Questions About Libre

[trophywench]

An insulin pen 'cleaned out' ???????? I've never heard of that and certainly never done it to one!

I spose if you were sharing it or exposed it to something or someone terribly infectious - but they've usually been got from a store cupboard at whatever hospital clinic I attended and handed to me, then been put in my bag (see when it's new and just handed over, I would have put it, in my bag rather than chucking it in every time for the rest of its life LOL)

What the heck needs cleaning when it's new?

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I don't think it meant when it was new, I think it meant every time I changed the cartridge. Or possibly, if really obsessive, every time I used it. Can't remember which now - I haven't read the instructions since then! The nurse thought it was daft too, and I was much relieved when told I didn't need to do it.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

That's really useful information, David, thank you 🙂

 

[katie roe]

When I first started on the libre they didn't even send wipes - unless I just ignored them! Now they send 2 so I use them, don't know what they are for, or why they send 2!

They always seem to stick fine for me, and are a pain to get off! The only time I've lost one is when I sweated in the gym just after I'd stuck one on, so now I do it before bed.

Another tip - I 'brew' mine for a good 8 hours before activating it - then the readings are accurate from the start. Just stick it on and leave it. Otherwise I found the readings were out quite a lot for the first day.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Thanks, Katie - that's useful to know 🙂

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I've thought of a couple more questions:

I know you're supposed to stick the sensors on your arm - has anyone experimented with sticking them on leg or abdomen at all? Did it make any difference? I ask because I thought if I turn out to be just a bit sensitive to the sticky stuff, skin on leg might be less sensitive than on arm.

And - can you wear the sensors in the bath? Our shower is broken, only runs cold at the moment 😱 so I'm having baths unless the weather is very hot!!

Anyone else got any questions, or is it just me?

 

[Ljc]

a cold shower brrrrrr. Yes they can take being immersed for around 30 mins.
I've heard that some people are experimenting with placing them in different places, personally I've not tried this.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

I'm getting the meter and one sensor through my DSN next month.

 

[Ljc]

I'm getting the meter and one sensor through my DSN next month.

I trust you will find it very useful. The graph is so informative, it fascinating to see what's goes on.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

I trust you will find it very useful. The graph is so informative, it fascinating to see what's goes on.[/QUOTE

I'm really looking forward to trying it.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

I'm looking forward to trying it 🙂

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Thanks, Lin - and good luck with it, Lucy! Let us know how you get on. I might have got one by then too - am trying to think of all the questions I might have before I get it, as I'll have 30 days to find out whether or not it's suitable for me, and I don't want to waste any of them processing information, as that can take me a long time (starter pack can be returned for a refund within 30 days if not suitable).

 

[ypauly]

I have given up on the sensors, had 5 days lasted 13, 1, 10, 1, 1, I even used this skin-tack wipe recomended to me, and yet I have never had 1 last the distance.

I do have a physical job in a hot sweaty factory, where I climb in and out of machines all day though. Will maybe retry when or if they come out with a 3 day/1 week one.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

That's a shame, ypauly - did you get Abbott to send you a replacement every time they fell off? I believe they will do this.

 

[mikeyB]

Ypauly, you could try applying the sensor, then applying a Tegaderm dressing over it. They are water and sweat proof. That would certainly protect the sensor - some people do the same for swimming. You may need to change the Tegaderm fairly frequently, and they aren't exactly cheap, but it beats losing £24 of sensor.

 

[ypauly]

Ypauly, you could try applying the sensor, then applying a Tegaderm dressing over it. They are water and sweat proof. That would certainly protect the sensor - some people do the same for swimming. You may need to change the Tegaderm fairly frequently, and they aren't exactly cheap, but it beats losing £24 of sensor.

I will try, thanks.

 

[dasnider]

Hi all,
I'm an 'overseas member' (Canadian but living in the US). Since the Libre isn't avail. in the US yet I popped up to Canada and picked one up there. I'm about half-way through my first sensor disc and have a couple of questions for you Libre old-timers:

• It worked fine for the first 6 days, then yesterday I started getting frequent ''sensor not available - try in 10 min' messages. I noticed the adhesive had lifted a bit on one side, so taped the sensor down more firmly. It started reading again but all the readings are way low compared to finger sticks - e.g. 4.2 vs 7.1. I suspect the filament came at least partially out and is now not inserted properly. Any suggestions?

• How is the filament actually inserted? I'm wondering whether I could remove the sensor and reapply it in a different place, but am concerned about bending the filament and not having it actually go in. (I read on another forum that the installer has an insertion needle that retracts once the filament is in.) Anyone ever tried reinstalling it?

• I'm quite active - play a lot of sports and sweat a lot when I do. Could that affect the readings? Any suggestions from other athletic and/or sweaty types?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give,

-Dave

 

[Robin]

Hi Dave, a few suggestions, in no particular order. I always put some tape over the sensor when I first insert it, to prevent lifting. ( I know that's no good to you now!)
It sounds like the filament may have got dislodged, I had one which Abbott reckoned got kinked on entry, I had a lot of error messages and very low readings. Having said that, I once noticed mine had lifted when I was hot and sweaty doing the gardening, and I pushed it down and retaped it, and it worked fine.
I don't think it would be possible to reinsert, because there is no way of getting the sensor back into the 'Introducer' (as far as I know) and the filament itself is very flimsy and bendable once it's detached from the entry needle, you'd never get it through the skin.
I wouldn't have thought playing sports would affect the readings per se. But what can happen is that you get low readings (or messages that the reader can't pick up a reading) if you're dehydrated. If this might be the case, try drinking something and trying again!

 

[HOBIE]

Its a good devise for reading through the night. The graphs it gives have so much info on it.😎

 

[Bruce Stephens]

As a minor correction, there's software for Windows and Mac. The Reader itself is fine, but just having the Reader would (IMHO) reduce the value of the system. (Still has value even with the small display.) Might even be worth getting some cheap (used, maybe) Windows machine. Or (if you have a suitable Android phone) try using the app.