I have Questions for FreeStyle Libre Users

[Shelly_F]

Does anyone use the FreeStyle Libre system and if so can you please share your thoughts and opinion on the system with me.

Do you prefer to use your phone to read the sensor or the Libre Reader?

Where is your sensor located on your cat and have you had any issues?

Looking for tips or tricks really anything you have to share about the system would be great full. Our cat is getting one very soon.

TIA.

 

[David Kirk]

Co-incidentally, started using FreeStyle Libre less than 24 hours ago ... and have many questions, but to start answering yours first ...

use phone

left, mid-way down back ... no issues, she tried to scratch but couldn't reach

My questions, for which I contacted support (two levels, for about an hour) was ...

when I awoke this morning, there were data points on the chart for times when I was asleep (e.g. 3am, 4am, 5am) and I wanted to know if the system takes readings automatically and Bluetooth's them to my iPhone.

The first rep said yes, and that I could see them in the Logbook. When I looked here and they were not present, she said that I'd need to renew the sensor and start again. This didn't seem right, so I contacted their escalated support and got sense (and great support).

Readings are only made when initiated via iPhone, thus there are no entries in Logbook, But why there are datapoints on the chart is unknown, and I am waiting a call back from higher tech support.

 

[Shelly_F]

Thanks for sharing David. Please let me know what you find out about the datapoints. Hopefully some others will chime in and let us now their experiences to.

 

[Holtfam6]

Hi

I use the libre 2 system periodically. I use the scanner not my phone so the scanner is always available for other family members to make it a little easier for them. Theres a group on facebook called freestyle libre for dogs and cats which is extremely helpful. They have diagrams on placement, troubleshooting, how to apply, etc. My cat is skinny so I have his on his left side. Sometimes I can get the sensor to last 14 days other times not. I do find them very useful when I'm doing a curve or adjusting insulin as it will alarm at night if low. Libre will replace sensors if they don't last 14 days but do not tell them they are being used for a pet. Libre is technically not approved for pets. My sensor will show a graph with a number range but not exact. My logbook only has numbers when I scan. I've used them on and off since april. My best advice is if you get a funky reading, always double check it with blood as blood is always more accurate.

 

[Amy & Herman]

I didn’t have any luck with mine. My Herman hated it, always twitching his skin where it was placed and trying to rip it off and almost trying to “run away” from it. As a highly unregulated diabetic many of my readings were “hi” or “reading unavailable try again in 10 minutes” (I think because he changed BG so rapidly). I scanned with my phone and only got a reading when I physically scanned, and could not get any other data so I scanned my cat day and night literally on the hour manually in order to make the most of this device that was obviously not going to last long….and it didn’t. He ripped it off in 4 days.

Even given ALL that, I still see the potential value in it for a cat who doesn’t mind it (many don’t seem bothered in the least!) and an owner who can figure out how to get the automatic reading data! I’d prob go for the reader, though.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I prefer the phone. I uses the reader for a Libre2 I had since at that time there was no phone app available. You can add better notes with the phone since you are limited with what you can enter on the reader. For example you can only select 1-unit increments for a dose.
The first sensor I used were on the side of the neck and protected with a neck wrap or harness. Those worked OK, got 14 days for first one but only 9-10 days for the next two and 13 ½ days for the fourth. I currently have on one Wiggles but this one is further back from the neck. You can see it here when I pulled back the harness covering the sensor.

This is the eighth day for the sensor. This FB group has excellent info on attaching and protecting the sensor.Not that the group covers both dogs and cats so some info is not really to cats. The basis is that you need a close shave, good cleaning and usually a covering to prevent the cat from scratching the sensor. This time I prepped shaved and cleaned aree with Skin Tac vice using tissue glue.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2894089194158745

 

[Shelly_F]

Co-incidentally, started using FreeStyle Libre less than 24 hours ago ... and have many questions, but to start answering yours first ...

use phone

left, mid-way down back ... no issues, she tried to scratch but couldn't reach

My questions, for which I contacted support (two levels, for about an hour) was ...

when I awoke this morning, there were data points on the chart for times when I was asleep (e.g. 3am, 4am, 5am) and I wanted to know if the system takes readings automatically and Bluetooth's them to my iPhone.

The first rep said yes, and that I could see them in the Logbook. When I looked here and they were not present, she said that I'd need to renew the sensor and start again. This didn't seem right, so I contacted their escalated support and got sense (and great support).

Readings are only made when initiated via iPhone, thus there are no entries in Logbook, But why there are datapoints on the chart is unknown, and I am waiting a call back from higher tech support.

I David did you ever find out about the mystery datapoints that occurred while you were asleep? We just started using the Freestyle less than 24 hrs ago and we too see data points that occurred between 4 a.m and 6a.m but we were asleep? The scary thing is that the datapoints between 4 a.m -6 a.m show our cat was below 40! She came upstairs and got into bed with us at 5:00a.m. so she was fine. I scanned her at 6:01a.m and she read at 113. So those datapoints that happened just before we woke up yet were low must have been a fluke.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Hee is a graph of comparing BG as recored by the Libre and with an iHealth human BG meter. This was for Wiggles above. Each point shows a +/- 20% band,