? Confusion about the accuracy of Libre Freestyle

[Evey]

Hi, my 14-year-old grandma cat is diagnosed as diabete in Oct 2023. The vet put the Libre Freestyle sensor on her to monitor the blood sugar level. and the vet said that with the Libre Freestyle in place, I don't need to prick the cat's ear to test blood sugar everyday. I've been using it for a couple months now. I started to wonder how accurate the readings of the sensor are. Several people told me that even with Libre Freestyle sensor, it's neccessary and important to test the bloold sugar level using an acutual bloodmeter.

Does anyone know what's the difference between sensor's and the bloodmeter's reading?
Should I purchase a bloodmeter? it seems very difficult to prick the kitty's ear and get it tested?

Thank you!

 

[squeem3]

No, ear pricking is easy once you get the hang of it. There info on hometesting by ear prick here: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

There is a recently published study on the use of the Libre for diabetic cats that concludes that it is an acceptable method of sufficiently accurate monitoring blood glucose levels. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X221104051

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Here is one comparison I generated. I used a human meter

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

What a number of members have reported is that in general, the Libre is accurate. However, in lower blood glucose ranges, it is not as accurate. Please keep in mind that this is based on user experience and not on research.

The paper that is referenced above does have limitations. In particular, they note that their results are limited due to the sensors not being in place for the full 14 days -- a large number came off at 10 days or sooner. Likewise, they noted there was not a great deal of data in lower blood glucose ranges making it hard to interpret the accuracy for lower numbers.

Lots of members use human glucometers to measure their cat's blood glucose. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

 

[CORKY]

Hi, my 14-year-old grandma cat is diagnosed as diabete in Oct 2023. The vet put the Libre Freestyle sensor on her to monitor the blood sugar level. and the vet said that with the Libre Freestyle in place, I don't need to prick the cat's ear to test blood sugar everyday. I've been using it for a couple months now. I started to wonder how accurate the readings of the sensor are. Several people told me that even with Libre Freestyle sensor, it's neccessary and important to test the bloold sugar level using an acutual bloodmeter.

After took my Corky out of the hospital after 8 days he also left with a Libre Freestyle2
sensor, I had a very terrible experience with it, even all the are on his side was shaved, it would fall off and last for 14 days 98% of the time it worked for 4-6-or 8 days, so I always had to have extra ones at home during the time the Company of Freestyle shipped me a new one,then in the middle of the night the low glucose alarm would go off and his reading was terrifying 65-69 this went on

Does anyone know what's the difference between sensor's and the bloodmeter's reading?
Should I purchase a bloodmeter? it seems very difficult to prick the kitty's ear and get it tested?

Thank you!

After I picked up Corky from the hospital after 8 days, he also left with a FreeStyle2 sensor, the next day it came off, even though his fur was appropriately shaved, it they continued to fall off, they are supposed to last 14 days, but they would stop working after 4-6-8- days, so I had to purchase 2 extras until the Company would ship a new one. Also in the middle of the night the low glucose alarm would go off I had it for lower that 90bg, the monitor would read 50-67 etc the first month for me , was terrifying I had no knowledge about diabetes, I was almost at the at the point of a breakdown. until I found this Forum and they suggested the ReliOn Premier Classic monitor w/ strips. It was a life changer, since Corky still had the last sensor on ,I started to check with the monitor, and learning how to draw the blood from the ear and the numbers were so incredibly different every time ,I did this for about 8 days until I took the sensor off, Now I sleep, I know the exact BG level, plus I am saving almost $80 per sensor (Miami) every 14 days if not more, I personally will never recommend the FreeStyle, although some do prefer it, also when you call the customer service department for replacement you cannot say is to use on your cat they will not replace it. Best to you and your kitty