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Warning to Freestyle Libre users - regarding Apple iOS updates.

Mike D

Mike D

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
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He/Him
Unfortunately I have recently updated my iPhone iOS and my Freestyle Libre 2 App ( LibreLink ) has stopped scanning any new sensors.
Happened on 19th December and I tried 3 new sensors with all failing to scan - far too many to be faulty sensors.
Got Apple to run a diagnostics on my iPhone ( SE 2022 ) hardware and all was functioning perfectly.
Therefore there is major problem with the Freestyle Libre App to anyone running OS 18.0+ ( I even tried updating to the latest iOS 18.2 as a last resort which still failed ).
After several phone calls with the Abbot helpline they admitted this was correct and advice was just to keep looking for their App updates ( whenever?!? ).
They were quite happy to replace my wasted sensors, which I commend - but this is not the main problem.
I consider it very poor / amateur conduct for a multi national company ( Abbot / Freestyle Libre ) to not ensure that their software system is functioning correctly on the latest iOS and just wish to warn everyone who may receive / purchase any new Apple iPhones etc over the Christmas period to be aware of this prohibitive info. :(
 
Didn't Abbott send out an email about 6 months ago or maybe even longer, advising people not to update until they were advised it was safe to do so? Not sure if that was for a previous IOS update or any future updates.
This is one of the reasons I like using a reader. Small, convenient and reliable and no issues with IOS updates.
 
rebrascora said:
Didn't Abbott send out an email about 6 months ago or maybe even longer, advising people not to update until they were advised it was safe to do so? Not sure if that was for a previous IOS update or any future updates.
This is one of the reasons I like using a reader. Small, convenient and reliable and no issues with IOS updates.
Click to expand...
I had a delve, because I was sure i’d read something. The only thing I could find was about hidden Apps, which is a new feature of ios18, which i don’t think is the problem here.
www.diabetes.org.uk

Android 15 and iOS 18 updates could impact FreeStyle Libre apps usage, Abbott advises

If you do not download the new iOS 18 or Android 15 updates, or you use the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader to monitor your glucose levels, then you will not be affected. Android 15 update The Android 15 update is not yet fully available to all Android phones. It is expected to become for Pixel...
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk
 
Thankyou for your reply Barbara - I do recall an old message some time ago and I am very competent with technology, but I feel that this potential issue has not been promoted enough by the manufacturer.
I fear that others may easily ‘trip-over’ like me.
To be fair to Abbott, they are also sending me a reader to use. But carrying another device in my pocket daily along with a phone, keys etc is quite prohibitive. I may as well go back to carrying around an old blood test machine.

Mike.
 
Robin said:
I had a delve, because I was sure i’d read something. The only thing I could find was about hidden Apps, which is a new feature of ios18, which i don’t think is the problem here.
www.diabetes.org.uk

Android 15 and iOS 18 updates could impact FreeStyle Libre apps usage, Abbott advises

If you do not download the new iOS 18 or Android 15 updates, or you use the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader to monitor your glucose levels, then you will not be affected. Android 15 update The Android 15 update is not yet fully available to all Android phones. It is expected to become for Pixel...
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk
Click to expand...
Yes Robin, that is correct!
It is odd that I am not seeing multiple similar reports of my issue appearing?
 
Good to hear they are sending you a reader. They are few and far between these days but so reliable. I will happily leave the house without my phone as long as I have my reader with me which is smaller and lighter than a phone anyway, so it's a win for me. Of course you don't get full CGM capability on the reader, but scanning is so easy, that doesn't bother me.
 
I am not a Libre user but with my Medtronic pump and its sensor I was advised to turn off automated updates on my phone and then to wait until the manufacturers advise that it is safe to the update.
All well and good telling you that afterwards, and it is easy to miss these messages if you are not using a particular sensor at the time. we need to flag this issue and the manufacturers also need to remind us of this.
I have recently been given a Freestyle Libre 2+ as my back up system, and was unsure whether it was compatible with my Libre 2 reader. I was pleased to find on here advice that it is.
 
SB2015 said:
I am not a Libre user but with my Medtronic pump and its sensor I was advised to turn off automated updates on my phone and then to wait until the manufacturers advise that it is safe to the update.
All well and good telling you that afterwards, and it is easy to miss these messages if you are not using a particular sensor at the time. we need to flag this issue and the manufacturers also need to remind us of this.
I have recently been given a Freestyle Libre 2+ as my back up system, and was unsure whether it was compatible with my Libre 2 reader. I was pleased to find on here advice that it is.
Click to expand...
I have only been using a CGM system since March ish ( this Freestyle Libre 2 ) and don’t recall any manufacturer advice regarding turning off Automatic Updates.
The only warning I ever saw was the message relayed by Robin earlier in this conversation regarding Hidden Apps etc. Because I don’t use these features it was not as issue for me.
During my support phone calls with Abbot I was told to avoid auto iOS updates - but this was already too late ( closing the gate once the horse has bolted! ).
 
There was a Freestyle LibreLink - GB App update only 1 week ago and mysteriously my 1st sensor scan / renewal since that update has failed ( I tried and wasted 3 new sensors from 2 separate prescription orders!! )
 
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I have not updated Libre app though

Haven’t tried 18.2, will wait a while on that one
 
Def avoid auto updates, mine set to only download but not install
 
Maybe the email advice goes back further than I remember. There was mayhem with the LibreLink app about 2 years ago when it updated to full CGM and then a further glitch for some people after the next update and I was sure there had been a subsequent warning not to update automatically, although maybe it was a Dexcom email and not Libre, but clearly people buying a new phone already installed with the new IOS would not have a choice and Wed will be a big day for people getting new phones I would imagine, so there may well be an influx of issues this week.
The OS update situation is somewhat chaotic and one of the reasons why I personally think the emphasis on phone apps is a mistake. I dread to think how many sensors are replaced by Abbott when it is the app or a person's phone which is the problem and not the sensor itself.
 
Kol said:
I have not updated Libre app though

Haven’t tried 18.2, will wait a while on that one
Click to expand...
Please wait on updating both these, my LibreLink system is completely unusable at the moment ( it will not scan any new sensors or Novopen 6 which also use the NFC ). I’m back to good old finger prick blood tests until it’s sorted. With the Christmas period upon us, I fully expect this could be some time! I shall keep y’all posted on here once it is sorted.
 
rebrascora said:
but clearly people buying a new phone already installed with the new IOS would not have a choice and Wed will be a big day for people getting new phones I would imagine, so there may well be an influx of issues this week.
The OS update situation is somewhat chaotic and one of the reasons why I personally think the emphasis on phone apps is a mistake. I dread to think how many sensors are replaced by Abbott when it is the app or a person's phone which is the problem and not the sensor itself.
Click to expand...
That could end up being a real spoiler :(
 
It may create serious problems for people who are on closed loops too with the Libre 2+ and perhaps don't have enough experience to confidently drop back into manual mode at a time when there will be minimal support over the festive period.
 
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Mike D said:
Please wait on updating both these, my LibreLink system is completely unusable at the moment ( it will not scan any new sensors or Novopen 6 which also use the NFC ). I’m back to good old finger prick blood tests until it’s sorted. With the Christmas period upon us, I fully expect this could be some time! I shall keep y’all posted on here once it is sorted.
Click to expand...
Don’t suppose you have maybe older Iphone with earlier iOS to download Libre app to temporarily? Might just work as a reader? Since only needs Bluetooth connection to sensor?
 
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