Technology - Libre Freestyle Blood Glucose Monitoring System

[AnnSebastian]

Technology - The Freestyle Libre System uses a Bluetooth sensor attached to your arm to read your BG using levels as often as you like, just by scanning it with a smart phone. Each sensor lasts for two weeks. It’s not for everyone but for some people - like me - it’s a game changer.

Libre is currently only available on NHS to people with T1 - and even then with strict eligibility criteria. But that could change.

I’m posting this thread for current and prospective users, carers, professionals and anyone else with an interest, to connect, inform and share experiences.

Ann

I started with the free trial - I knew nothing about previous devices so didn’t need to overthink it - just stick it on - take as many readings as you like using either the smartphone app or the reader.
Apart from that it’s just a glucose monitor but one that doesn’t require sticking lances in yourself.
If you use the app and keep Bluetooth switched on - it sends updates to the app and if you switch the alarm on - it sets off an alarm on the phone if you cross the lower or higher limit. But you can choose the settings - or switch off the alarm if you need a break.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

My understanding is that it is a full CGM but, as you suggest, I believe the Reader will be "discontinued" in that there will be no Libre 3 reader.

That is also my understanding, either from this site or Facebook. I think discontinuing the reader is a misjudgement.

Not everyone will necessarily have a compatible smart phone; some people find it difficult to have their phone prominent at their workplace for various reasons. And in a hurry the reader wins every time: no "waiting, waiting" while it scans; no hit or miss if you've not got the NFC bit of the phone in exactly the right place.

 

[AnnSebastian]

I started with the free trial - I knew nothing about previous devices so didn’t need to overthink it - just stick it on - take as many readings as you like using either the smartphone app or the reader.
Apart from that it’s just a glucose monitor but one that doesn’t require sticking lances in yourself.
If you use the app and keep Bluetooth switched on - it sends updates to the app and if you switch the alarm on - it sets off an alarm on the phone if you cross the lower or higher limit. But you can choose the settings - or switch off the alarm if you need a break.

You don’t need an expensive phone just a ‘smartphone’ that has Bluetooth. And check it’s compatible with the Libre app.

 

[AnnSebastian]

Or even download the app and play around with it. You can download it on iOS without buying a sensor.
It’s not perfect but I’d give it more than a 3. Sure there’s an android version too.

 

[helli]

Continuous Glucose Monitor. Sometimes now split into two categories, rtCGM and isCGM, with Dexcom and the like being rtCGM (they supply the data frequently, in real time, to a phone or other device) and Libre 1 and Libre 2 (and Eversense) being isCGM (you get data by intermittently scanning).

Sometimes LIbre is referred to as a "Flash Glucose Monitor" or FGM.
CGM allows you to have the readings on your phone/reader as you glance at them without the need to scan.
The alarms on Libre 2 help this as the most important part is getting an alarm when you go high or low but it is more useful to get the numbers as well as the alarm.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

I started with the free trial - I knew nothing about previous devices so didn’t need to overthink it - just stick it on - take as many readings as you like using either the smartphone app or the reader.
Apart from that it’s just a glucose monitor but one that doesn’t require sticking lances in yourself.
If you use the app and keep Bluetooth switched on - it sends updates to the app and if you switch the alarm on - it sets off an alarm on the phone if you cross the lower or higher limit. But you can choose the settings - or switch off the alarm if you need a break.

Ann, not sure if you're aware that Libre provide an app and a website, the app you have to download and install for yourself, either from Apple store or Google Play store. Note: edited to corrct prev post

The prominent app is LibreLink that sits directly on your phone and is collating the information from your scans. This uses Bluetooth (sometimes abbreviated to BT) to set off the alarms; the scans send the data, up to 8 hrs worth and is how it knows what's been happening while you are sleeping.

The other website is LibreView. This is best used on a PC with a large screen; and the smaller the screen the less use it is. I can log on with my 10" android tablet and its workable, but fiddly. Those of us who get Libre from the NHS are required to set up a LibreView account and allow our designated Specialist to have access and thus see how we are doing. LibreView is free and I presume you can install it since you have Libre 2; I don't recall needing someone to give me an access ticket. Each time you scan your Libre on a phone, that data is automatically transferred by wi-fi to the cloud and onto your LibreView account. If you only have a reader then you have to make a cable connection to use a PC or laptop's connectivity to wi-fi.

Knowing how much you've been scanning lately, you might find it interesting to set up a LibreView account for your own interest; the data is processed in a multitude of ways [lies, damned lies and statistics] far more than those from LibreLink on your phone and if you have a Specialist who would benefit from seeing your data, ask them for their unique access code which would enable you to give them access. Could help in a future business case for why you should have Libre 2 ... ?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

The other app is LibreView.

That's a web site, not (yet, anyway) an app. Specifically, it's https://www.libreview.com/

 

[AnnSebastian]

Ann, not sure if you're aware that Libre provide an app and a website, the app you have to download and install for yourself, either from Apple store or Google Play store. Note: edited to corrct prev post

The prominent app is LibreLink that sits directly on your phone and is collating the information from your scans. This uses Bluetooth (sometimes abbreviated to BT) to set off the alarms; the scans send the data, up to 8 hrs worth and is how it knows what's been happening while you are sleeping.

The other website is LibreView. This is best used on a PC with a large screen; and the smaller the screen the less use it is. I can log on with my 10" android tablet and its workable, but fiddly. Those of us who get Libre from the NHS are required to set up a LibreView account and allow our designated Specialist to have access and thus see how we are doing. LibreView is free and I presume you can install it since you have Libre 2; I don't recall needing someone to give me an access ticket. Each time you scan your Libre on a phone, that data is automatically transferred by wi-fi to the cloud and onto your LibreView account. If you only have a reader then you have to make a cable connection to use a PC or laptop's connectivity to wi-fi.

Knowing how much you've been scanning lately, you might find it interesting to set up a LibreView account for your own interest; the data is processed in a multitude of ways [lies, damned lies and statistics] far more than those from LibreLink on your phone and if you have a Specialist who would benefit from seeing your data, ask them for their unique access code which would enable you to give them access. Could help in a future business case for why you should have Libre 2 ... ?

I’ve been using the app but I’ll check out the website. Too. I don’t have a ‘specialist’ just 3 monthly appointments with a nurse which lapsed last year. But I’ve made one for this week

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I’ve been using the app but I’ll check out the website.

As mentioned, you need to create an account. Then put in the account details into the app (so it can send the data). It is worth doing, I think. You can print out nice PDFs showing the various graphs also available in the app, but also the Ambulatory Glucose Profile (which isn't available in the app, and which is a nice summary). (Though some things may not be available until you have 90 days of readings.)

 

[Inka]

You don’t need an expensive phone just a ‘smartphone’ that has Bluetooth. And check it’s compatible with the Libre app.

That’s the thing - my phone has bluetooth and it’s how I control my insulin pump, but it’s not compatible with the Libre app (nor Dexcom). I simply can’t afford a new phone. I agree with @Bruce Stephens that ditching the Reader is a bad idea.

TBH, I’m happy with the Reader. It has the alarms and it works well.

 

[Kaylz]

You don’t need an expensive phone just a ‘smartphone’ that has Bluetooth. And check it’s compatible with the Libre app.

That is incorrect, you need a phone that has NFC, BT is only for the alarms, NFC is needed for the manual scanning of a Libre sensor

 

[grovesy]

The

That’s the thing - my phone has bluetooth and it’s how I control my insulin pump, but it’s not compatible with the Libre app (nor Dexcom). I simply can’t afford a new phone. I agree with @Bruce Stephens that ditching the Reader is a bad idea.

TBH, I’m happy with the Reader. It has the alarms and it works well.

I use both.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sometimes LIbre is referred to as a "Flash Glucose Monitor" or [...]

Yes and it really never should be

That acronym has a different and extremely unpleasant 'usual' meaning.

I always ask it to be changed on the forum to 'Flash GM'.

 

[Kaylz]

Yes and it really never should be

That acronym has a different and extremely unpleasant 'usual' meaning.

I always ask it to be changed on the forum to 'Flash GM'.

That's one thing I don't see is a problem

Abbott themselves and health professionals refer to it as that, we are on a diabetes forum where most know what it stands for, if folk don't then it's usually also mentioned in the thread what it is/does, there are far more triggering things posted on the forum and it used to be allowed so I don't really see the issue

 

[Leadinglights]

That's one thing I don't see is a problem

Abbott themselves and health professionals refer to it as that, we are on a diabetes forum where most know what it stands for, if folk don't then it's usually also mentioned in the thread what it is/does, there are far more triggering things posted on the forum and it used to be allowed so I don't really see the issue

If people put the initials into a search engine it may come up with all sorts of unpleasant results.
I fell foul of putting the word Pierce when I was looking for a company called that and was totally shocked with what came up, it was a good job I was not in public.

 

[Lucyr]

That's one thing I don't see is a problem

Abbott themselves and health professionals refer to it as that, we are on a diabetes forum where most know what it stands for, if folk don't then it's usually also mentioned in the thread what it is/does, there are far more triggering things posted on the forum and it used to be allowed so I don't really see the issue

People that are new to diabetes though and google for more information on libre might just copy the intitials into Google and not get what they are looking for.

If you type Flash GM into google the first link is freestyle libre and the second is more info from diabetes uk. If you just type in the three initials you get a description of the other meaning and a helpline. Which of those is more helpful for people wanting info on libre…

 

[Kaylz]

As I said it used to be allowed and I was told it was no longer because it could be triggering from a mod, there are plenty of potentially triggering things posted on the forum on an almost daily basis so that reason being given is just silly but some just like to pick at people regardless so....

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry @Kaylz Hope you dont feel ‘got at’

I tell Abbott folks off any time I hear them using it - and HCPs really should know better IMO!

But yes, not everyone is a sensitive flower like me, and it’s really not all that important in the grand scheme of things.

Plus I am well aware that acronyms, by their very nature usually have multiple meanings. As far as I was concerned in my early career PMT was photo-mechanical transfer.

Hope you aren't upset. 🙂

 

[Lucyr]

I think it’s me that caused the upset not you! I’m having a day of that…

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I think it’s me that caused the upset not you! I’m having a day of that…

Nope definitely me!