People who use Freestyle Libre 2, any hints for a first time user?

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

I'm going to put my first one on later this evening, anything I should know? I've watched the Freestyle YouTube videos and also a couple of videos by people who use it but am still oddly nervous for some reason.

It is very easy, just follow the instructions. Don't be hasty, and make sure the skin is actually dry before applying!
It really does not hurt.

Good luck!

Thanks @Sajacas I put it in this morning and I was a bit at the size of the needle, but it genuinely didn't hurt. I'm having a look at my graph every 10 minutes so often, it's a great bit of technology.

Hi I hope you don’t mind me joining this thread.

I’m type 2 and started using the Freestyle Libre 2 last week. I didn’t realise I might need other equipment to keep it on e.g fragrance free soap, stickers and arm bands.

My sensor fell off after a week - not ideal given the price. ☹️

I’ve got stickers and have used them with the second sensor any advice how to keep them
on?

Are you prepping your arm before applying the Libre? You should wash and dry it, and then give it a once over with an alcohol wipe and again wait for this to be completely dry before applying the Libre.

Abbott are quite good at replacing monitors that have failed so if you think it wasn't sticky enough it might be worth reporting it to them.

If you're anything like me you will bump the sensor from time to time which is where the patches help.

I don't know about where you are, but in Ireland the alcohol wipes don't come with the sensor and have to be bought separately. The first ones that I bought had aloe vera in them so I had to buy others because any additives will stop it from sticking properly. I also bought Skin Tac.

So my process is, wash with plain soap, rinse, dry. Wipe with alcohol wipe, allow to air dry. Wipe with Skin Tac, leave for a minute to get tacky. Apply the sensor.

I only started on Thursday, so it's only been a few days but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

If you're using a cover you need to make sure the little hole in the middle of the sensor isn't covered.

I am prepping as suggested but I have knocked it and it definitely started to feel less secure. I did buy an arm band but it was too small.

I didn’t think about the wipes - they have got Aloe Vera! I just didn’t think. I also haven’t tried skin tac. So two good tips. Thank you

I’m sure it’s about trial and error and getting the right equipment.

Thank you.

The sensors tend to be more accurate if I put them on to 'soak' for a day before I start it.

Sometimes, the sensor will bleed through the little hole, so I usually put a large plaster over for the first 24 hours. It's fine and doesn't affect the sensor readings.

Make sure you're properly hydrated, or you may start to get eccentric readings.

I also try to start the sensor at a time when the warm-up period will be during a time of blood glucose stability, neither rising nor falling steeply.

I have found swimming pools to be bad for the Libre, even though I rarely swim for more than 40 minutes. I'm not sure whether it destroys the sensor itself or just the adhesive. So I tend to cover it with some Opsite Flexifix when I'm going to be in water.

It's not terribly accurate during times of rapidly changing blood glucose, which can be very annoying when it would ideally be at its most useful, e.g. such as when you are running a race.

@MujeresLibres Do you put your next sensor on while the current sensor has a day to go, or have a day in between doing finger pricks?

No danger of me running a race , although a brisk daily walk does have a surprisingly strong downward effect.

I usually put it on with a day to go, yes.

I put the sensor on my chest now as it turns out I walk into doorframes a LOT. I knocked 3 off in a week and knew I had to find a new spot.

Has that affected the readings you get? Abbott are insistent that it's only designed for the arm.

My friend's DM puts it on her stomach and gets accurate readings. I know that I bump into doorways a fair bit so I put mine on way at the back, almost to where my arm touches my body at rest.

You shouldn't need any extra items. I'm T1 and have been using libra (first 1 now 2) for years.

I give my arm a clean with a baby wipe, let it dry then stick it on. Apply to the back or inside of your arm to avoid door frames.

Sometimes they lift a bit if I've been in water a lot gut you can use rock tape if feeling very insecure, I think the last one i lost was the day before it was due to change and we spent the day at a spa

I tried putting them on my stomach, and the readings were fine, but they didn't last 2 weeks, so I went back to my arm.

Not at all. I checked my bloods the old fashioned finger prick way, as well as using the sensor, for a week and the readings were all close to matching.

I've never caught on on clothes or anything else and it stays firmly stuck the whole time. It’s also a lot easier to pick off the sticky residue when I peel off the old one!

Well, here's an unexpected handy hint. Don't change to a new phone part way through your 14 days of sensor usage. Fortunately I didn't delete all the data off my old phone because I will need to keep using it for another 6 days until I put the new sensor on and then I can use my new phone to initialise it.

Oh no, ignore that last comment. You can switch to a new phone by using the signal icon at the top right and scanning with the new phone.

However alarms won't work on the new phone, only on the original phone that first scanned the sensor.

I wanted to come back and say thank you to everyone for their help.

I purchased some alcohol wipes, this time without Aloe Vera!, plus I watched several YouTube videos on best ways to place the sensor.

The good news is my latest sensor has stayed on and feels much more secure. I’m on day 10 which is great. So thank you.

That's good news @Chinawall. My first one stayed for the full 14 days and needed a fair bit of encouragement to come off. Unfortunately my second one gave terrible readings that were miles above the finger prick readings so I took it off after two days as it was stressing me. The third one seems to be both secure and working fine.

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar you can report non-working sensors and they will send a free replacement.,