Libre but just would have liked my results to have improved a bit more. It didn't help that the first 4 days I was getting really good results, but then as previously, things started to wobble and I started getting higher readings.... nothing desperate but some 10s and an 11 but this seems to be a regular thing with me.... I have a few good days and then things go awry for a few days and then I get back in control again. I guess it is just my inability to stick to a routine and it is unreasonable to expect Libre to change that.

Anyway, it started lifting a bit yesterday and I had to stick it down with Micropore after my shower last night. Just about 30hrs to go on this sensor so it has done pretty well, but I wonder if the filament has moved slightly as it is a little sore now. It started getting itchy a couple of days ago and I completely forgot and went to scratch it and nearly lifted it off when my finger nail hooked into it.

On the whole it has been pretty accurate and stayed in place very well and no issues with lying on it or catching clothing on it and I love the convenience of using it. I would just like to see slightly better results from it... but that has to be down to me not the sensor.

Overall view is it is definitely worth it!

Fingers crossed, my second sensor is as good as this one!

 

[Northerner]

Well it is almost a fortnight and I am a little disappointed that my control has not improved quite as much as I had hoped..... maybe that is to high an expectation on my part or maybe it is just going to take more practice at reacting to readings appropriately... I am quite patient about waiting to see what the general trend is rather than doing corrections with carbs or insulin immediately and giving things time to work before taking more etc but obviously still not getting it quite right.
Looking back through the graphs on my phone app there is a notable improvement in my readings after my appointment with the consultant in Feb when I decided to test my BG more frequently and I was finger pricking about 10x a day, so it looks like there is a notable improvement from between 5 - 8 times a day to 10+ x but I don't seem to get a significant improvement beyond that, testing 30x a day with the Libre. Of course there is the element of having more confidence to do things because I can test more frequently and the ease of checking is such a bonus particularly when I am working with the horses, so I still really like my Libre but just would have liked my results to have improved a bit more. It didn't help that the first 4 days I was getting really good results, but then as previously, things started to wobble and I started getting higher readings.... nothing desperate but some 10s and an 11 but this seems to be a regular thing with me.... I have a few good days and then things go awry for a few days and then I get back in control again. I guess it is just my inability to stick to a routine and it is unreasonable to expect Libre to change that.

Anyway, it started lifting a bit yesterday and I had to stick it down with Micropore after my shower last night. Just about 30hrs to go on this sensor so it has done pretty well, but I wonder if the filament has moved slightly as it is a little sore now. It started getting itchy a couple of days ago and I completely forgot and went to scratch it and nearly lifted it off when my finger nail hooked into it.

On the whole it has been pretty accurate and stayed in place very well and no issues with lying on it or catching clothing on it and I love the convenience of using it. I would just like to see slightly better results from it... but that has to be down to me not the sensor.

Overall view is it is definitely worth it!

Fingers crossed, my second sensor is as good as this one!

I've had it on prescription for a year now, and it has definitely improved my control. My problem has always been with hypos - I've always been of the mindset that I'd rather have levels heading low that I could top up as opposed to highs that can be more difficult to shift. However, prior to the Libre I was only getting to treat a hypo when I felt symptoms coming on (I've always had good awareness). This generally means that, by the time your jelly babies have kicked in you've spent more time probably going lower than expected With the Libre I can preempt practically all such hypos and I have narrowed down my 'hypos in 90 days' figure from around 55 a year ago to 20 currently. I can go a whole week without a hypo now! On the other side of things I can see how long the insulin takes to get working after injections and this is helping me to time my meals much better to avoid spikes. So I've improved both the upper and lower limits of my levels on a pretty steady basis now. It has taken time to refine though, and I'm still learning 🙂 But as I said elsewhere, my phone review the other day almost resulted in the consultant falling off her chair when she saw my results! 😱

Just keep plugging away and you will learn to refine things in time 🙂 I've learned more about my diabetes in the past year than I had in the previous 11 years since diagnosis 🙂 Hope the second sensor is a good 'un! 🙂

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks for that Alan. I think I had worked out quite a bit of the stuff re timing of bolus insulin via lots of finger pricking so I haven't found much improvement in that other than splitting my bolus for most of my low carb meals because the protein kicks in at the 2-2.5hrs after eating mark and you can clearly see that on the Libre. I need to get better at calculating that protein effect because it releases over a long period, so I can put a unit of NR in thinking it will bring me back into range but not see any impact from it as the protein is continuing to release as the insulin is being used and I stay high, whereas with carbs the insulin and carbs have a similar activity time..... not that I eat a lot of protein but it has a much greater impact on my levels than I ever imagined.

My basal needs change quite a bit probably due to my lack of a regular routine and the Libre has helped me to adjust that but I am always a day behind the curve. Having my half unit basal pen now is also helping, particularly for night time when my dose is quite low.
What has been surprising is that in the 2 weeks I have had the Libre, despite reducing my basal insulin, my BG steadily drops during the night until the point that I get out of bed. Doesn't matter what time I get up, whether it is 6am or 10am, it doesn't start to rise until I do.

 

[Amity Island]

Doesn't matter what time I get up, whether it is 6am or 10am, it doesn't start to rise until I do.

Hi,
I noticed that too. It's a bit misleading to call it Dawn phenomena, it's really waking phenomena.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi,
I noticed that too. It's a bit misleading to call it Dawn phenomena, it's really waking phenomena.

I think it very much depends on the individual and there certainly are people whose BG rises with the sun or at least long before they wake up. I did wonder if my situation was as a result of working rotating shifts for a lot of years and my body having to cope with getting up and going to bed at very strange times of the day so my liver got used to just waiting until I was ready, but I think it is probably just one of the many variables of human existence that we are all different.

Can I ask, if your fasting reading is a bit low when you get up, like mine was 3.8 this morning, do you have some carbs or just wait for DP to bring it up. I always have to inject a bolus of 1.5-2 units of NR for DP as soon as I get up even if I don't have any breakfast, so it seems pointless to have carbs and then inject insulin when I can just inject a little less insulin and let DP bring me up. It also feels a bit odd to inject NR when I am already low, but this system works for me. Obviously, if I woke up properly hypo (under 3.5) then I would have a small hypo treatment, but above that just seems a bit pointless. Just curious how other people manage it.