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Questions About Libre

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Thanks Sally - we thought that would probably be the case about the 8 hours data, that I'd lose the first one, just wanted to make sure I wouldn't lose the whole lot. Hopefully it won't happen very often that I sleep for 9 hours and can't scan, but it may happen occasionally.

I don't think I was clear enough about what I was asking about using the app - we'd worked out how to start the reader and the phone app going, but we couldn't work out whether the reader and the app can communicate with each other. Can I move the information I've got on the reader onto the phone (once we've got the app set up), or can I only get it onto the phone by scanning the sensor with the phone?
 
TheClockworkDodo said:
I don't think I was clear enough about what I was asking about using the app - we'd worked out how to start the reader and the phone app going, but we couldn't work out whether the reader and the app can communicate with each other.
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According to one of the FAQs (which I can't link to directly, annoyingly), they don't communicate.
See "Can I use my FreeStyle Libre reader and FreeStyle LibreLink app with the same sensor?" in https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/help/faqs.html

Remember that the FreeStyle LibreLink app and FreeStyle Libre readers do not share data with each other. For example, if you switch between your reader and the app, you may see gaps in your glucose data, which will affect the reports available through the reader, the FreeStyle LibreLink app, and LibreView. It is important to continue scanning your sensor with either the app or the reader at least once every eight hours so you and your healthcare professional can get a complete picture of your glucose trends and patterns.​
 
No as far as I'm aware there is no way of transferring data from one device to the other, you can only scan the sensor with them.
 
That's a shame - thank you both for the information though. Looks as though I won't be able to download the info then, unless R takes my reader into work with him (so he can access a windows machine) at the end of the fortnight.
 
TheClockworkDodo said:
That's a shame - thank you both for the information though. Looks as though I won't be able to download the info then, unless R takes my reader into work with him (so he can access a windows machine) at the end of the fortnight.
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As others have said, there isn's a way of sharing the data from reader to Smartphone, though as you know you can use them simultaneously by scanning both.

I *think* there are also Nightscout implementations for Libre (though these may be a bit fiddly and require some extra components??) which would allow a single stream of Libre data to be viewed by more than one person.

I think there's also the Libre LinkUp app which shares LibreLink scans with another (trusted) phone eg for partner or parent. So you could achieve what you are looking for by buying a fairly cheap Android phone and using that rather than the reader I think?
 
Thanks Mike and Khskel for the ideas - I will show your posts to R because I don't really understand them! I don't really want another phone myself - I don't like smart tech and in any case I only use a mobile very occasionally for phonecalls to/from R so it would be a waste buying it just for this. I doubt I'll use the Libre all the time unless my hypo unawareness gets a lot worse and/or I get the sensors on prescription, so it wouldn't be a big problem for him to take the reader into work to download the data. It would be easier if he could do it on our Linux machine though.
 
@khskel - R says he's had problems with wine in the past and found that some things didn't work with it - but that was about 15 years ago, so it may well have improved! Do you use it?
 
TheClockworkDodo said:
@khskel - R says he's had problems with wine in the past and found that some things didn't work with it - but that was about 15 years ago, so it may well have improved! Do you use it?
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I haven't got a Linux box up and running at the moment that would be capable of running it.
 
Just a thought - I don't need to carry the Libre reader around with me everywhere like I did the CGM reader, do I? I had to keep the CGM reader in the same room with me at all times so it didn't lose contact with the transmitter, but I'm assuming as the Libre just has a sensor and not a transmitter I don't have to take the reader with me everywhere - is that right?
 
TheClockworkDodo said:
Just a thought - I don't need to carry the Libre reader around with me everywhere like I did the CGM reader, do I?
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You need it every 8 hours (to get all the readings), and you need it (or a phone with the app) to get readings, presuming you don't want just to collect data over a period (but also to use the readings in real time). I'll note that the reader is really quite small (and doubles as a glucometer with suitable strips).
 
Bruce Stephens said:
You need it every 8 hours (to get all the readings), and you need it (or a phone with the app) to get readings, presuming you don't want just to collect data over a period (but also to use the readings in real time). I'll note that the reader is really quite small (and doubles as a glucometer with suitable strips).
Click to expand...
I keep my reader in my pocket. Unlike a meter since you don’t need strips or a pricker I find it’s very easy to keep it on me.
 
Thank you both, but I'm still not sure whether I actually have to carry it about with me all the time? I realise I need to use it to scan at least every 8 hours, what I don't know is whether I can leave it in one room while I go into another room (with the CGM I had to stay within a few feet of it at all times)? Do I have to take the reader with me whenever I go to the loo, or whenever I have a bath, or stay in the same room with it whenever it's charging? I had to do this with the CGM and it was a real pain! I know the reader's small, but my pockets are overflowing already, so I want to be able to keep it in my bag and not have to cart it about the house with me.
 
TheClockworkDodo said:
Do I have to take the reader with me whenever I go to the loo, or whenever I have a bath, or stay in the same room with it whenever it's charging?
Click to expand...

Sorry for not being clearer! The sensor has its own electronics and keeps its own 8 hour records. You can certainly leave the reader in a different room (or at home, if you really don't want to use it when you're out) and everything will work fine.

When I'm out dancing (I like to dance social tango) sometimes I keep the reader in my pocket, but usually I leave it in my bag or on the table so I can check between tandas.
 
Thanks Bruce 🙂 I hoped that was the answer, just wanted to be sure before I initialise my first sensor! I always take my bag when I go out (unless I'm just going to the post box or something like that), so that's not a problem, but it was an awful nuisance carrying the CGM around the house all the time, and when I charged it I had to plug it into an extra long extension lead so I wasn't stuck in one room with it!
 
The sensors presumably contain their own (non-rechargeable) battery, micro controller, etc. (And presumably the battery is partly why they have an expiry date of less than a year or so.) I find the reader lasts for quite a while (weeks rather than days) between charging. The reader stitches together readings for up to 90 days (so across a number of sensors), so you don't necessarily need to print out the graphs each 2 weeks (the computer software defaults to 2 weeks, I think, but you can select other periods).
(Different sensors can vary a little, whether because of individual variation or because of placement, so one can read too much into details of the graphs, just as believing individual values as accurate is usually a mistake.)

(Minor update: The manual says the sensor has a silver oxide battery.)
 
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Bruce Stephens said:
The reader stitches together readings for up to 90 days (so across a number of sensors), so you don't necessarily need to print out the graphs each 2 weeks (the computer software defaults to 2 weeks, I think, but you can select other periods).
Click to expand...
That's very useful to know, thank you - I'd assumed we'd need to print out the info (if I wanted a print-out) every fortnight, but if we don't that means R can have a go with wine on our Linux machine over the weekend after my first sensor finishes, and if he can't get the software to work with wine he can take the reader into work the following week.
 
I have a couple more questions about the Libre, hoping someone will be able to answer ...

Firstly, how do you dispose of all the bits which come with your sensor? Sensor itself in sharps bin, presumably? Can the applicator go in the plastic recycling or does it have non-plastic bits? What about the other packaging which the sensor comes in?

Secondly, does anyone now use the Libre reader as your regular meter, having also used a different meter while using the Libre? Does using the Libre reader as a meter improve the accuracy of the sensor (eg if your sensor says you're 2.5 and not going up, but finger test readings told you that actually a few minutes ago you were 4.5 and now you're 5, does the Libre work out that the sensor is getting it wrong and adjust itself if you use the Libre's own meter to test your blood sugar)?
 
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