[kyteflyer]

I'm having great frustrations with the Libre sensor. The recommended location is difficult, to say the least. The first sensor got caught in a sleeve and flipped out onto the floor with 4 days to go. The second, I knocked out of place (after 24 hours) on the car as I was getting in, and that made it useless, the last I knocked out of place on a doorway (after 5 days) because I lost my balance as I was leaving a room...

I want to know if anyone is using a less exposed location for their sensors, and how much of a difference it makes to readings. I'm not buying another one until I find out. They are too damned expensive to be having to replace sooner than recommended. That said, I think they are just wonderful, in how they keep track of your BGL 24/7.

 

[itissteve]

I want to know if anyone is using a less exposed location for their sensors, and how much of a difference it makes to readings.

I'm not a Libre user but I was intrigued enough by the question to do a quick Web search. I found numerous options and most people seemed to think the sensor did as good a job in the less-exposed location than the Abbott recommended location. The big caveat seems to be that Abbott will not replace sensors on which the adhesive fails if the sensor is anywhere but their recommended location. That does not quite sound like your problem, though.

I searched for Alternative locations for Libre sensor? (your post title) and it came up with several suggestions, including many specific to the Libre sensor (i.e., not just any CGM sensor). Since every body is different, I'd suggest doing that very Web search yourself and evaluating the comments people have made on other locations.

 

[kyteflyer]

Thanks, Steve, I'll do that.

 

[kyteflyer]

Well, finally reached the end of my tether. The last two (so its now 3 of 6 sensors) were duds. I've had two replaced but sent the last one back today, and said, basically, dont bother me again. I want nothing more to do with Libre until they work out the bugs. The last two failed immediately. Back to finger stabs.

I will likely continue to use the reader with the compatible strips (Optium strips). The reader has a rechargable battery.. no more searching out CR2032s when you run one flat at the wrong time of day.

 

[itissteve]

Sounds like the Libre was not useful enough for you to overcome its issues. I'm sure future Libre users, though, will appreciate your pioneering efforts.

 

[kyteflyer]

Sounds like the Libre was not useful enough for you to overcome its issues. I'm sure future Libre users, though, will appreciate your pioneering efforts.

Issues is not a word I would use when 3 of the sensors failed so quickly (24 hours, one hour and one hour) If I cant use them, I'm not pioneering anything. And its wasting my time, hanging about waiting for yet another delivery of a sensor when I have no clue what time it will arrive. I have spent this week in a state of wait. From the time of contact to tell them the sensor is a dud, to the emails or phonecalls, to the receipt of the new sensor, is 2-3 days. And then, it doesnt work.

It might just be a bad batch. One can hope. Maybe I will buy another sensor sometime down the track but right noiw I am not risking more duds.

 

[VeeJay]

That's got to be incredibly frustrating. :vs_mad:

 

[rsfletcher]

Issues is not a word I would use when 3 of the sensors failed so quickly (24 hours, one hour and one hour) If I cant use them, I'm not pioneering anything. And its wasting my time, hanging about waiting for yet another delivery of a sensor when I have no clue what time it will arrive. I have spent this week in a state of wait. From the time of contact to tell them the sensor is a dud, to the emails or phonecalls, to the receipt of the new sensor, is 2-3 days. And then, it doesnt work.

It might just be a bad batch. One can hope. Maybe I will buy another sensor sometime down the track but right noiw I am not risking more duds.

I've been thinking of getting one for the past 6 months or more and the sensor falling off has always been one of my big concerns. I do a lot of physical activity and am concern of knocking it off. I appreciate your situation as you have confirmed it does happen.

Secondly, getting dud sensors pretty well means you gotta go with the old strip technology. Considering the cost of each sensor I would feel ripped off and who wants to feel like that!

The other concern I have is accuracy - they have a disclaimer right on their TV commercials that the sensor will give the wrong readings when BG levels sharply rise or fall. That makes me laugh as it's those times I test the most to try and stabilize things.

Maybe in time the technology will be a little bit more robust and accurate. The people I know who use them seem to have too much faith that it will work correctly - faith is something I don't rely on when managing my diabetes.

 

[kyteflyer]

I found in a couple of groups that people have gone from Libre to Dexcom... but over here at least, Dexcom is even more expensive.

Its not the expense that bothers me, because really, if you get a dud, they *will* replace it free of charge (they even replaced my reader the first time because it turned out that it had some faults too). Its the fact that you have to use test strips whilst waiting. Its also about knowing how good it is when it works, that when it doesnt, you get so annoyed that you have to wait.

What I loved about it... the 24 hour visual representation of what was happening.

Accuracy is an issue... I found that I was showing lower than actual with the reader. It was only accurate when high. So, when at first I was getting readings under 4, I was randomly checking with test strips as well. I found that the difference could be up to 1.5 mmol.

Re falling off: I had not have that happen, but the first one which I flipped out via a caught sleeve at 10 days... I guess the adhesive is beginning to let go by then, but when I had to remove both the recent ones, it was hanging on like grim death. It was not easy to remove.

Anyway, its all over for now. I'll be keeping an eye on reports of faults or dropoffs, and see how it goes. I must say that they have been very willing to replace stuff free of charge, its just the awful inconvenience of it all which got right up my nose. Maybe when I'm old and grey (oh whoops, too late) you'll be able to walk into the local pharmacy and buy.

 

[kyteflyer]

So I changed my mind about getting a free replacement for the last dud and I'm pleased to say its all go. I'm on Day 7 and have had no issues with the current sensor. I've knocked it a couple of times on doorways but not hard enough to affect the function. Pretty happy now, and I will be buying the next on Monday, ready to go when this one ends. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that the good persists.

 

[itissteve]

I hope so, too. Thanks for the update, Sue.

 

[kyteflyer]

Seriously, its worth the trouble, for those considering it but not yet trying it out.

I find it reads a little lower than the strips do, with the same meter, or with other meters, but it gives a great overall picture of whats going on. Some people find it reads the same as their other meters, or higher. each person is individual and has a variety of responses. Don't let me put you off, at all.

Its wonderful to be able to scan whenever you want or need to, if you are feeling a bit "off" then it gives a clue, and followup with a fingerprick test is then confirmation (or not). Love it.

 

[kyteflyer]

Further to my last post on the matter, things have changed somewhat. I am finding that the current sensor actually reads higher than it does when measured against a finger prick test. Its starting to seem like even from sensor to sensor, and location to location, the accuracy is compromised. I was particularly naughty a few days ago, and when I measured with the Sensor + phone app, it was reading 15.1. Because I was relying on the app and sensor almost completely, I dosed accordingly. Then, I remembered that when you get off the wall readings, you should check blood. Blood test was 10.2. So then I checked with the /Freestyle reader... 12.8. I have been checking every reading since then, and am finding almost all readings are out by 2mmol ... so what that means is that you are overdosing. I had to stay up all night because I had propelled myself into hypo territory. Turns out the sensor is wildly inaccurate.

Solved the other issues, nowhere else on my body is OK for application so I have just been rocking between one arm and the other. I'm careful when undressing so as not to catch it on clothing but find that around 10-11 days is when the adhesive starts losing its efficacy and thats when its most likely to just fall off. Which is as well, in a sense, because I found with the duds I have had, that it is nearly impossible to remove in the first day or two. One of the locations has still got the after effects... top layer of skin: gone. I apply a strip of micropore at Day 10 and that has seen it through to the full 14 days.

This last time I bought 4 sensors, 2 were duds, and have been replaced. I'll be applying the last one in a few days and will continue to check blood as well, and report back.

What I have learned is that the inaccuracy actually makes it very dangerous. its all good as long as you are staying in range (but then, you really dont need it) and if you go out of range, then you are treating for inaccurate readings, whether high or low. And so, finger stabbing becomes essential. The way I figure it is this: they say why prick when you can scan... but that is really false advertising, because you still have to prick anyway. And since thats the case... meh. $92.50 every two weeks is insane, for something you just can't depend on.

[edit] The benefit of the reader, though, thats something... its rechargeable. so no looking for cr2032 size batteries when the shops are closed. It uses the same strips as the Optium Neo and also will read the ketone strips for the same gadget. Handy. So I'll keep using that once I transition to 100% strips vs sensor + strips...

 

[itissteve]

Years ago, I wore contact lenses. Then I got to the point where I needed bifocal lenses, which apparently did not yet exist. "You'll have to use reading glasses," I was told. My response to that was that if I had to carry around glasses anyway, I didn't need contacts. It sounds like your experience with the Libre is very much like that -- if you have to carry around a testing kit anyway, how helpful is the Libre?

Maybe in another couple of generations it will be improved enough to live up to its billing. In the meantime, Sue, your experience has been essential and valuable. Thanks for keeping us up to date with how it's worked for you.

 

[div2live]

Kyteflyer....Good luck, you are a real trooper!

I am a type 2 and I only take the slow acting insulin. Therefore, I do not test my blood as often as those on fast acting insulin. Unless, of course I am trying so new food combinations or having problems with the 'morning tests'....then I too test a lot!

I would think the type 1 diabetics are really all over this new technology! I am confident, as you are as the future versions will be better in every way. I hope I live long enough when you get your blood sugar just by placing something on you arm or finger, tongue, or ear and get an instant read!

 

[rsfletcher]

Kyteflyer....Good luck, you are a real trooper!

I am a type 2 and I only take the slow acting insulin. Therefore, I do not test my blood as often as those on fast acting insulin. Unless, of course I am trying so new food combinations or having problems with the 'morning tests'....then I too test a lot!

I would think the type 1 diabetics are really all over this new technology! I am confident, as you are as the future versions will be better in every way. I hope I live long enough when you get your blood sugar just by placing something on you arm or finger, tongue, or ear and get an instant read!

As a type 1 I'm very cautious of this relatively new product because it's not accurate and the commercials say as much if you take the time to read the fine print.

Ironically the people who tell me I should get one have never used one and those who tell me to wait till the technology gets better are the ones who do use it.

Where it comes in handy - it will tell you if your BGs are increasing, decreasing or stabilized. Some people can feel when their BGs are increasing or decreasing (myself included) while others don't feel anything when BGs go up or down - that's when the sensor would come in handy.

I hope the product continues to evolve for the better as I test myself on average 6 times a day - if I was confident that the sensor would be as accurate as my current Glucometer I would be using one now but I don't have that confidence.

I appreciate the discussions about the sensor because I will get one eventually assuming the technology improves.

 

[kyteflyer]

I think the tech will improve dramatically over time. When we have duds, we get a prepaid return pack so they can be sent back and looked at for the reasons for failure. I'm planning to email support with my findings after I have used the next (last) sensor and hope that they will take the information and do something useful with it. In the meantime my fingers are looking like pincushions again. Sighhhh. It was great while it lasted.

 

[Doaky]

I have been using free style Libre for the past 17 months and have caught a couple on doors and one stopped working. Mine are free from the NHS in Scotland but only prescribed 26 over the year. Any that have been dislodged have been replaced by Libre free of charge. I go on holiday in the Summer for 3 weeks and am on holiday just now and within the first 3 days, 2 of them became unstuck. I always place them on the outer part of the arm and never had issues before but believe they have changed the adhesive recently. I put one on the day before we left for holiday and it lasted 2 days after we arrived whilst the 2nd one lasted 4 hours! Have then gone a week or more without one as only brought one spare which I have located on the underside of my arm and it has so far lasted 8 days.

 

[kyteflyer]

I'm currently on Day 11 and the adhesive seems to be stuck as fast as it was when first applied. I really think there is a lot of variability between sensors, adhesive and readers. I had mostly been using the iPhone LibreLink app... it was convenient, didnt have to carry extra devices... but since discovering the differences in reads between readers and blood, I will likely not bother persisting with the phone app at all (and yes, after doing finger prick tests every time I scanned, I have decided its not doable. a) fingers hurt and b) half a box of strips in a week. erk.)

I have discovered also that the reads from different devices and methods are much closer in terms of accuracy, once you get your levels in range. Only a small variability. So... although I declaimed loudly (well, here, anyway) that I was not going to do this anymore... I will. Just not as much because ours arent subsidised in any way. I'm aware that many EU countries are... our TGA and PBS is well behind the 8Ball and the less they have to spend on health the better they like it.

 

[mbuster]

I'm currently on Day 11 and the adhesive seems to be stuck as fast as it was when first applied. I really think there is a lot of variability between sensors, adhesive and readers. I had mostly been using the iPhone LibreLink app... it was convenient, didnt have to carry extra devices... but since discovering the differences in reads between readers and blood, I will likely not bother persisting with the phone app at all (and yes, after doing finger prick tests every time I scanned, I have decided its not doable. a) fingers hurt and b) half a box of strips in a week. erk.)

I have discovered also that the reads from different devices and methods are much closer in terms of accuracy, once you get your levels in range. Only a small variability. So... although I declaimed loudly (well, here, anyway) that I was not going to do this anymore... I will. Just not as much because ours arent subsidised in any way. I'm aware that many EU countries are... our TGA and PBS is well behind the 8Ball and the less they have to spend on health the better they like it.

I don't really like Fram filters but I do believe the saying I attribute to them, "Pay us now, or pay us later"