stuart.grier
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hello everyone. I have been diabetic for 37 years, so technically not a newbie. But i am a newbie here.
Please be gentle.
Please be gentle.
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- Thread starter stuart.grier
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rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi Stuart and welcome.
Would you like to tell us a bit about how you manage your diabetes? Things like...
Which insulin(s) you use?
Are you on MDI or a pump and if so which one and are you using it as a closed loop?
Hopefully you have Libre sensors or other CGM for monitoring levels and that has made life easier for you?
Is there anything particular that brings you to the forum after 37 years? Don't get me wrong, you don't need a reason or excuse to join us as it is a great place to come and feel more "normal" and compare notes with others facing similar challenges. It is also very much up to the minute with current thinking and technology and in fact, I doubt there is such a great resource of knowledge and experience anywhere else in the world, so I hope you find being here as massively beneficial as I have.
Do shout up if you have any questions though as that is the primary role of the forum.
Would you like to tell us a bit about how you manage your diabetes? Things like...
Which insulin(s) you use?
Are you on MDI or a pump and if so which one and are you using it as a closed loop?
Hopefully you have Libre sensors or other CGM for monitoring levels and that has made life easier for you?
Is there anything particular that brings you to the forum after 37 years? Don't get me wrong, you don't need a reason or excuse to join us as it is a great place to come and feel more "normal" and compare notes with others facing similar challenges. It is also very much up to the minute with current thinking and technology and in fact, I doubt there is such a great resource of knowledge and experience anywhere else in the world, so I hope you find being here as massively beneficial as I have.
Do shout up if you have any questions though as that is the primary role of the forum.
stuart.grier
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Barbara
I use Humalog and Levimir with pre-filled pens. I live in Scotland, so free prescriptions for me, not to get too political, i feel Englands prescription charges will stop people getting the medication they need.
I do have a Libre 2, its because of accuracy issues i have recently had that i came here. I am going to stop using the Libre2 and move back to finger prick - i posted on the "Libre problems or bad batch thread.
To be honest, i have never interacted with this community, but it may have been a mistake on my part.
I have not had any major issues, in fact its been years since i Hypo'd. I normally run around 8 to 9, my consultant wants me lower, but these levels are what i am comfortable with.
Thanks.
Stuart
I use Humalog and Levimir with pre-filled pens. I live in Scotland, so free prescriptions for me, not to get too political, i feel Englands prescription charges will stop people getting the medication they need.
I do have a Libre 2, its because of accuracy issues i have recently had that i came here. I am going to stop using the Libre2 and move back to finger prick - i posted on the "Libre problems or bad batch thread.
To be honest, i have never interacted with this community, but it may have been a mistake on my part.
I have not had any major issues, in fact its been years since i Hypo'd. I normally run around 8 to 9, my consultant wants me lower, but these levels are what i am comfortable with.
Thanks.
Stuart
Bruce Stephens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I agree on the principle (there should not be prescription charges), but people in England with diabetes who need prescriptions are exempt from the charges (all prescription charges, not just for things which directly relate to diabetes).
Martin.A
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Me too, but there are so many exemptions - over 60s, for example - that I sometimes wonder if there are more people exempt than actually pay.
Bruce Stephens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
The government likes to emphasise that most prescriptions are to people who are exempt. I presume the majority of people are not exempt, but likely a majority of them only want a prescription rarely so it doesn't bother them much.
It does feel like a waste to spend this money in collecting charges, issuing exemptions, chasing up people who claim exemption invalidly. That's sometimes claimed to be more than the income from charges though I've no idea whether that's true.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Sorry to hear that you are having difficulties with Libre and are looking at giving up on it.
I think it is really important to understand the limitations of Libre and @helli posted a brilliant explanation of them today which may help you to make sense of some of the inaccuracies you are experiencing. I will post a link below.
Alternatively, you could ask to try the Dexcom system instead as sometimes the algorithm used by Libre doesn't suit a person's body chemistry but a different system works well for them and certainly in England, you now should have a choice between Libre and Dexcom One. Don't know about the availabllity of alternatives in Scotland.
There is also the option to use a third party app like XDrip or Juggluco etc to intercept the readings from Libre and put them through a different algorithm and some of these apps, if not all, allow you to calibrate from a finger prick, so you can sort of customize your Libre to your body, through these additional apps. I am a tech dinosaur, so I don't really understand all the technical stuff and thankfully Libre (with the reader) works really, really well for me, so I have not needed to install and use any of these 3rd party apps, but many people find them incredibly good at improving the accuracy and reliability of Libre and I believe many of the apps were developed by people with Type 1 who were finding Libre challenging and were looking to improve their outcome. Anyway, just thought I would mention that there are options available to you if you want to persevere with CGM but you may need to do your own homework to download and utilize the apps as they are not officially recognized.
forum.diabetes.org.uk
I think it is really important to understand the limitations of Libre and @helli posted a brilliant explanation of them today which may help you to make sense of some of the inaccuracies you are experiencing. I will post a link below.
Alternatively, you could ask to try the Dexcom system instead as sometimes the algorithm used by Libre doesn't suit a person's body chemistry but a different system works well for them and certainly in England, you now should have a choice between Libre and Dexcom One. Don't know about the availabllity of alternatives in Scotland.
There is also the option to use a third party app like XDrip or Juggluco etc to intercept the readings from Libre and put them through a different algorithm and some of these apps, if not all, allow you to calibrate from a finger prick, so you can sort of customize your Libre to your body, through these additional apps. I am a tech dinosaur, so I don't really understand all the technical stuff and thankfully Libre (with the reader) works really, really well for me, so I have not needed to install and use any of these 3rd party apps, but many people find them incredibly good at improving the accuracy and reliability of Libre and I believe many of the apps were developed by people with Type 1 who were finding Libre challenging and were looking to improve their outcome. Anyway, just thought I would mention that there are options available to you if you want to persevere with CGM but you may need to do your own homework to download and utilize the apps as they are not officially recognized.
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
stuart.grier
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
thanks for the reply and the link to the other post and explanation. I am "techie" as i fix computers for. Living. I did not know anything about these other apps, and the Libre was given to me by the hospital. The readers and sensors were given to all diabetics in my area, partially paid for by the WRVS, and i don't know if another would be available.
I am not giving up on the sensors, i am just giving it a break for a while. I spoke to one of the specialist nurses this afternoon and she said if i have lost faith in it, then pause and come back when you feel you are ready. That is where i am at the moment.
I am returning to finger-prick with my shiny new Accu-Check instant,and attached to the mySugr app. Its only been a few hours, but my confidence is increasing with this meter.
Thanks once again.
S.
I am not giving up on the sensors, i am just giving it a break for a while. I spoke to one of the specialist nurses this afternoon and she said if i have lost faith in it, then pause and come back when you feel you are ready. That is where i am at the moment.
I am returning to finger-prick with my shiny new Accu-Check instant,and attached to the mySugr app. Its only been a few hours, but my confidence is increasing with this meter.
Thanks once again.
S.
Bruce Stephens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
At least in England, every area now offers a choice of Libre 2 or Dexcom One to everyone with Type 1. (Or so Partha Kar says, anyway.)
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I have to say, I did wonder if your BG meter might be out rather than Libre, although I appreciate that Libre can be well out for some people, so it is good that you have got a new meter to cover that potential issue. What where you using before the new Accu-Chek?
Really surprised that the WRVS are funding your sensors and readers in Scotland. That is quite surprising, shocking even!
A Libre break can certainly be helpful and I have had a few over the last 4 years usually when I start feeling like it is "the spy in the cab", especially when my levels are not playing ball and I am chewed off with diabetes in general and I always return to it after a few days/week of finger pricking, really enthusiastically and so grateful for the data it gives me. What I hate is the first night ot two without it, makes me feel horribly vulnerable. Diabetes messes with your mind sometimes, so you need to adopt strategies which give you a fresh perspective occasionally.
If you are professionally quite techy them I am really surprised that you are not using the LibreLink app on your phone and then one of the third party apps if you are still finding Libre not accurate enough. There is lots of info about them here on the forum and with some I believe you can relay the continuous reading from your phone to a smart watch as, so you have your results displayed on your wrist and updated every minute I believe. Lots of different options, so well worth investigating, particularly when they provide an opportunity to calibrate.
Really surprised that the WRVS are funding your sensors and readers in Scotland. That is quite surprising, shocking even!
A Libre break can certainly be helpful and I have had a few over the last 4 years usually when I start feeling like it is "the spy in the cab", especially when my levels are not playing ball and I am chewed off with diabetes in general and I always return to it after a few days/week of finger pricking, really enthusiastically and so grateful for the data it gives me. What I hate is the first night ot two without it, makes me feel horribly vulnerable. Diabetes messes with your mind sometimes, so you need to adopt strategies which give you a fresh perspective occasionally.
If you are professionally quite techy them I am really surprised that you are not using the LibreLink app on your phone and then one of the third party apps if you are still finding Libre not accurate enough. There is lots of info about them here on the forum and with some I believe you can relay the continuous reading from your phone to a smart watch as, so you have your results displayed on your wrist and updated every minute I believe. Lots of different options, so well worth investigating, particularly when they provide an opportunity to calibrate.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @stuart.grier
Glad you have joined us!
Hope you find it helpful, enlightening, encouraging, motivating, (and occasionally hilarious) to exchange experiences with others and dip into the wit and wisdom of the fourm 🙂
Sorry to hear you’ve had a bit of a rough time with Libre2
Perhaps you might do better with Dexcom One?
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