Libre2: In the end they also failed me

After years saying that the Libre2/plus sensors were perfect for me.I've been using them since 2022, if I remember correctly, and I've never had measurement problems.

About 12 days ago I got the first sensor that was bad practically all the time.

Right from the start it hurt a lot when I put it on, which is strange because normally I don't even notice it.Then it began with the typical deviation of about –50 mg/dL that sometimes occurs in the first few hours, but in this case it lasted almost two days.

On the third day it stayed more or less at –30.It seemed that it was getting better because day 4 and 5 were even almost going well, with deviations of –20 / –10.

But then it got worse again: again -30, then -50... and on the 11th and 12th there were times when it read up to -100 on the glucometer, so in the end I took it off.

And to make matters worse, when I put in another new sensor, it didn't even start and I got the message to remove it and put in a new one.

Hello good!

In my case, they have started to fail especially since I used the Libre 2 Plus (which lasts 15 days instead of 14).The sensor stops working randomly, with a message that the sensor needs to be replaced.There have been more than 5 over the last year.Although Abbott's website never says anything wrong when you request a replacement, the truth is that it doesn't give you much confidence to think that at any moment it could leave you stranded...

Regarding the margin of error, it also happens to me depending on the sensor, but at least, there is always a difference between 20mg/dl and 50mg/dl.In many cases it can be attributed to the "delay" in the interstitial measurement of the sensors with respect to the capillary (approximately 8 minutes if I remember correctly).In my case, to make serious decisions regarding insulin units or certain meals, I prefer to contrast with a capillary (especially because there are times when the sensor goes crazy, and suddenly shows a much higher number only to go back down after a few minutes...).

There are certain cases where inflammation during the first few hours can lead to erroneous readings.I know of people who put on the new sensor even a day before activating it, in order to avoid this complication, perhaps this could be useful to you.

All the best.

ChatGpt told me that I would have put it in a damaged place, with fatty deposits nearby, with scar tissue from another previous puncture or with the filament too deep or too superficial.Not in the optimal place to measure interstitial fluid.

But the area is already completely messed up by the insulin injections and the other sensors.Maybe that's why some things go so wrong or so badly.

I don't think so, I tear my glute and glute area every time.I don't know how saturated it has been in 10 years.

They fail because the product has quality leaks, it is manufactured by several suppliers.Many fail in the first days.

They measure so poorly that they give me a glucose of 6.3, that is, their measurements are around the average associated with this value, and in blood in the laboratory it gives me 5.8.We are talking about deviations between 50-75 mg/dL randomly.

It's been a while since I've crushed capillary fingers so much.It doesn't give me any confidence.

The truth is that I was spending a lot of strips and spending a lot of time above normal.It's an absolute nightmare when the sensor goes bad.

In 4 years I have already saturated my favorite area although I also use it a lot
For insulin, it's very screwed.Now I have had to put it on
in a place that I crush at night.What I don't like.

And although chatgpt told me that with the deviation of -50 or -30, in the end with the -100 of the last few days it already told me that the sensor would surely be bad.

Sherpa41 said:
@Sherpa41 said:

The truth is that I was spending a lot of strips and spending a lot of time above normal.It's an absolute nightmare when the sensor goes bad.

In 4 years I have already saturated my favorite area although I also use it a lot
For insulin, it's very screwed.Now I have had to put it on
in a place that I crush at night.What I don't like.

And although chatgpt told me that with the deviation of -50 or -30, in the end with the -100 of the last few days it already told me that the sensor would surely be bad.

For the summer I wear it on my buttocks, but now I wear it on my arm and I have never had any problems in bed and I usually crush it.

This sensor that I have is working quite well for me, but I have also been doing a lot of capillaries for a few months now because I don't trust it.

Today the endocrinologist told me that they have been failing a lot lately.All the patients have been very ill for months.

He gave me a Dexcom to try, if I like them, they will change me to Dexcom.

They last less and have the option to calibrate.

I'll see.

In my case they measure me very below.The last glyco test gave 6.2 in analytics, when the sensor gave 4.8.So it is very difficult to control anything.

I spoke with Abbot one day when they called me for a satisfaction survey and they told me that they are indeed going wrong, that they are aware that they have a problem with the libre 2 plus, that they have many complaints and that they are trying to improve it.They literally told me that "it should be as good as the free 2"😳.

That is to say, they are trying to go back... anyway.

And of course, it's time to make strips, because anyone trusts it.And buying them, of course, because according to the doctors, with the sensor you don't need strips.

Let's hope they improve them soon.It is best for them first, because they are spending a fortune on replacements, which they would save if they were made with higher quality.Because apart from measuring incorrectly, it is very rare for one to last 15 days.And yes, it is true that they have no problem replacing them, but it would be better if they were good and everyone was happy.

Two months ago, they changed 5 Libre 2+ sensors for me at once because the deviations, always downward, made the data worthless.They don't usually bother me to provide me with strips, but I suppose it will depend on the center and the nurse.I usually sleep on my back, but when I turn on my side, and the sensor is on the lower arm, it usually wakes me up due to rapid descent.It's not real, because as soon as I change my position the data returns to its normal state.That's why for 2 sensors I have tried placing it on the chest, exactly about 5 cm.from where it joins the arm and there is almost no muscle.So far I haven't had nighttime hiccups again, so that's good.It is also quite discreet and does not rub against any door, hehehe

Another issue that will seem like bullshit at a certain age, but every appointment with the endocrinologist makes me anxious because of course, she sees the hypoglycemia data from the Librelink and I bring her the corrected data with Juglucco and XDrip+ and the differences are always, regardless of the sensor, 20 units less, at least.And he always beats me up with how dangerous the hiccups are and with some tremendous fights.I have managed to bring her Excel sheets of 3 months' measurements with Libre and calibrated data, but nothing goes directly to what she can see through Librelink.Anyway.....Carrying these two apps is because Diabox stopped working and the other option I have, to calibrate and see the corrected data on Garmin watches.

By the way, I don't know if it will happen to you or not, but they gave me the first dose of the Herpes Zoster vaccine and I spent 2 days and their corresponding nights, there was no way to reduce the hyperglycemia.Added to this is the change in temperature that also affects me quite a bit, with the cold I need more insulin and with the heat less.Total fucking lack of control, with how bad I have it.

@Ruthbia you will already tell your experience with the change to Dexcom.By the way, I think that number 7 has already been released... and they have provided you with the One+, right?

Well, in my case, the last 72/48 hours of expected useful life are not at all reliable.They report many false hiccups with differences of more than 100 between the sensor and the capillary.In fact, on those days I deactivate the sick leave alarm because it doesn't let me rest.Luckily, until now, I notice the hiccup symptoms even if I am asleep at the time I reach 70. I say the same as another user with the abbot WEB, I have no problems with the replacement and within a period of 5/7 business days I have it at home.If it would be convenient for them to provide more strips.For every eight sensors they give me a box of strips, which forces me to buy.

@Arse yes the Dexcom One+.

I got the beta version of Diabox for sensors that start with 301 or 310. It only worked for 24 hours.

The one I have now is 3 hours away and no longer measures in Bluetooth.

A question that is a little off topic, so as not to open another thread, have you used expired sensors?They transferred a friend to Dexcom and she gave me 3 expired sensors, less than 1 month since they expired, and I feel bad throwing them away unused... Abbott told me they wouldn't work.

Greetings and thanks

Hello @rafa1959 years ago, for a while I used expired Dexcomm G4 sensors because they were cheaper, at that time I paid for them out of my pocket, I will tell you that they worked perfectly for me, I even extended them twice as long (it was a trick), that is, instead of 1 week, they lasted 2 weeks.

That said... I only recommend it if you have used them before (exactly the same sensors), and you know well how they measure you, so you can detect any possible problems, just as you would with a normal sensor when it does not work as expected.

Obviously, they will tell you that using expired sensors comes without coverage from the manufacturer, blah, blah, blah... so make the decision consciously if you want to use them, if you paid for them, and they only expired 1 month ago, it is a real shame, in that case I would use them.

Where did you buy the Dexcoms?I wanted to buy a pair to try them out and I called Dexcom but the guy there didn't speak Spanish well, so he didn't give me much confidence to give him the card number.

After 3 years of getting all the Libre2 perfect, now they are all going wrong.

Since this sensor maintained its deviation of 50 all the time, the next one failed and did not start, the next one deviated from the 12th and I put it on the next one, it gave an error for 3 hours and then asked to replace it.

I don't know what the hell is going on.

Could it be a game...?any batch...?Look, I had bad luck a while ago with them (with the 2), but it's true that it's been a while (coinciding with the change to the plus) that minus one... everything has gone "well"...

Taking into account the offset (greater in the first days), which begins to make adjustments to these in the middle of the day, etc, etc...

Does anyone know how Libre 3 is?

A working friend uses the Guardian and the truth is that between the charging time of the "shell", how long it takes to start and that tells me that being halfway through the life of use it breaks down... I almost prefer Abbot...

What frustrates me is that when it gives an error it doesn't say what happened.Don't give any more information.

If it is a sensor error or if it cannot find the interstitial fluid or communication with the sensor.This way you could at least try in another area, change the phone or return the shipment of sensors.

Because my skin in the area is a bit messed up, my cell phone hasn't been doing very well lately and the ones that failed were all from the last box they sent me, and they are from the 302 series.

@Sherpa41 said:

What frustrates me is that when it gives an error it doesn't say what happened.Don't give any more information.

If it is a sensor error or if it cannot find the interstitial fluid or communication with the sensor.This way you could at least try in another area, change the phone or return the shipment of sensors.

Because my skin in the area is a bit messed up, my cell phone hasn't been doing very well lately and the ones that failed were all from the last box they sent me, and they are from the 302 series.

In the app it gives you the error it gives (the code), maybe if you call Abbot someone can tell you what it is and you'll have some doubts...).In "Help" - Event log.

I'm looking and mine are 301... let's see if the shots are going to go that way...

@Sherpa41 welcome to the club of continuous failures and lack of confidence with the device.

The last one I have has the bluetooth not working, NFC whatever you want.And he still has 10 days left.Furthermore, it measures between 20 and 50 inches smaller.I am based on capillaries.I'm about to take it off and return it, and try the Dexcom.