iPhone software updates

November 28, 2024 09:57

Reg DAFNE Graduate
Bromley Healthcare CIC 20 posts

Is it ok to update software even if Abbott/Freestyle does not show on its web site that a particular update has been approved?

There was one alert some months ago from Abbott not to update a particular software update which is understood, however, if they do not put out an alert then you could be compromising your security waiting for them to update their website?

November 30, 2024 16:49

marke Site Administrator
South East Kent PCT 641 posts

Hi,
This is ALWAYS difficult to decide Rolling Eyes I use a DexCom G6 and they have been getting slower and slower to approve updates. I use third party websites to decide if I should apply the update. My main source is https://www.reddit.com which has sub-reddits ( forums ) for everything and there is one for 'Freestylelibre' . There are people in this forum that say they have updated to iOS 18 and have no issues. However phones are like normal computers and there are many variations of each phone and each phone update. It's generally agreed that minor version updates are pretty much all ok i.e 17.6 to 17.7 , the risker ones are going from 17.x to 18.x as the changes in iOS are bigger and more likely to cause issues. That said iOS 18 has been around for months now and I haven't seen anyone with major issues with a CGM.

Regards

MarkE

October 14, 2025 12:32

Reg DAFNE Graduate
Bromley Healthcare CIC 20 posts

I have been waiting to update my iPhone software but Abbot have been on 18.3.2 for months for Libre 2 Plus. There must be many others in this position?

October 20, 2025 14:57

marke Site Administrator
South East Kent PCT 641 posts

Hi,
Yes there are lots of people in the same position and its not going to get better any time soon :-( The issue is all CGM apps have to be verified as medical devices by Medical Regulatory authorities. Back in the day medical devices were self contained, I had an original Freestyle Libre and that came with a 'reader' device. Dexcom still sell a 'reader' as well as providing the app. The readers never get updated and so are only verified once. Phones on the other hand are constantly updated and although the apps are not changed the authorities insist that because the underlying OS has changed the whole verification process has to be done again. Whilst you can sort of see their logic, its based on a different world and doesn't reflect current reality, however its very unlikely that they will change their approach anytime in the near future.

November 28, 2024 09:57 Reg DAFNE Graduate Bromley Healthcare CIC 20 posts	Is it ok to update software even if Abbott/Freestyle does not show on its web site that a particular update has been approved? There was one alert some months ago from Abbott not to update a particular software update which is understood, however, if they do not put out an alert then you could be compromising your security waiting for them to update their website?
November 30, 2024 16:49 marke Site Administrator South East Kent PCT 641 posts	Hi, This is ALWAYS difficult to decide I use a DexCom G6 and they have been getting slower and slower to approve updates. I use third party websites to decide if I should apply the update. My main source is https://www.reddit.com which has sub-reddits ( forums ) for everything and there is one for 'Freestylelibre' . There are people in this forum that say they have updated to iOS 18 and have no issues. However phones are like normal computers and there are many variations of each phone and each phone update. It's generally agreed that minor version updates are pretty much all ok i.e 17.6 to 17.7 , the risker ones are going from 17.x to 18.x as the changes in iOS are bigger and more likely to cause issues. That said iOS 18 has been around for months now and I haven't seen anyone with major issues with a CGM. Regards MarkE
October 14, 2025 12:32 Reg DAFNE Graduate Bromley Healthcare CIC 20 posts	I have been waiting to update my iPhone software but Abbot have been on 18.3.2 for months for Libre 2 Plus. There must be many others in this position?
October 20, 2025 14:57 marke Site Administrator South East Kent PCT 641 posts	Hi, Yes there are lots of people in the same position and its not going to get better any time soon :-( The issue is all CGM apps have to be verified as medical devices by Medical Regulatory authorities. Back in the day medical devices were self contained, I had an original Freestyle Libre and that came with a 'reader' device. Dexcom still sell a 'reader' as well as providing the app. The readers never get updated and so are only verified once. Phones on the other hand are constantly updated and although the apps are not changed the authorities insist that because the underlying OS has changed the whole verification process has to be done again. Whilst you can sort of see their logic, its based on a different world and doesn't reflect current reality, however its very unlikely that they will change their approach anytime in the near future.