Freestyle Libre

Does anyone else use this? I decided to give it a try as thought it would make life easier. So far the readings have been way different from BG readings (I thought I would check if they were similar). BG was 14.7 and Libre said it was 8.2. Libre 3.3 and BG was 6.7. Hardly accurate! Has anyone else had this problem? It’s a very expensive way of getting your BG readings totally wrong! Just wondered if it’s just me!

After the first day it seems to have settled down and is close to BG readings. However, I ordered the Freestyle Libre 2, as that gives you alarms if BG is way out of the target range, but after attaching the sensor, realized that they have sent me Freestyle Libre which doesn’t. Very annoyed and still waiting for a reply to an email asking for a replacement.

You might want to check the expiry date in case the sensor has expired. They have a reasonably short shelf life of 6 months.

I haven't used mine yet. I am just using up the last few sensors for the Dexcom G4, then I will give this one a try as it is much cheaper than the Dexcom G6.

Thanks Warwick, I’ll do that next time, but it did seem to settle down after the first day. It’s certainly much easier than finger pricking! Just to warn you to check that they have sent you FL 2 and not original ones. Looking at comments on the internet it looks like they have done the same to a lot of people. Presumably trying to dispose of old stock and hoping no one will notice, or is that just me being cynical?! 😂

I have been using Libre for 2-3 years. I now have Libre 2 and have stopped finger prick. Good points are that it is very convenient, my fingertips are alive again and the alarms can be helpful especially for low BG. Cons are finger pricking is more accurate, there can be variations between finger prick BG and Libre especially in higher BG, the alarms can be intrusive, and I feel my control is not as good as on finger prick. Hope this helps. My approach now is to use Libre to show trends in daily BG but have finger prick checks first thing and before bed.

I have had a Libre 2 for a couple of months now after trying to get one for several years hoping that it would help me get better control. I went for using the low alarm as I was always going hypo with no warning. Previously I would have 1 or 2 hypos a week now its 1 or 2 a day supposedly as the libre was giving readings below 3.9 but on checking with my meter it was always around 5 or 6. Frustrating.
Today I had a message on the Libre that the sensor was faulty and needed replacing ( after 1 weeks usage ) Fortunately I had one in reserve. So the fingers appreciate the Libre but I'm not so sure I do

Hi lucy1gus2. I had the same problem with at least 4 of the sensors failing, sometimes within a couple of days. If you email the company with all details of the failed sensors they are happy and quite quick to replace them. I have found that, since placing the sensor further back on my arm so less likely to lie on it while asleep, I haven’t had any failures. Don’t know if this is just a coincidence! The hospital specialist advised me to set my low BG alarm to below 3.5 as I was having several, and this also helps me to be less reliant on the alarms and more on how I’m feeling. The sensors lag behind what is actually happening so it may be you were low but your body has already compensated. I hope this helps. Persevere! I was frustrated with mine at first and close to giving up, but now am quite happy with it once I’ve got used to its quirks!

Hi Annette. Thanks for that I will try and get a replacement and will also set a lower alarm setting. Just had a Libre alarm of 2.5 but finger prick meter of 6.7

Hi Folks.
I have been trying to access the Libre sytem for some time, there have been delays after delay with the induction and assisting me in starting the use of the gadget. I have opted to go for a 1-1 with the local iabetes centre altough this in itself is likely to take even longer. However, from what I have seen on these posts there seems to be question over the accuracy alongside the reliability. I have battled on with glucose testing for donkeys years and this seems to offer consistent accuracy and reliability, so the question is - "Are these worth the effort" as it maybe a level of trust on a device against the accuracy of glucose testing.

Unfortunately I think it depends on the individual as to how accurate it is.

I have found the Libre 2 is usually a few points of a blood glucose reading most of the time although there was the occasional time when it was 2 or 3 mmol/L difference but whether the Libre 2 was inaccurate it or the BG meter, I don't know.

Others in this forum seem to have had greater inaccuracies though.