What Libre problems have you experienced?

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My last two sensors have knocked my confidence a bit by reading low most of the time. If I believed the Libre I would be constantly treating hypos. For example, currently it’s telling me 3.8 and not changing, although the graph is showing a fairly pronounced falling trend over the past couple of hours, but my meter says 5.1. That’s fairly typical and makes me question how useful it is. Does anyone know whether this might indicate faults or have I just been lucky so far in finding them to be more reliable?
Also, someone said that false readings can be an indicator of dehydration but I can’t find the post. Can anyone confirm this?
Thank you.
 
grovesy said:
Very.
I have read that some are saying there is no evidence of benefit.
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Tell the CCGs to ask everyone who has used them. My control has been transformed. There’s no evidence of benefit because they haven’t asked for any. Far too much effort when you’re on a six figure salary.

Mind you, I’ve developed Parkinson’s disease since I started using mine. I think that is an association rather than causation.
 
mikeyB said:
Tell the CCGs to ask everyone who has used them. My control has been transformed. There’s no evidence of benefit because they haven’t asked for any. Far too much effort when you’re on a six figure salary.

Mind you, I’ve developed Parkinson’s disease since I started using mine. I think that is an association rather than causation.
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I thought that some hospital clinics collected data for the Libre to use as evidence.
 
Yes, but hospital clinics tend to use the Libre as a last resort in poorly controlled patients, so it’s hardly surprising they don’t see much benefit. It’s clearly not a magic bullet, it does take some nous to get any benefit from it. It’s certainly not for the stupid, or those who like to accumulate complications to increase their PIP score. Hospitals don’t believe such people exist, but they do- I’ve seen it in War Pensions.
 
Radders said:
My last two sensors have knocked my confidence a bit by reading low most of the time. If I believed the Libre I would be constantly treating hypos. For example, currently it’s telling me 3.8 and not changing, although the graph is showing a fairly pronounced falling trend over the past couple of hours, but my meter says 5.1. That’s fairly typical and makes me question how useful it is. Does anyone know whether this might indicate faults or have I just been lucky so far in finding them to be more reliable?
Also, someone said that false readings can be an indicator of dehydration but I can’t find the post. Can anyone confirm this?
Thank you.
Click to expand...

I've certainly heard the dehydration thing. Makes a lot of sense with how the sensor works (taking fluid from around tissue cells.

I've had one or two sensors that have read a 'bit' low for a day or two. Given those results you mention I might consider calling Abbott to troubleshoot the reader/sensor as it's effetively reading 20% out. I'm happy to get occasional '20% out' readings when they are balanced by much more accurate ones... but permanently reading hypo when you are 5 is a bit irritating.

Having said that I've heard some people say they find them less accurate in the low range - which generally I don't tend to.

I do see a fair bit of 'sensor lag' when recovering from low BGs though.
 
grovesy said:
I thought that some hospital clinics collected data for the Libre to use as evidence.
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I don't think so from general use, only from an organised clinical trial. There were specific clinical trials at some centres which showed good evidence (but used relatively well controlled users) I think. Some good data from T2s too. They also had excellent anonymised data from thousands of 'early adopter' users from Libre downloads (Abbott get some anonymised data copied over when you download the reader to produce reports).
 
That could possibly be why the instructions tell you to place the sensor on the back of the arm. :D
 
Day 1. Lovely box delivered by lovely bloke. Read instructions, complied. Felt awful and mounting site (on back / side of arm in the recommended zone) swelled. Called Abbott - spoke to an idiot. Hung up.Called again, got a helpful chap who asked if I could see blood - said no as I couldn't. Asked if any reaction to adhesive - couldn't see any and am not that type. Activated it. Checked BG on finger prick 7 and went shopping.

2 hours later came home. Arm still aching but took reading. "Lo". checked with finger prick 5.6.

Took photo of still swollen arm to send to Abbot - noticed blood. Clearly scored a bulls-eye on a vein.

Called Abbot. Lovely chap said no worries, have a free new sensor and we'll collect the old one. As its in a blood vessel it can't read accurately.

Teething troubles I guess....
 
I think I’m quite obsessive enough without getting updated every 5 minutes:D

Though just looking at your phone is a bonus in public I suppose.🙂

That said, Abbott seem to obsessed with Android phones, they don’t do iOS as a first priority, so I don’t suppose I could use it anyway.😳
 
Dehydration definitely has an impact on readings. As others have said it makes sense since that is what the sensor is reading, the interstitial fluid. If there isn't enough there it will struggle.

I tend to look at the Libre reading as what my glucose level was 15 minutes ago, and don't worry if there are differences, as I am mainly looking at the direction of travel of readings (the arrows) and overall patterns to identify any changes to ratios etc.

Having said that I was delighted when the nurses used the Libre for obs during the night when I was in hospital. We had agreed they would wake me if I went over 10 and I would correct. As I was on fluid drips the readings were consistent with finger pricks. That just reinforces the dehydration thoughts.
 
Northerner said:
Don't forget also that paracetamol is also supposed to have an effect.
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I think that might only be Dexcom though. I don't think Libre is affected?
 
David Garbutt said:
I have ordered a Bluetooth dongle called "Blucon Night Rider" It sits over the libre and updates every 5 minutes to android or ios.
As the name suggests, I think it is best for use while sleeping. Alerts can be set in the software to help catch those 4 a.m. hypos.
The device ships from the US so will take a couple of weeks to arrive. I will post an update when I get my fingers on it.
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Sounds interesting David, will look forward to hearing how well it works 🙂
 
An update (to be fair to Abbott) on my sensor refund - FINally got it after 6 weeks...too long really, but now I can get back on their 'use-by-date-too-soon' roller coaster.🙄
 
David Garbutt said:
I have ordered a Bluetooth dongle called "Blucon Night Rider" It sits over the libre and updates every 5 minutes to android or ios.
As the name suggests, I think it is best for use while sleeping. Alerts can be set in the software to help catch those 4 a.m. hypos.
The device ships from the US so will take a couple of weeks to arrive. I will post an update when I get my fingers on it.
Click to expand...

Yes I’ve seen these on the Libre FB Group. Important to bear in mind that they use their own algorithm to interpret the raw data from the sensor, so the results they give may not be the same as from the official reader and app.
 
I was just reading the instructions that came with my latest sensor, just in case there's anything new, and I noticed that it tells you to store it at 4-25 degrees, and that although you don't need to refrigerate it, you can store it in the fridge if you want. Bearing in mind that once it's applied and insulated by a layer of clothes, it's going to be around body heat of 37+ degrees, I wondered what the reason for this could be. Any theories?
( not that mine is normally stored at more than 25, but it easily could be if I go on holiday somewhere hot. Next year a spare sensor could be travelling across an American desert in the boot of a car).
 
I have been using the system continuously for about 3 months since my local CCG approved use on prescription. I have just had 3 sensors fail to initialize from a similar batch number. In each case, the filament had failed to go under the skin - it was bent over at 90 degrees on TOP of the skin, so the needle and spring delivery system had failed rather than the sensor itself.
Abbott have said they will replace them, even though I got them on prescription.
The prescribing pharmacy didn't seem to know what to do with faulty ones, so I took it into my own hands.
I use 10x10 cm tegaderm film over the top, as I swim regularly.
 
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