Hello, although I have been Type 1 for many years, I have only recently been using the Freestyle Libre sensor. I am still struggling to get used to the continuous glucose monitoring and I'm finding the advice on the forums from other members very helpful.
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- Thread starter GML
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I don't find wearing the sensor a problem at all, but do struggle to keep the continuous blood glucose readings within the recommended levels. Some days it is straight forward but on other days it seems to be quite unpredictable. I wonder whether I'm paying too much attention to the continuous readings and should be giving them more time to 'settle down' before feeling I need to take any action.
Inka
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The Libre isn’t so accurate at high and low levels @GML So, for example, your 13 might actually be a 10. In addition, there are other factors which @helli summed up in a post. I’ll find the post for you and link it here.
forum.diabetes.org.uk
But more than that, we’re trying to do an exceptionally hard job and be our own pancreas. 70% in range counts as amazing control, so don’t be disheartened.
CGM limitations and precautions
Moderator Note: This helpful reply was copied from another thread as it details some of the commonly experienced limitations of continuous glucose sensors. My blood sugar has been in perfect range for days now, but although I haven't changed anything, I'm starting to get very short periods of...
forum.diabetes.org.uk
But more than that, we’re trying to do an exceptionally hard job and be our own pancreas. 70% in range counts as amazing control, so don’t be disheartened.
Bruce Stephens
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Quite likely. I quite often find if I wait for 15 minutes or so it's changed enough that I don't need to do anything. (Maybe it's something to do with how interstitial fluid responds to blood glucose or how the Libre algorithm works.)
Years ago now, DSNs advised us not to react too quickly to Libre readings. Instead, they suggested a good time to respond was the next day. (So treating Libre as showing patterns which would allow you to adjust what you're doing.)
I think that's probably taking it a bit far but there's an element of wisdom in it.
It took me some time to focus on the graphs rather than just the numbers.
When I glance at my phone, I look at the shape of the graph and focus on the general trend whilst taking into consideration when I last bolused.
I find the arrows of limited use as they refer to changes over a pretty small time period which could just be noise. The double arrow seems petrifying until you look at the graph to realise you are at 10.0 mmol/l and your BG has only been falling for 10 minutes with no bolus insulin on board so it is very likely to stabilise before reaching anywhere near hypo.
Many thanks for your really helpful advice and the links.The Libre isn’t so accurate at high and low levels @GML So, for example, your 13 might actually be a 10. In addition, there are other factors which @helli summed up in a post. I’ll find the post for you and link it here.
CGM limitations and precautions
Moderator Note: This helpful reply was copied from another thread as it details some of the commonly experienced limitations of continuous glucose sensors. My blood sugar has been in perfect range for days now, but although I haven't changed anything, I'm starting to get very short periods of...
But more than that, we’re trying to do an exceptionally hard job and be our own pancreas. 70% in range counts as amazing control, so don’t be disheartened.
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Hope you find a way to get the Libre data to work for you @GML
It can feel a bit overwhelming at first to see everything that has been going on ‘between the dots’, but if you can resist the urge to leap into action at every sign of a wobble, the flow of continuous data can be really helpful in terms of making tweaks to dose timings, and learning when to act early, and when to hold off and wait for things to resolve by themselves (eg because you already have enough ‘insulin on board’).
It can feel a bit overwhelming at first to see everything that has been going on ‘between the dots’, but if you can resist the urge to leap into action at every sign of a wobble, the flow of continuous data can be really helpful in terms of making tweaks to dose timings, and learning when to act early, and when to hold off and wait for things to resolve by themselves (eg because you already have enough ‘insulin on board’).
Thank you @helli for your very helpful response. I hadn't been aware of the graphs before reading your message and I have found them much more 'friendly' than the numbers, which I was becoming obsessed with. It's only been two days but my readings are already much more within the recommended levels. I'm hopeful and confident that this will continue as I now feel much more relaxed about the process, so thank you once again!
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