FreeStyle Libre 14 day being discontinued

[apollonia-artemisia]

I was told by my (human) pharmacy that the FreeStyle Libre 14 day meter is being/has been discontinued. For now, the sensors are still being produced, but do not know how long that will be.

I was heavily encouraged to make the switch to the Libre 2 meter and Libre 2 sensors sooner rather than later if at all- especially by the start of next year. I wanted to share that warning, because I know lots of folks here use this meter for their sugar cats.

Have sensors but not the meter/meter broke? Do you have a smartphone? There is the LibreLink app, but the webpage on FreeStyle's website for what works with the app is woefully out of date. I would instead look at the Google Play Store/Apple App Store specifications to see if it will work for your smartphone.

Have the meter but cant afford to make the switch, and don't think you can get your hands on more sensors while they're still being made? The 14 day can be used as a traditional blood sample meter! It's better than nothing!

One benefit to the Libre 2 that the previous generation does not have: it has an alarm function for the sensors to warn if the wearer is having hypoglycemia! A rather large drawback though is that I do not believe they are backwards compatible, but could be wrong about that.

 

[apollonia-artemisia]

Tagging moderators to boost this message if that's okay! @Wendy&Neko @Sienne and Gabby (GA) @Marje and Gracie

 

[chuckstables]

Source from libre confirming https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/fsl2Replacement.html

 

[Larry and Kitties]

A rather large drawback though is that I do not believe they are backwards compatible, but could be wrong about that.

In the above statement what do you mean by "I do not believe they are backwards compatible"?
In the USA the Libre 14 day and Libre 2 use different phone apps. They are use different dedicated readers. The readers only work with their model Libres.

 

[apollonia-artemisia]

In the above statement what do you mean by "I do not believe they are backwards compatible"?
In the USA the Libre 14 day and Libre 2 use different phone apps. They are use different dedicated readers. The readers only work with their model Libres.

As in I do not believe you can mix sensors with the meters themselves. For further clarification, I do not think the Libre 2 sensor would work for the Libre 14 day meter, nor would the 14 day sensor work with the Libre 2 meter. I would need to test that to confirm it, as I will have access to both kinds of sensors due to this transition and was contemplating testing the accuracy of each one by wearing both sensors and seeing what readings they generate. The application LibreLink works with both kinds of sensors though!

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Have you checked to see if meter is being discontinued in Canada? Generally the US market dominates the North America market and it makes almost no sense that a big company would produce anything for a country with 1/10th the population like Campbells making some oddball soup that only sells well near the North Pole. You won't know until you check. If you contact Libre don't say anything about it being for "just a cat", third class citizens don't figure into a big corporations decisions. Good luck.

 

[apollonia-artemisia]

Have you checked to see if meter is being discontinued in Canada? Generally the US market dominates the North America market and it makes almost no sense that a big company would produce anything for a country with 1/10th the population like Campbells making some oddball soup that only sells well near the North Pole. You won't know until you check. If you contact Libre don't say anything about it being for "just a cat", third class citizens don't figure into a big corporations decisions. Good luck.

I live in the US, and so far I have seen confirmation that it is for sure being discontinued in the US and UK. Which I know can mean trouble for quote unquote "smaller" markets (like Canada and the rest of Europe). I am trying to find out about what other countries will be affected though! So far what I have read is that production of the meter itself is ceasing by the company, and no repairs/replacements of that specific model will be available.

If I find out anything else, I'll add it to this thread.

 

[chuckstables]

Have you checked to see if meter is being discontinued in Canada? Generally the US market dominates the North America market and it makes almost no sense that a big company would produce anything for a country with 1/10th the population like Campbells making some oddball soup that only sells well near the North Pole. You won't know until you check. If you contact Libre don't say anything about it being for "just a cat", third class citizens don't figure into a big corporations decisions. Good luck.

Honestly the price of testing supplies is absurd here. 88 dollars for a pack of 100 strips. Freestyle libre sensor is like 160 bucks here. I’m lucky that i found the bravo meter, only 40 per 100.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

price of testing supplies is absurd

In my thread [URL='https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/where-ive-been-and-the-stupid-mistake-i-keep-making.271768/']https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/where-ive-been-and-the-stupid-mistake-i-keep-making.271768/
I've been trying to make the point that it's unethical to be so greedy about anything that life itself is dependent on. This isn't some cats only thing, Viagra or a hair loss product. There's all kinds of arguments one can make about what the market will bear, diminishing returns, supply and demand blah blah.
This is just bend over and take it. Abbott Laboratories net worth is 180 billion dollars, thanks for nothing.[/URL]

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I live in the US, and so far I have seen confirmation that it is for sure being discontinued in the US and UK. Which I know can mean trouble for quote unquote "smaller" markets (like Canada and the rest of Europe). I am trying to find out about what other countries will be affected though! So far what I have read is that production of the meter itself is ceasing by the company, and no repairs/replacements of that specific model will be available.

I do not know what you mean by meter. The Libre 14 day has a dedicated reader or you can use a compatible phone with the corresponding app. Same for Libre 2. The dedicated reader for the Libre 14 day only works for the 14 day sensor. The dedicated reader for the Libre 2 only works with the Libre 2 sensor. Then Libre 3 can only be used with an app on a compatible phone. In the USA, the Libre 14 days, Libre 2 and Libre 3 each has it own app and that app is only works for that one model sensor.

 

[apollonia-artemisia]

I do not know what you mean by meter. The Libre 14 day has a dedicated reader or you can use a compatible phone with the corresponding app. Same for Libre 2. The dedicated reader for the Libre 14 day only works for the 14 day sensor. The dedicated reader for the Libre 2 only works with the Libre 2 sensor. Then Libre 3 can only be used with an app on a compatible phone. In the USA, the Libre 14 days, Libre 2 and Libre 3 each has it own app and that app is only works for that one model sensor.

The reader that scans it (that is not a phone) is also referred to as a meter, because you can also use test strips with it. We're just using different words for same thing.

 

[apollonia-artemisia]

Also, yes. you can use the same LibreLink application, heres proof:

This is from the link shared in the first reply to this thread.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I have three different apps on my iPhone in USA:
The FreeStyle LibreLink app allows you to monitor your glucose with your phone. [1] Check your glucose by holding your phone near your FreeStyle Libre Sensor. The App is compatible with both 10-day and 14-day Sensors.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/freestyle-librelink-us/id1325992472
Download the FreeStyle Libre 2 app*
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/freestyle-libre-2-us/id1472261444
The FreeStyle Libre 3 app is cleared for use with the FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/freestyle-libre-3-us/id1524572429
\]In some countries the same app is used for the 14 Day and Libre 2. but not in USA for iPhone

 

[apollonia-artemisia]

Important requirement for the apps to work, your phone needs to have NFC capabilities. My phone has the necessary Android version, but no NFC, so my phone is not compatible. You should be able to check this in connection settings (might be with Bluetooth) or looking up your phone model specifications.

 

[apollonia-artemisia]

This is what Abbott had to say when I contacted them over Facebook, and they confirmed that the FreeStyle Libre 14 day reader is being discontinued. Sensors are still available (for now)

So unfortunately @Noah & me (GA) @chuckstables they didnt give me much of an answer regarding the status in Canada, and told me to tell y'all to call customer service [rolls eyes]

In case the image doesnt load, the phone number for the Canadian customer service line is: 1-888-205-8296

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

didnt give me much of an answer

I've worked briefly in customer service. The above statement was carefully crafted by their legal team so as not to admit any wrong doing, give the allusion that they care and that "our friends" in Canada matter deeply to them, wherever Canada is.
Your call matters to us, please continue to hold, you are currently number 401 in the queue.
Press 1 if your cat is having a hypo episode, press 2 if you have a weapon and are waiting outside our corporate offices.

 

[apollonia-artemisia]

I've worked briefly in customer service. The above statement was carefully crafted by their legal team so as not to admit any wrong doing, give the allusion that they care and that "our friends" in Canada matter deeply to them, wherever Canada is.
Your call matters to us, please continue to hold, you are currently number 401 in the queue.
Press 1 if your cat is having a hypo episode, press 2 if you have a weapon and are waiting outside our corporate offices.

The "friends" part is because they asked where I was located to better assist and I said "I'm in the US but I have friends in Canada, will this affect them too?"
But yeah.... definitely heavily scripted. Worked in customer service and grassroots canvasing. It sucks!!

 

[Larry and Kitties]

If you want a dedicated reader for the 14 Day try asking around to see if you can get a used one for free or at a low cost. User are going to Libre 2 and 3 so dedicated, used readers for the 14 Day should be available.

 

[apollonia-artemisia]

If you want a dedicated reader for the 14 Day try asking around to see if you can get a used one for free or at a low cost. User are going to Libre 2 and 3 so dedicated, used readers for the 14 Day should be available.

Although this doesn't apply to me- bc I currently own both the 14 day and the Libre 2 for my hypoglycemic condition- your response might help others!

This announcement (as in the original post) I made was primarily to let others know to prepare in advance, like my pharmacy advised for me for my condition, not Cadmium's. It seems the reader in box and brand new is currently around 95 US dollars? Used should be cheaper tho. There also seems to be a program in some countries where you can trade your 14 day/Libre 1 reader in for a Libre 2 for free, so that would be worthwhile looking into.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

This won't help anyone with the Libre system but it shows how deceptive large corporations can be when it comes to health over profits.
I used the Accu-Chek meter on both Nigel and Noah because it required what was then an incredibly small blood sample. Keep in mind this is a human meter and not "just for cats". One day I was browsing the Accu-Chek website and after much digging; the page that opens into a separate window, then another, then in small print at the bottom of the page, I found out certain lot numbers of strips were defective. My local pharmacy used to quietly snicker at me for spending money on diabetic supplies as if they kept a 22 out back for such ridiculous things. No Accu-Chek rep had notified them or my other pharmacy, there was no notice in the computer system, no voluntary recall of defective strips you may have used on your own child. They grudgingly replaced my strips, never thanked me for bringing this to their attention and sent me on my way. "Thank you for shopping at F*** you mart, come again". I don't like using the phrase Big Pharma but in this case it applies.
While I'm on a socialist rant... Fancy Feast, chock full of crap and things that fall off the conveyor belt is owned by Nestle SA whose net worth as of December 14 is 330 billion dollars. Gosh, that seafood Fancy Feast sure looks good. Who wants some shrimp salad and my homemade dandelion wine?
@apollonia-artemisia You have friends in Canada? Do you know Bob?